Simon bar Kokhba (Hebrew: שִׁמְעוֹן בַּר כּוֹכְבָא), also known as Simon bar Koseba (שִׁמְעוֹן בַּר כֹסֵבָא), was a Jewish military commander in Judea and the central figure of the Bar Kokhba Revolt against the Roman Empire in 132 CE. Though ultimately defeated, Bar Kokhba and his forces successfully established an independent Jewish state for roughly three years. During this time, he ruled as nasi (“prince”), and some contemporary rabbis believed he might be the long-awaited Messiah. The revolt ended in 135 CE when Bar Kokhba was killed during the Roman siege of Betar. Within a year, the remaining rebels were either killed or enslaved, and Emperor Hadrian imposed severe measures against the Jewish population.
Name
Documented Name
Twentieth-century discoveries in the Cave of Letters revealed variations of his original name:
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Simeon bar Kosevah
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Bar Koseva
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Ben Koseva
Most scholars conclude that his actual name was Bar Koseba, possibly referring to his father or his place of origin. Some suggest he came from a village called Koseva or Chozeba, though it may simply have been a family name.
Nicknames
During the revolt, Rabbi Akiva declared him the promised Messiah, interpreting the prophecy of a “star out of Jacob” (Numbers 24:17) as referring to Simon—linking the Hebrew word kokhav (“star”) to his name. This association later inspired the nickname Bar Kokhba (“Son of the Star”).
However, early Jewish texts actually refer to him as Bar Koziva, while the nickname “Bar Kokhba” does not appear in Jewish sources until much later.
Revolt Leader
Bar Kokhba’s revolt followed decades of hardship after the First Jewish–Roman War. Despite the destruction left by Rome, oppressive imperial policies under Hadrian fueled a new uprising. As the recognized leader of the Jewish resistance, Bar Kokhba enforced unity by punishing any Jew who refused to join the fight.
The revolt initially saw significant Jewish success. For a time, the Romans struggled severely, prompting them to adopt a brutal scorched-earth strategy to break the resistance. Eventually, Bar Kokhba and his last defenders fortified themselves in Betar, where they were overwhelmed after a prolonged siege.
Ancient sources vary: the Jerusalem Talmud describes the siege lasting three and a half years, though the revolt itself generally spanned about two and a half years. Roman historian Cassius Dio reports staggering losses—580,000 Jewish dead, along with hundreds of towns and villages destroyed—while many more died from famine, disease, or fire.
Outcome and Aftermath
Hadrian considered the victory so costly that he abandoned the customary opening blessing when addressing the Senate. To further suppress Jewish identity, he merged Judaea with surrounding regions to form the province of Syria Palaestina, a move widely seen as an attempt to sever the Jewish connection to the land.
Archaeological Discoveries
Major insights into the revolt emerged from letters found in the Cave of Letters, some possibly written by Bar Kokhba himself. These artifacts are now displayed in the Israel Museum.
In 2024, researchers discovered a coin inscribed “Eleazar the Priest” and marked “Year 1 of the Redemption of Israel,” shedding further light on the movement’s religious and political ideology.
Ideology and Language
Archaeologist Yigael Yadin argued that Bar Kokhba attempted to revive Hebrew as the official language of the Jewish state, reinforcing his messianic-national vision.
Character and Talmudic Accounts
A letter attributed to Bar Kokhba reveals a strict and forceful leader, frustrated with the Galilean troops under his command.
Rabbinic literature paints him as both powerful and flawed. The Talmud describes him commanding an army of 200,000 and requiring recruits to prove bravery in extreme ways. Before battle, he was said to proclaim:
“Master of the universe, we don’t need Your help—just don’t embarrass us.”
Another tradition claims he killed his uncle, Rabbi Elazar Hamuda’i, on suspicion of betrayal, a sin believed to have forfeited divine protection and contributed to Betar’s downfall.
According to legend, after his death the Romans brought his severed head to Hadrian, who—seeing a serpent wrapped around it—declared that only God could have slain such a man.
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