For the source text click/tap here: Gittin 56
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On our daf, the Gemara describes how Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai managed to escape the city and negotiate with Vespasian, the Roman general in charge of the army surrounding Jerusalem. Rabban Yohanan offered words of welcome to him, referring to him as the king. Vespasian argued that Rabban Yohanan deserved death for calling him the king when someone else was sitting on the throne in Rome. Rabban Yohanan assured him that he had to be the king, since Jerusalem was destined to fall only into the hands of a king. In the course of their conversation a messenger arrived from Rome and informed Vespasian that he had been chosen to be ruler of Rome, an announcement that made Vespasian realize the truth of Rabban Yohanan’s statement. In appreciation he offered to respond favorably to any request that Rabban Yohanan would make. Rabban Yohanan asked that the city of Yavneh be spared together with its sages, a request that would pave the way for revived Jewish life even after the destruction of the Temple.
We explore the legend in our daf and in Josephus.