The Apologists · AD 130–180 · External witness

Simon bar Kokhba

d. AD 135 (fall of Betar) · Leader of the Second Jewish Revolt · Persecutor of Christians · Judaea

External witness

Simon bar Kokhba — historical depiction 1
Simon bar KokhbaCNG · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
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Simon bar Kokhba — historical depiction 1

Simon bar KokhbaCNG · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons

Who Simon bar Kokhba was

'Son of the Star' to his followers, Barchochebas to the Greeks — the messianic commander of the revolt of 132–135 that ended in Hadrian's obliteration of Jewish Jerusalem. Justin, writing within twenty years, records that in the war he ordered Christians alone to be dragged to punishment unless they would deny Jesus as the Christ — the first persecution of the church by a rival messiah.

Also listed in non-christian witnesses.

Common questions

When did Simon bar Kokhba die?

Simon bar Kokhba is dated d. AD 135 (fall of Betar) in the archive, which places Simon bar Kokhba in the Apologists (AD 130–180).

Which early sources mention Simon bar Kokhba?

Simon bar Kokhba is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Justin Martyr, Eusebius of Caesarea and Jerome of Stridon. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Where was Simon bar Kokhba from?

The archive associates Simon bar Kokhba with Judaea.

Who were Simon bar Kokhba’s contemporaries?

The archive links Simon bar Kokhba to 2 other figures, including Emperor Hadrian and Justin Martyr. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.

Primary-source mentions (3)

Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

First Apology 31

c. AD 155
In the Jewish war which lately raged, Barchochebas, the leader of the revolt of the Jews, gave orders that Christians alone should be led to cruel punishments, unless they would deny Jesus Christ and utter blasphemy.
Justin Martyr · 31 · source text

Ecclesiastical History IV.6 ('Barchochebas', punisher of the Christians)

c. AD 325
The Jews were at that time led by a certain Barchochebas, which signifies a star — a man who was murderous and a bandit, but relied on his name.
Eusebius of Caesarea · Ecclesiastical History IV.6 · source text

Chronicle of Jerome ('Cochebas, leader of the Jewish faction')

c. AD 380
Jerome of Stridon · Chronicle, ann. Abr. 2149 · source text

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