When the Roman emperor decided to destroy the Temple, he sent his chief of staff to carry out the mission. The Sages reveal what happened in Jerusalem at that time, including the disputes between the various factions among the people, the attitude of the Sages, and Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai’s attempt to abolish the evil decree.

The emperor sent Vespasian Caesar against the Jews. He came and laid siege to Jerusalem for three years. There were three wealthy men there: Nakdimon ben Guryon, ben Kalba Savua, and ben Tzitzit HaKasat.…

One of them said to the other two: I will sustain the residents with wheat and barley; and one said to them: I will sustain them with wine, salt, and oil; and one said to them: I will sustain them with wood. They had enough to sustain the residents for twenty-one years.

There were zealots among the Jews in Jerusalem. The Sages said to them: Let us go out and make peace with the Romans. But the zealots did not allow them to do so. They said to the Sages: Let us go out and wage war against the Romans. The Sages said to them: The matter will not be successful. The zealots rose and burned those storehouses of wheat and barley, and there was a famine.…

Abba Sikara was the leader of the zealots of Jerusalem and the son of Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai’s sister. Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai sent a message to him: Come to me in secret. He came, and Rabban Yohanan said to him: Until when will you act in this manner, and kill everyone through starvation? Abba Sikara said to him: What can I do? If I say something to the zealots they will kill me. Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai said to him: See if you can find a way for me to leave the city, and perhaps there will be a small salvation for the people.

Abba Sikara said to him: Pretend to be sick, so that everyone will come and ask about you. Next, bring something putrid and place it near you, and people will say that you have died. Then, have your students come to take you to burial, and let no one else enter, so that the zealots will not notice that you are light, as they know that a living person is lighter than a dead person.

Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai did so. Rabbi Eliezer came from one side and Rabbi Yehoshua from another side to take him out. When they arrived at the entrance of the city, the guards posted by the zealots wanted to stab Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai to ensure that he was really dead. Abba Sikara said to them: The Romans will say that the Jews stabbed their teacher. The guards wanted to push Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai to see if there would be any reaction. Abba Sikara said to them that the Romans will say that the Jews pushed their teacher. The guards opened the gate for him and he left the city.

When Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai reached the Roman camp, he said: Greetings to you, king. Vespasian said to him: You are liable to be executed on two counts; one because I am not a king, yet you call me king. Furthermore, if I am king, why didn’t you come to me until now? Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai said to him: Concerning what you said: I am not a king, in fact, you are a king, as were you not a king, Jerusalem would not be given into your hand, as it is written: “And the Lebanon will fall by a mighty one” (Isaiah 10:34). “Mighty one” means nothing other than a king, and “Lebanon” means nothing other than the Temple.…Concerning what you said: If I am king, why didn’t you come to me until now, the zealots among us did not allow me to do so.

Vespasian said to him: If there is a barrel of honey and a snake is wrapped around it, wouldn’t people break the barrel to kill the snake? Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai remained silent. Rav Yosef read this verse in his regard, and some say it was Rabbi Akiva: “I am the Lord…. who turns around the wise and makes their knowledge foolishness” (Isaiah 44:24–25). Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai should have said to him: We take tongs, remove the snake and kill it, and leave the barrel intact.

Meanwhile, a messenger arrived from Rome and said to Vespasian: Rise, as the emperor has died, and the noblemen of Rome want to install you as the leader. Vespasian was wearing one shoe then. He sought to put on the other one, it did not fit. He sought to remove the other shoe, but it would not come off. He said: What is this?

Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai explained to him: Do not be troubled, as good tidings have reached you, as it is written: “Good news fortifies bones” (Proverbs 15:30). But what is its remedy? Have someone with whom you are displeased come and pass before you, as it is written: “A depressed spirit dries bones” (Proverbs 17:22). He did so, and his shoe went on his foot. Vespasian said to him: Since you are so wise, why did you not come to me until now? Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai said to him: Didn’t I tell you already? Vespasian said to him: I, too, told you my response.

Vespasian then said to him: I am going to Rome, and I will send another person to continue the siege. But request something of me that I will grant you. Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai said to him: Give me [spare] Yavne and its Sages and the dynasty of Rabban Gamliel the Nasi, a descendant of King David; and provide doctors to heal Rabbi Tzadok. Rav Yosef read this verse in Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai’s regard, and some say it was Rabbi Akiva: “Who turns around the wise and makes their knowledge foolishness” (Isaiah 44:25). Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai should have said to him to leave the Jews alone this time. But Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai maintained that Vespasian would not grant that request, and in that case there would not be even a small measure of salvation. (Gittin 56a–b)