Some researchers are inclined
to consider the ruins of the village of Dabburiyya, above the Huleh
valley, the city of refuge located in the Golan. This village received
the academy of Elazar ha-Kappar, a 2nd century master. There are
other sites on the Golan of historic interest: the village of Yahudiyya
that had sheltered a Jewish community until the 8th century, Hamat
Gader , and Gamala, where, in particular, one of the most bloody
battles of the Great Revolt in which the Galileans opposed the Romans
took place. The account left to us by Flavius Joseph, who commanded
the revolt in the Galilee before surrendering to the Romans, describes
the blind determination of the Galileans at the beginning of this
revolt, which was to spread throughout the country, bring about
the destruction of Jerusalem and end with the fall of Masada at
the other end of the country:
Gamala
was built on a knoll in the middle of a chain of mountains, which
earned it the name of Gamal – camel in Hebrew -, or Gamla according
to the pronunciation of the Galileans. It is surrounded by three
inaccessible valleys and as many ramparts. The inhabitants had dug
trenches to protect the side that leans against the mountain, which
is naturally more accessible. Its slope is covered with houses and
viewed from the south, the city appears to be built on a precipice,
ready to collapse. A very high hill rises on the same side, flanked
by a valley that is so deep that it forms a natural wall. A spring
flows through the city, all the way to the end…
Near
Tiberias, facing Gamala, Vespasian set up camp Emmaus, which draws
its name from a source of water that heals a variety of illnesses.
Because the geographic conditions did not permit him to encircle
the site on every side, he fortified the quarters where possible
and occupied the hill that dominated the city. In accordance with
their custom, the Romans aimed at protecting their camp and divided
up the work among themselves. The Fifteenth Legion undertook the
building of a tower in the east, on the highest side of the site;
the Fifth Legion seized the quarters facing the city and the Tenth
Legion worked to fill in the trenches and other excavations…
Thanks
to their great numbers and their capacity to work hard, the Romans
quickly completed the preparations and installed their war machines.
On their side, Chares and Joseph, the most important leaders, dispersed
their people, exhorting them to defend the city. But even the hardiest
among them was not particularly confident, doubtful that they could
sustain a long siege due to the lack of water and provisions. They
resisted very little, withdrawing quickly to the interior of the
city to escape the arrows and rocks from the Roman war machines.
Using the battering ram, the Romans breached the walls and launched
an attack from three points at once. The noise of the trumpets and
of the arms was soon drowned out by the cries of the inhabitants.
The besieged then fiercely resisted until the moment when they yielded
to the great numbers and had to withdraw to the highest places through
steep lanes that were so narrow that they could not get a solid
foothold and still continue to defend themselves, followed by the
Romans on their heels who pounced them, overwhelming them and killing
them. Charging together, the Romans hoisted themselves on to the
roofs of the houses, which were not very solid, and collapsed under
the weight, bringing down other buildings. […] The Romans were taken
by surprise, falling down as the buildings caved in. Some would
die under the rocks; others would suffocate under the dust; others
would die as a result of their wounds. Many perished in this manner.
The
besieged did not hide their delight at seeing the houses collapse
on the Romans; they pressed against them, they pushed them under
the debris, stoning those who slid on the steep roads. They took
the stones from the debris and the weapons of the dead and used
the spears of those still breathing to finish them off. Attempting
to jump off the houses that were collapsing, the Romans, nevertheless,
died when they fell down the precipice. Those who managed to escape
the cave-ins did not know where to go since they were unfamiliar
with the roads and paths. The dust was so thick that they could
not recognize each other and knocked each other down. The fortunate
ones who managed to get away hastened to leave the city…
Therefore,
the Romans were forced to withdraw and to launch a new attack. Provisions
were lacking and morale was low in the city. The collapse of a tower
that had been sabotaged by the Romans succeeded in spreading panic
among the besieged:
Remembering their mortifying setback, the Romans did not dare to
venture into the city again and waited for the next day. But Titus,
who had returned, prompted by his men’s presentiment of failure,
stealthily slipped into the city, leading two hundred horsemen and
a handful of the most daring soldiers. As soon as the report of
its incursion spread throughout the city, a group of the besieged,
yielding to despair, ran to seek refuge in the castle, dragging
their wives and children with them; another group went to confront
Titus and were massacred by the soldiers; a third group, unable
to enter the castle and not knowing where to go, fell under the
blows of the Romans. Death was everywhere, taking different forms;
the city resounded with moaning and was inundated with streams of
blood that flowed from the highest points.
Vespasian
concentrated his troops, facing the castle that was located on the
summit of the mountain on stony ground, which was difficult to access,
surrounded by rocks and so high that the arrows couldn’t reach it.
The besieged had the advantage of being able to repulse the assailants
with the blows of arrows and rocks. But, as if heaven had taken
the side of the Romans against this wretched people, a whirlwind
rose, pushing the arrows of the Romans forward and diverting those
of the Jews. The impetuous wind prevented the besieged from holding
their positions, which would have allowed them to defend themselves,
and the cloud was so thick that they could no longer see their enemies.
This is how the Romans succeeded in reaching the summit of the mountain,
encircling the besieged from all sides, driven by the burning memory
of the fatal day before that they had survived, they indiscriminately
massacred those who surrendered and those who resisted. Losing all
hope, the others pushed their wives and children off the heights
of the rocks, hurling themselves down behind them in order to not
survive them for an instant. Given the number of their own victims,
their cruelty to themselves exceeded that inflicted upon them by
the enraged Romans …
F.
Joseph, The Jewish War IV: 2 – 7
The vestiges of the Kazrin
synagogue, not far from the modern city bearing the same name, are
particularly interesting: 40 meters high, 18 meters long, 15.4 meters
wide, with a long bench along the walls. A portico, measuring 1.90
meters made of Basaltic stone and decorated with traditional Jewish
motifs, stands on the north. Numerous vestiges around the synagogue
bear witness to the presence of a Jewish community in the region
during the period of the Talmud.