67 AD
News of Gallus’ defeats reaches Neron. The emperor, fearing this may set a precedent for other provinces, commands Vespasian – a brilliant military leader – to suppress the rebellion. Vespasian arrives in Syria and begins organizing three Roman legions and their auxiliary forces, including Agrippa II’s troops. He simultaneously sends his son Titus to bring yet another legion from Alexandria. All in all, Vespasian commands over a combined force of about 60,000 skilled soldiers.
Once in Acre, Titus, King Agrippa II, his sister Berenice, and the people of Sepphoris greet Vespasian and swear allegiance to Caesar. As opposed to Gallus, the new Roman commander drafts an overarching strategy to crush the revolt. While training and organizing his armies, he sends an offering to the oracle of Stella Maris on Mount Carmel and is later informed that the gods have blessed his endeavor.
Vespasian’s meticulous plans allow him to defeat the rebels gradually – until Jerusalem is ultimately trapped and vulnerable. He employs a precise strategy and effectively subdues the rebels in all of the key points.
“And as he was deliberating to whom he should commit the care of the East, now it was in so great a commotion, and who might be best able to punish the Jews for their rebellion, and might prevent the same distemper from seizing upon the neighboring nations also, he found no one but Vespasian equal to the task, and able to undergo the great burden of so mighty a war, seeing he was growing an old man already in the camp, and from his youth had been exercised in warlike exploits” (Josephus Flavius, The Jewish Wars, Book 3, Chapter 1, paragraph 2)
The critical roles of precision and punctuality are clear in nature and apply equally to our own lives.
