Roman rule was characterised by extensive taxation which included among others, a poll tax, a crops tax and a levy on the transportation of goods. Apart from this, there was also the tax that was to be paid to the Jewish internal government which took the form of a temple or religious tax, which was primarily meant for the upkeep of the temple. This eventually led to a very great acquisition of wealth in the temple.

This double taxation eventually led to the impoverishment of many families, with many selling off their land to become serfs, or even to become hired labourers. This evidently was not acceptable and the resentment felt by the people began to show in the various riots and revolts that characterised this period.

With this unrest also arose the expectation of a deliverer from this yoke. A messiah, who perhaps would be able to destroy the Romans and free them from their oppressive will.

This desire for a messiah and the expectation grew so high that many would-be leaders took the opportunity and some declared themselves messiahs and kings and led the people to senseless revolts against the Romans which almost always led to a massacre of the Jews culminating in the eventual destruction of the Jerusalem temple and the final exile of the Jews in 135AD.