Yodfat (Jotapata) is where the Jewish revolt against Rome nearly ended before it began. In 67 CE, the Roman general Vespasian besieged this fortified town in the lower Galilee for 47 days. The town’s commander was Josephus Flavius, who would later become the most important Jewish historian of the ancient world. When Yodfat fell, Josephus surrendered to the Romans, predicted that Vespasian would become emperor (he did), and spent the rest of his life writing the histories that give us most of what we know about this period.
The Siege
The siege of Yodfat was brutal. Vespasian brought three full legions against the town, and the defenders resisted with desperate courage for over six weeks. When the Romans finally breached the walls, the slaughter was terrible. Josephus, hiding in a cave with a group of survivors, arranged a suicide pact in which the last two survivors would spare each other. Josephus arranged to be one of the last two, and then surrendered. His account of the siege, written years later, is one of the most vivid military narratives from the ancient world.
The Site Today
The tel of Yodfat is an archaeological site surrounded by the green hills of the lower Galilee. Excavations have uncovered fortifications, houses, and evidence of the Roman siege, including arrowheads and ballista stones. The modern community of Yodfat, established nearby, takes its name from the ancient town.
Visit with Hoshen Tours
Yodfat adds dramatic depth to a lower Galilee itinerary. Hoshen Tours tells the story of Josephus and the siege on the ground where it happened.