Bar Kokhba
Bar Kokhba, originally known as Simeon ben Kosiba, was a pivotal figure in Jewish history, recognized primarily for his leadership during the Second Jewish Revolt against Roman rule from 132 to 135 CE. He emerged in response to Roman Emperor Hadrian's plans to rebuild Jerusalem as a pagan city and the prohibition of Jewish circumcision, which galvanized sentiment among the Jewish populace. As a general, Bar Kokhba united various Jewish factions and achieved significant victories, reclaiming parts of the Judaean countryside during the revolt's initial phase. Coinage minted during this period reflects his aspirations, featuring inscriptions that express a desire for the freedom of Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the temple. Ultimately, the revolt lasted for three and a half years, marking a significant, albeit temporary, challenge to Roman authority. Despite its eventual failure, Bar Kokhba's legacy endured, particularly as he was granted the messianic title "Bar Kokhba," meaning "son of the star," by Rabbi Akiba ben Joseph. This title symbolized hope for Jewish sovereignty that resonated deeply throughout centuries of diaspora. Letters discovered in the Cave of Letters encapsulate the struggles faced during the revolt, painting a picture of desperation in its final days.
Bar Kokhba
Related civilizations: Israel, Imperial Rome
Major role/position: Jewish revolutionary
Life
Nothing is known about Simeon ben Kosiba (later Bar Kokhba) except his role in leading the Second Jewish Revolt against Rome. A courageous and ruthless general, he united Jews from the Tenth and Fifth legions to recapture the Judaean countryside. Simeon was offended by the Roman emperor Hadrian’s plan to rebuild Jerusalem (destroyed in 70 c.e.) as a pagan city called Aelia Capitolina and agitated by a ban against the Jewish ritual of circumcision. His success lasted for three and a half years (132-135 c.e.).
Simeon minted coins depicting the destroyed Jerusalem temple and various symbols of the temple cult. Inscriptions reading “year one of the redemption of Israel” or “for the freedom of Jerusalem” demonstrate that his ultimate goal was the recapture of Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the temple. Coin legends also mention Simeon and his official title nasi, or prince. Fifteen letters written in Simeon’s own hand discovered in 1960 in the Cave of Letters near the Dead Sea reveal the desperate last days of the revolt. Successful for a time, the revolt was the single blot on Hadrian’s record.
Influence
Rabbi Akiba ben Joseph conferred on Simeon the messianic title Bar Kokhba (bahr kawk-BAH), or “son of the star.” Simeon provided a last ray of hope for Jewish independence before nearly two thousand years of exile.
Bibliography
Aberbach, Moses, and David Aberbach. The Roman-Jewish Wars and Hebrew Cultural Nationalism. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2000.
Yadin, Yigael. Bar-Kokhba. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1971.
Yadin, Yigael, and Jonas Greenfield, eds. The Documents from the Bar Kokhba Period in the Cave of Letters. Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society, 1989.