Simon bar Kokhba

Biography

Simon bar Kosiba led the third and last great Jewish revolt against Rome (132–135 AD), provoked by the emperor Hadrian's plan to plant a pagan colony over Jerusalem and, the sources say, to ban circumcision. A leader of fierce discipline and authority, he was hailed by the great sage Rabbi Akiva as the Messiah and given the name 'bar Kokhba' — 'son of the star,' from a messianic prophecy. He established a functioning independent state, minting coins dated to the 'Freedom of Israel' and issuing administrative orders preserved in letters found in desert caves nineteen centuries later. His forces, exploiting a vast network of underground tunnels, inflicted heavy losses on the Romans and may have destroyed an entire legion, forcing Hadrian to recall his best general from Britain and commit enormous resources. But the Romans adopted a remorseless strategy of attrition, reducing fortress after fortress and devastating the country. Bar Kokhba made his final stand at Betar, where he was killed when the fortress fell. Later rabbinic tradition, embittered by the catastrophe, punned his name into 'bar Koziba' — 'son of the lie' — for his failed messianic claim.

Key Battles