Simon bar Giora

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Simon bar Giora
Died 70 CE
Cause of death
Residence Judea
Nationality Jewish
Ethnicity Jewish
Known for Participating in inciting the Jewish Revolt, leading one faction in civil war
Political party
Opponent(s) Titus, Ananus ben Ananus, John of Giscala, Eleazar ben Simon
Religion Judaism

Simon bar Giora (alternatively known as Simeon bar Giora or Simon ben Giora or Shimon bar Giora) died 70 CE, was a leader of revolutionary forces during the First Jewish-Roman War in the 1st century Judea.


Simon bar Giora became notable during the First Jewish-Roman War, when Roman troops marched towards Jerusalem in 66 CE. Simon helped in defeating the advance by attacking from the north.[1] He put the hindmost of the army into disorder and carried off many of the beasts that carried the weapons of war, and led them into the city. However, he was rejected for a command position by the Jerusalem authorities, for they did not want a popular leader of a rebellious peasantry if they were to moderate the revolt and negotiate with the Romans.[2] As a result, Simon gathered a large number of revolutionaries and started robbing houses of wealthy people in the district of Acrabbene:

But as for the Acrabbene toparchy, Simon, the son of Gioras, which means "The Strong", got a great number of those that were fond of innovations together, and betook himself to ravage the country; nor did he only harass the rich men's houses, but tormented their bodies, and appeared openly and beforehand to affect tyranny in his government. And when an army was sent against him by Artanus, and the other rulers, he and his band retired to the robbers that were at Masada.[2]

Simon stayed safe from the Jewish authorities in Masada until Ananus ben Ananus was killed in the Zealot Temple Siege, after which he left the fortress for the hill country and proclaimed liberty for those in slavery, and a reward to those already free. He gathered power quickly as more people and influential men joined him. He soon dared to venture into the flatlands, constructed a fort in a village called Nain, and stored food and booty in caves. It was obvious that he prepared to attack Jerusalem.[3] However, Simon ben Giora first attacked Idumea and his intimidating army met no real resistance. He marched into Hebron, robbed the grain stores of towns and villages, and plundered the countryside in order to feed his vast troops. By this time, he was followed by forty thousand people not including his soldiers.[3] Simon's success began worrying the Zealots in Jerusalem. Since they did not dare fight in open battle, they lay an ambush, capturing his wife and some of her entourage. They expected Simon to lay down his weapons in exchange for her freedom. However, Simon grew very angry, went to Jerusalem and took everybody leaving the city captive. Some he tortured, some he killed and he cut off the hands of others, sending them back into the city with the message that he would do likewise to all Jerusalem if his wife was not released. This frightened the Zealots so immensely that they eventually let her go.[3]

In spring 69 CE, the advancing Roman army forced Simon ben Giora to retreat to Jerusalem,[4] where he camped outside the city walls and once again began harassing people. Within Jerusalem, John of Giscala had set himself up as a despotic ruler after overthrowing lawful authority in the Zealot Temple Siege. In order to get rid of him, the Jerusalem authorities decided to ask Simon to enter the city and drive John away. Acclaimed by the people as their savior and guardian, Simon was admitted.[5] With fifteen thousand soldiers at hand Simon soon controlled the whole upper city and some of the lower city. John held parts of the lower city and the Temple's outer court with six thousand men and a third splinter group of twenty-four hundred men controlled the temple's inner court.[6] Factions fought vigorously over the control of Jerusalem, always trying to destroy each other's grain stores to starve each other into submission.[4] This internal fighting later proved disastrous: not only was this a sabbatical year (with less grain available), but the city was under siege by the time the harvest began.[6] Nevertheless, of the leaders of the rebellion, Simon in particular was regarded with reverence and awe.[7] By his authority, coins were minted declaring the redemption of Zion.[8]

Gravestone in Mamertine Prison, with the names of illustrious prisoners who were locked up, awaiting execution. Among them, Simon bar Giora.

Just before Passover in 70 CE, Titus began the siege of Jerusalem. He quickly took down the first and second wall, but then met fierce resistance[4] as the factions within Jerusalem realized the necessity of joining forces.[9] However, Simon and John both upheld their reigns of terror over the citizens, causing many to flee to the Romans. To counteract these desertions, Simon put every potential betrayer, including some of his previous friends, to death.[4] In August 70, five months after the siege began, Jerusalem fell to Titus. Simon escaped into the subterranean passages of the city. By means of stone cutters he tried to dig away into freedom, but ran out of food before he could finish. Clothed in the garments of a Judean king he rose out of the ground at the very spot where the Temple had stood,[10] was taken prisoner and brought to Rome.[11]


Like kings of other countries Simon was displayed during the triumphal procession. Judged a rebel and a traitor by the Romans, he was executed by being thrown to his death from the Tarpeian Rock near the Temple of Jupiter.[12]


  1. ^ Witherington, III, Ben (2001). New Testament History: A Narrative Account. Grand Rapids: Baker Book. p. 344. 
  2. ^ a b Josephus (c. 75). The Jewish War, Book II. 
  3. ^ a b c Josephus (c. 75). The Jewish War, Book IV. 
  4. ^ a b c d Newsome, James D. (1992). Jews: Currents of Culture and Belief in the New Testament World. Philadelphia: Trinity Press. p. 308. 
  5. ^ Maier, Paul L., ed. (1988). Josephus: The Essential Writings. Grand Rapids: Kregel. p. 326. 
  6. ^ a b Witherington, III, Ben (2001). New Testament History: A Narrative Account. Grand Rapids: Baker Book. p. 359. 
  7. ^ Josephus (c. 75). The Jewish War, Book V. 
  8. ^ Evans, Craig A. (2006). "Messianic Hopes and Messianic Figures in Late Antiquity". Journal of Greco-Roman Christianity and Judaism 3: 9–40. 
  10. ^ Maier, Paul L., ed. (1988). Josephus: The Essential Writings. Grand Rapids: Kregel. pp. 370–1. 
  11. ^ Cassius Dio (1914). "Book LXV". Roman History, Loeb Translation. p. 270. 
  12. ^ Horsley, Richard A. (2000). Bandits, Prophets, and Messiahs: Popular Movements in the Time of Jesus. Philadelphia: Trinity Press. pp. 126–7. ISBN 978-1-56338-273-4. 

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