Barry Strauss's new book, Jews vs. Rome: Two Centuries of Rebellion Against the World's Mightiest Empire, explores the resilience of the Jewish people through three major revolts against Roman rule. The narrative draws heavily on the writings of Josephus, a Jewish historian whose complex relationship with Rome and his own people colors his accounts of the era. Strauss critically examines Josephus's reliability, highlighting the challenges of reconstructing events from limited and biased sources.

The book delves into the internal divisions among the Jews, noting that their resistance was marked by factionalism as much as by opposition to Roman authority. Strauss also provides vivid details of Roman punishments, such as crucifixion, and the brutality of the empire's response to rebellion. Despite military defeat and immense suffering, Strauss argues that Jewish survival was secured through a shift from material resistance to spiritual resilience, a legacy that endures to this day.

While the revolts lack the clear heroes and narrative lines found in other historical conflicts, Strauss's scholarly approach offers insight into the complexities of Jewish resistance and the enduring strength of Jewish culture.