https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/00310328.2024.2435788?needAccess=true
The author suggests that Bar Kochba wasn't the Messiah, just a very naughty boy who hijacked the revolt...
...and that for Jewish armourers to have produced the large number of "sub-standard" weapons that Dio claims were rejected by the Romans and then tucked away ahead of of the revolt, would require Jews amongst the administration or Roman army turning a blind eye to the consumption of iron and the disappearance of the weapons.
And was the real leader Brian Cohen?
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