Battle at Gamala

Gamala was an agrarian settlement in the Galilee and one of the principal towns that participated in the First Jewish Revolt. Josephus recounts his role as rebel commander at Gamala, where he is responsible for fortifying the settlement with a wall on its eastern flank. The seemingly impregnable city is besieged relentlessly by Vespasian in the autumn of 67 CE following Agrippa’s failed pleas for the Jews’ surrender. The Romans breach the city, and chaos ensues. After initially fierce resistance, the hapless rebels cannot repel the attack. The rebels are extirpated mercilessly. Gamala is defeated. Josephus recounts that the morale of Vespasian’s troops was quite low as a result of their victory, won at too great a cost. Meanwhile the Jewish rebels and the other inhabitants of Gamala realize that they will not be able to withstand another attack. Those rebels who are able flee the city, while the holdouts face a fresh Roman assault. Vespasian conquers neighboring Mount Tabor. Then, one night, the Romans undermine Gamala’s defenses.

In keeping with the theme of divine intervention in these battles, Josephus describes how the wind was with the Roman arrows and against those of the rebels. As their defenses fail once again, the rebels are trapped. Many choose to plunge to their deaths alongside their families. Together, Titus and Vespasian eradicate the city.

Gamala remained uninhabited after its defeat in 67 CE. For images and visual reconstructions of the site, see architecture of urban houses and synagogues in Visual and Material Culture.