Masada and the Jewish Zealots' Last Stand Against the Roman Empire

Judea was ruled by Rome two thousand years ago, and in AD 66, a Jewish Revolt flared into a full-scale war that raged for four years - until the Roman general Titus destroyed Jerusalem. But one outpost alone held out against the Romans. It was the fortress of Masada built high above the Dead Sea on top of a barren mountainous plateau, and it's where one of the most heroic and incredible stories of all history was played out when a small group of Jewish Zealots defied the power of Rome.
📺 In this Episode:
Due to its natural features, steep sides, and lack of easy access, the place is virtually invincible. Herod the Great also recognised this natural fortress's unique characteristics and strategic advantages. He was a Roman client king of Judea who ruled this region from 37 BC to 4 BC. He wanted a fortress, a place of refuge, in case the Jews should rebel against him or the Egyptian pharaoh Cleopatra, who wanted Judea, should try to have him killed. So, he fortified Masada with walls, gates and towers.
This ancient stone fortress was also a place of safety for King David when he was threatened by danger during his fugitive years before he became king. Like Herod and the Zealots a thousand years after him, David recognised the strategic advantages of Masada. He realised that with its steep sides and difficult access, it was a perfect hiding place and easy to defend. He knew he could find safety there.
📚 The free booklet to this episode "Psalm 23": 📚
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🇦🇺 About the Ministry 🇦🇺
The Incredible Journey is a donor-funded ministry passionate about communicating our bold vision of sharing the good news of Christ and preparing people for the soon coming of Jesus. We are devoted to giving Biblical answers to life’s questions through television, the Internet, social media, Bible Centre, evangelistic ministry and Christian living and faith-sharing resources.
👨🏼‍🎓 About our Speaker 👨🏼‍🎓
Gary Kent is the speaker for The Incredible Journey media ministry. He holds a B.A. in Theology, M.A. in Ancient History & Archaeology, and M. in Divinity. He is an archaeologist who has excavated numerous sites throughout Israel and Jordan. As an internationally-acclaimed speaker and TV presenter, he has spoken and produced numerous documentaries on subjects including the Bible, Bible prophecy, world events and natural health. His passion is to share the good news of Jesus’ imminent return.
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Chapters
0:00 Intro
2:02 Masada's Location
2:36 King Herod the Great
4:09 Jewish Zealots'
6:02 Roman siege on Masada against the Jewish Zealots (AD73)
9:19 The Romans were met with silence
10:53 What happened at Masada
11:50 Eleazer Ben Yair's Famous Speach
13:28 King David
19:21 God is our Stronghold
25:10 Free Offer - Psalm 23
27:29 Prayer
🔎 Hashtags 🔎
#Masada #jewish #israel #romans #rome #Jerusalem #DeadSea #documentary #education

[@markkallstrom5672]

I was just at Masada this Feb 2024 , I left there with the thought I think way to SMALL . I went to Israel to support the people and help rebuild places that were damaged . I had NO fear while there , even went to the musical site where the brutal massacre happened and you could hear the explosions in Gaza . Israel needs our help now . GO NOW AND HELP . now now now .

[@sforza209]

lol Israel needs help? That’s funny.

[@markkallstrom5672]

@@sforza209 I think everyone needs some kind of help . Not everyone is like me or others who are willing to do some kind of help .

[@WildFaith]

Thanks for sharing that. I have always wanted to visit Israel and see some of places of Biblical history. After the October attacks I thought, "I've missed my chance". It's encouraging to hear that you felt safe there and that now I could go and perhaps make an impact for good. God bless you. I stand with Israel.

[@markkallstrom5672]

@@WildFaith There are many places to go and help

[@edward2448]

I was fascinated that they found seeds from a Date tree and planted them 2000 years later and they grew.

[@sugarsauce2435]

That was so cool. I saw that too. Big ups to the ladies that dedicated themselves to bringing the tree back successfully. Just more proof to me personally of Gods existence. I'm walking proof, so I dont need anyone else's proof but that just solidified my belief in God even more. ❤

[@edward2448]

@@sugarsauce2435 I first heard about it on a channel called Sergio and Rhoda in Israel 🇮🇱. Good stuff.✝️📖🙏

[@ddanwel77]

Amen and amen. God is our only fortress. As the song says, A Mighty Fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing.

[@AH-sc8jt]

I was very fortunate to have been on Masada three times in 1995, one morning we got up there before sunrise and we all just sat on the ancient walls, everyone silent, and watched the sun come up over the dead sea. It was magical.

[@bonbalab_]

Amen,praise God Thank you so much Pastor Gary God bless

[@retiloveyouisraelbo8988]

Beautiful my brother, God bless You, keep you, and prosper you. Thank You very much.

[@arlenehensley6753]

Psalm 46 -- God is our Refuge and Strength. I have climbed Massada with a seminary group.

[@tracybartel7762]

I was there July 2023 it had to be 40 Celsius. It was awful uncomfortable. I can't wait to see the Holy Land again. God Bless Israel

[@petergianakopoulos4926]

Stop traveling July and August.

[@jamaicakandes50]

I am blessed by this. Something I've never read or seen said here. May the Good Lord bless your Ps Kent. 🙏

[@senimiliadituragabekanimol5161]

Thank you very much for your interesting tour.

[@David-cb5et]

What an excellent video! Thank you Pastor Gary. Happy Sabbath.

[@TheIncredibleJourney]

You are very welcome

[@luisrivas1339]

He is my rock and my salvation ❤ hallelujah. Blessings 🙌 ❤shalom

[@aroyaliota]

Thank you for this timely encouragement. 🙏

[@1941MGR]

I so enjoy Gary Kent's retelling of Bible history. The photography puts you right back in time

[@TheIncredibleJourney]

Thank you for the feedback. A lot of effort goes into these programs, but when we hear people like yourself giving feedback, it motivates us to do more. God bless

[@wizzardofpaws2420]

Pastor Gary takes us to wonderful places all over the world with the word of GOD!!

[@aluhmajal1748]

The LORD brought me to see Massada last Feb 2023. Your video, Pastor, even gave more value to that name now for me. YES! YAHWEH IS OUR ONLY MASSADA! Thanks Pastor.

[@ElizabethMayo-sf4wg]

Thank you for this video!!! I appreciate learning from this video. I never knew that there were any survivors. I did not David had gone long ago either. Very good video.

[@ElizabethMayo-sf4wg]

I also want to add what an awesome job was done bringing up David!!!! I never knew that either. I want more videos like this.

[@TheIncredibleJourney]

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave your feedback on our video. We really appreciate you letting us know your thoughts, as it helps us create better content. Please feel free to share this video with others who you think may enjoy it or find it useful. The more we spread positive messages, the more we can uplift and inspire.

[@ellesmerewildwood4858]

There are so many places of wonder in the "Holy Land" including Masada that I would love to visit but the Middle East is always unstable and obviously not safe at the present time. I also heard someone found date palm seeds at Masada and and even after 2000 years a few of the seeds were still viable and they managed to grow some palms from them. If they Jews had just acted with more wisdom with regards to the Romans so much bloodshed could have been avoided. The constant fight against the Romans was misguided and futile. To this day, the great stones of the temple lay exactly where they fell 2000 years ago and much of the ramp the Romans built to reach Masada is still there. Thanks to Pastor Gary and the Incredible Journey team for taking us there.

[@markkallstrom5672]

I just returned from Israel Feb 20th , being there for about two days for the first time . I felt safe . Now is the time to go and help Israel . I went there to help rebuild , and was loved for it .

[@nicjansevanrensburg7854]

Thank you for revisiting this incredible story. Very much appreciated! 🙌

[@TheIncredibleJourney]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ramkanjeenterprises5416]

Very well done documentary. GOD bless.

[@shayleenjoubert2008]

So interesting. Thank you❤. My Husband climbed up Masada in the early 80's while he was on a Kibutz in Isreal. South africa

[@TheIncredibleJourney]

Thank you for this interesting feedback. Blessings

[@user-bn3uo9wx3r]

Beautifully presented....what an incredible journey. 😊

[@MoonLight-yr6of]

The explaination of Masada and the Jewish Zealots were told simply. God is our strongehold our Masada. Glory to God!

[@ronniematrix89]

Inspirational Christian message and spirit of forgiveness.

[@patriciagraham222]

Music way too loud... Can 't watch it to the end.

[@TheIncredibleJourney]

Thank you for your feedback. We have passed your comments on to our production team. Hope we can improve our future programs that will be more suitable for your hearing.

[@edmccaffrey1]

Let none of us confuse a historical account with a biblical event explained within the scriptures. Jesus was, is, and always be the answer. For them and us.

[@petergianakopoulos4926]

No argument here

[@debbylou5729]

Interesting they’re calling them zealots. I saw this exact subject covered on a PBS series. They were called ‘Jews’

[@sevic333]

Cool info

[@moses5161]

I was there in 2017!!

[@TheIncredibleJourney]

We would love to hear more about your experience @ Masada. Also, please subscribe & share if you have enjoyed our production. Thank you for your feedback. Blessings

[@christianrobinson1761]

Nope

[@kcstafford2784]

wish folks would figure out that background music makes it very hard fot the hearing impared to understand what is said

[@TheIncredibleJourney]

Hi. Is that throughout the whole episode or a thing that occurs in parts of the episode where the music is louder in general?

[@oftin_wong]

Put the subtitles on "cc"

[@kcstafford2784]

@@oftin_wong opens up other problems....Dumass

[@KingoftheJuice18]

Pastor Gary, with a heart for the Jewish people, this story could have taken a very different direction. The Zealots were not the last Jews standing. While those noble warriors took refuge at Masada, the early Rabbinic Sages went off to places like Yavneh (Jamnia) and the Galilee. They chose the path of preserving God's Torah and the Jewish way of life. In faith, they did indeed see God as their rock and redeemer and, besides God, the Jews of today have them to thank for our physical and spiritual endurance. If you want to talk about an "incredible journey," there are few greater than how Jewish faith and devotion survived exiles, political powerlessness, persecution, and slaughter throughout the Christian and Muslim ages. I entreat you to recognize the faith of others and how God operates among them.

[@rinskedevries3272]

I walked on the "snake-path" in december 2016: breathtaking!😅 I had the privilege to visit ISRAËL 15 times in 30 years. The last visit is cancelled because of 0kt. 7th.... AM YISRAEL CHAI! ❤🙏🕎🙏✡️🙏✝️🇮🇱❤️🕊❤️ ❤ and greetings from Friesland, the Netherlands. 🇳🇱🇮🇱

[@petergianakopoulos4926]

300 Spartans defended a 3 metre pass..this is a 1 metre pass

[@rosemaryamulavu]

For as long as there is one Jew who can hold the Sword Massada shall never fall again.

[@user-ci5yg9py4x]

Non esistono più le spade😂

[@wilstjohn]

Lolol

[@samcarena4702]

They use to say that Palestinians fight like heros now they say heros fight like Palestinians

[@vancelouiegarcia9472]

Another proof that Israel owns this part of land and not palestinians.

[@paulcalder9697]

Rubbish

[@johnmann8659]

@@paulcalder9697Arabs are from Arabia.

[@oftin_wong]

Religions are the entire problem

[@Vivian-kb6vd]

I agree . God gave all of Israel to the Jews or Israelites not to any other people as recorded in the bible . The bible also says to never divide the land .

[@oftin_wong]

@@Vivian-kb6vd yes that's correct the Jewish people wrote it all in themselves ...so it must be true

[@bothewolf3466]

this guys voice....so high pitched.

[@alitlweird]

Closed captioning said “in 1866”

[@badbiker666]

The term, "zealot," seems to be used in this documentary using the modern, possibly English, definition, which is used to describe people who are fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their goals. These goals can be religious, political, or social (or something else, I suppose). The Zealots (with a capital Z) were specifically a Jewish group, and it was mostly a religious one. Of course, in those days, religion and politics were tightly interwoven, there wasn't a distinction. The Sicarii mentioned in the video, were a splinter group of the Zealots that took things to a higher level of intensity. They were, in modern terms, extremists, and possibly, terrorists. But again, the lines between moderates and extremists were much less well defined, and we're talking about people and events from several millenia ago, and it is hard not to judge them from our own points of view.

[@veersinghsanyasi1304]

Namascarum, Namaste, SatsriAkal, Salom yaveh, Wahiguru satnamji, God is one. Godbless srael 🏳️‍🌈🇮🇳🇲🇺👋👋👋🇳🇵🇪🇺🇱🇷🇮🇹🇬🇧

[@yourperropapi]

DO YOU GUYS THINK I SHOULD GO VISIT?

[@TheIncredibleJourney]

Historical sites are always great places to visit, especially when you have an understanding of the history. If you do get to see this place, please come back and give us your feedback

[@nancywhitehead219]

There is no honor in suicide 😢. God had already brought His Son to give salvation. No where in scripture did God approve of suicide 😢😢😢

[@maxinecashel1248]

Nancy, obviously you don’t know of any people who have successfully committed suicide!!!! No one knows what is happening in their life at the time of the intended suicide. It obviously wasn’t a great time. He was part of prophecy though 😊

[@Mr_Bob_Loblaw]

Technically they each were killed by another person, except the last person. If that makee any difference, I do not know.

[@oftin_wong]

There's no gods ...so, it's just down to human nature

[@wilstjohn]

@@Mr_Bob_LoblawGod doesn’t do “technically” no one is fooling God

[@tolik5929]

They messed with the wrong legion . The 10th was no joke . Like Shah mohammed II , antaginizing Ghenghis Khan ........it did not go well .

[@danieldowdell9831]

Good Today ! __" Jesus the Christ of GOD ", a simple trueth easily found in the early Writtings of the Jewish Be-Livers of the " Way, Trueth, Life ". __humbly, neighbour daniel __p.s. thanks for the increase of knowledge in this our troubled time .

[@cnino1971]

A Jew prays to God, please God i need your help, we are your children! A Palestinian prays to God and says “Please God i need your help, we are your children too! “ all extremes are bad God bless those who want peace and justice regardless of which side they are on!

[@TheIncredibleJourney]

At The Incredible Journey, We also pray for peace.

[@medicalmisinformation]

Note to self: don't murder God's son, then expect Him to favour your cause.

[@BrentCraig7]

If Israel were to follow God's plan from Genesis, which was for them to rule over all the Fertile Crescent, Rome could not have conquered them

[@jpandyaraja]

The Zealots were bad news, both for the Jews and the Romans. There was no subtle diplomacy in him , Masada, only hate for Romans. But this alone was not enough to fight the Romans, Masada wanted to cause a war between Romans and Jews firmly believing that the Jewsih god would then destroy the Roman army. He was wrong , no Jewish God came from the Temple Mount to destroy the Romans.. The later then extracted a terrible revenge

[@clementmariostlouis6686]

palestinians dislike this video because it negates their claim over the land of palestine which khalid conquered in 636 AD

[@wilstjohn]

What? Why? If anything it proves …the country was destroyed the temple destroyed …that’s what happens when conquered…. Conquering happened way before the razing of the temple… if that was the case then Germany had the right to claim the land in France and Hungary. Suicide isn’t honorable. That’s what cult do…..similar to Jim jones…very similar

[@wilstjohn]

Caaninites have the better claim or Rome

[@petergianakopoulos4926]

Did Masada have a fresh water supply? If not it's a dumb fortress.

[@TheIncredibleJourney]

Good question friend, There were two main sources of water: Cisterns - There were over 40 cisterns that collected rainwater. The cisterns could hold over 40,000 cubic meters of water. This stored rainwater provided the main water supply. Herod's Northern Palace - At the northern tip of Masada was a palace built by Herod the Great. It had bath houses that were fed by aqueducts carrying fresh water to Masada from springs on the other side of the Dead Sea.

[@petergianakopoulos4926]

@@TheIncredibleJourney ty for the detailed answer.

[@christianrobinson1761]

Y yes sa it sure did when it rained the water was collected and stored in reservoirs called a cistern

[@christianrobinson1761]

Josephus was a traitor

[@frankiewally1891]

To get the idea how was it then you must read "The Jewish war" written by Josephus Flavius ,Jew, Roman citizen,who participated in the events of that war.Then you get the real story.

[@onedumbbaby]

Thank you for this beautiful documentary. Pastor Gary's voice is very calm and soothing. I learned new things about Masada.

[@markwolfshohl6562]

Well, except for the Romans😎