Bar-cochba, SIMON

Bar-cochba, SIMON, the leader of the Jews in their great insurrection against the Romans, under the Emperor Hadrian, from 131-135 A.D. Three times had the oppressed Jews revolted without success, from 115 to 118; and in 130, soon after Hadrian's return from Syria, a new rebellion broke out, for which they had been secretly preparing. At the head of it was one Simon, who assumed the name of Bar-cochba—i.e. 'Son of the Star,' pretending that the prophecy was to be fulfilled in him, 'There shall come a Star out of Jacob' (Numb. xxiv. 17). He fought at first with great success against the Romans, and even obliged them to evacuate Jerusalem, where he was proclaimed king, and caused coins to be struck with his name. The war spread over all the country of Palestine, and fifty towns, besides many villages and hamlets, came into the possession of the Jews. But on the arrival of Hadrian's general, Julius Severus, Jerusalem was retaken; and in August 135, Bether, the very last strong fortress held by the Jews, was stormed by the Romans. Bar-cochba fell on the day of this bloody conquest. Many thousands of Jews perished in this last attempt to regain political independence, and many were executed after its failure. From this last fatal struggle dates the final dispersion of the Jews over the face of the earth.