The Bar Kokhba Revolt (132-136 CE), led by Simon bar Kokhba, was the third and final Jewish–Roman War.^[107] This rebellion, responding to Roman policies in Judea, including the establishment of Aelia Capitolina on Jerusalem's ruins and a Jupiter temple on the Temple Mount, was initially successful.Bar Kokhba, seen by many as the Messiah, established a provisional state, gaining wide support.

However, the Roman response was formidable. Emperor Hadrian deployed a large military force under Sextus Julius Severus, eventually crushing the revolt in 134 CE.^[108] Bar Kokhba was killed at Betar in 135, and the remaining rebels were defeated or enslaved by 136.

The revolt's aftermath was devastating for Judea's Jewish population, with significant deaths, expulsions, and enslavement.^[109] Roman losses were also substantial, leading to the disbandment of Legio XXII Deiotariana.^[110] Post-revolt, Jewish societal focus shifted from Judea to Galilee, and harsh religious edicts were imposed by the Romans, including barring Jews from Jerusalem.^{[111 ]}Over the next centuries, more Jews left to communities in the Diaspora, especially the large, speedily growing Jewish communities in Babylonia and Arabia.

The revolt's failure led to a reevaluation of messianic beliefs within Judaism and marked a further divergence between Judaism and Early Christianity. The Talmud negatively references Bar Kokhba as "Ben Koziva" ('Son of Deception'), reflecting his perceived role as a false Messiah.^[112]

Following the suppression of the Bar Kokhba revolt, Jerusalem was rebuilt as a Roman colony under the name of Aelia Capitolina, and the province of Judea was renamed Syria Palaestina.