If by "Israel" you mean Jerusalem this will help you as to the population.
In 66 C.E. a Jewish revolt brought Roman forces under Cestius Gallus
to the city, surrounding it and making a thrust right up to the temple
walls. Suddenly Cestius Gallus withdrew for no apparent reason. This
allowed Christians to put into action Jesus? instructions: ?Then let
those in Judea begin fleeing to the mountains, and let those in the
midst of [Jerusalem] withdraw, and let those in the country places not
enter into her.? (Lu 21:20-22) Eusebius, in his Ecclesiastical History
(III, V, 3), states that the Christians fled from Jerusalem and the
whole land of Judea to a city of Perea that was called Pella.
Jerusalem?s relief as a result of the Roman withdrawal was
short-lived, as it had been when the Babylonians temporarily withdrew
to deal with the Egyptians near the end of King Zedekiah?s reign.
Under General Titus the Roman forces returned in 70 C.E. in increased
numbers and laid siege to the city, now crowded with Passover
celebrants. Siege banks were thrown up by the Romans, and a continuous
wall or fence was erected around the entire city to prevent escape by
day or night. This, too, fulfilled Jesus? prophecy. (Lu 19:43) Within
the city rival factions quarreled and fought, much of the food supply
was destroyed, and those caught attempting to leave the city were
slain as traitors. Josephus, the source of this information, relates
that in time the famine became so grave that the people were reduced
to eating wisps of hay and leather, even their own children. (Compare
La 2:11, 12, 19, 20; De 28:56, 57.) Titus? offers of peace were
consistently rejected by the stubborn city leaders.
Eventually the walls were systematically breached by the Romans, and
their troops invaded the city. (PICTURE, Vol. 2, p. 752) Despite
orders to the contrary, the temple was burned and gutted. According to
Josephus, this took place on the anniversary of Nebuchadnezzar?s
destruction of the first temple centuries earlier. His account also
states that the repository of the archives, housing the genealogical
records of tribal and family descent and inheritance rights, was put
to the fire. (The Jewish War, VI, 250, 251 [iv, 5]; II, 426-428 [xvii,
6]; VI, 354 [vi, 3]) Thus, the legal means for establishing the
lineage of members of the Messianic tribe of Judah and the priestly
tribe of Levi came to an end.
In just 4 months and 25 days, from April 3 to August 30, 70 C.E., the
conquest had been effected. Thus, the tribulation, though intense, was
remarkably short. The unreasoning attitude and actions of the Jews
within the city doubtless contributed to this shortness. Though
Josephus puts the number of dead at 1,100,000, there were survivors.
(Compare Mt 24:22.) Ninety-seven thousand captives were taken, many of
whom were sent as slaves to Egypt or were killed by sword or beasts in
the theaters of the Roman provinces. This, too, fulfilled divine
prophecy.?De 28:68.
The entire city was demolished, with only the towers of Herod?s palace
and a portion of the western wall left standing as evidence to later
generations of the defensive strength that had availed nothing.
Josephus remarks that, apart from these remnants, ?the rest of the
wall encompassing the city was so completely levelled to the ground as
to leave future visitors to the spot no ground for believing that it
had ever been inhabited.? (The Jewish War, VII, 3, 4 [i, 1]) A relief
on the Arch of Titus in Rome depicts Roman soldiers carrying off
sacred vessels of the ruined temple. |
