Transcript Jewish Antiquities

Josephus
Josephus, son of Matthias b. 37 CE – d.
after 94/5 CE, from aristocratic Jewish
family
 Military commander of army in Galilee
 Captured by Romans, joined Vespasian,
went to Rome after 70 CE, became Roman
citizen, Flavius Josephus
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Josephus’ Work
The Jewish War, in 7 books and 110
chapters
 Written in Aramaic and in Greek
 Great Revolt against Romans in 66 CE
 Sources: own experience, eyewitness
reports, written sources
 Contemporary history
 Pro-Roman, anti rebels
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Other works
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Jewish Antiquities (history of Jews from
creation to revolt in 66 CE)
 autobiography
The Context: Judaea and Rome
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63 BCE fell to Rome; Pompey stormed Jerusalem,
killed priests in temple at altar
Judaea became a client kingdom – was not annexed
King Herod the Great 73 BCE – 4 BCE supported
by Romans, first by Antony, then by Augustus ;
Masada refurbished by Herod (to be prepared
against Jews and attack by Cleopatra)
Killed members of his own family (one wife, and
just before his death 2 of his sons)
The Jewish Revolt 66-73 CE
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54 – 68 CE reign of Nero, relations between provincials and
Rome went from bad to worse
66 CE open revolt begins
Gaius Cestius Gallus, governor of Syria tried to capture
Jerusalem but failed
Nero sent general Vespasian and his son Titus - campaign
was delayed twice
69 CE, Year of Four emperors, Vespasian becomes emperor
70 CE Son Titus stormed and reduced Jerusalem, Temple
burnt down, worship prohibited, temple taxes transferred to
Jupiter Capitolinus (Rome)
One pocket of resistance – Masada, palace fortress of king
Herod - captured in 73 CE
Revolt decimated Judaes’ population; Jews prohibited from
proselytizing; some concessions: those born into faith were
allowed to worship; Jews not forced to participate in Imprial
cult
Masada
Josephus’ Jewish War
In preface (now lost but described) considers
war the greatest upheaval of all times
 Book 1 survey of Jewish history from time of
Judas Maccabaeus, also long discussion of Herod
the Great’s reign.
 Book 2 - Herod’s sons, two periods of Roman
annexation which led to open revolt in 77 CE;
his appointment by Jews as governor of Galilee
 Book 3 arrival of general Vespasian and son
Titus and their campaign
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Jewish Wars Summary
Book 4 - Jewish factions in Jerusalem,
their atrocities against each other
 Vespasian’s accession to emperor
 Book 5 and 6 detailed account of siege
and capture of Jerusalem by Titus;
burning of Temple (70 CE)
 Book 7 story of subsequent mop up
operations, heroic 3-year defence of
Masada (section in our collection)
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The nature of The ‘Jewish War’
Like Polybius’ work written in Greek
 Outsider’s perspective;
 Defends Jewish culture, but is opposed to
rebels
 Pro-Roman
 Perspective of the conquered
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Questions
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Ch. 8 What was the cause for the
rebellion?
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..one only strong hold that was still in rebellion,
…this fortress was called Masada. It was one
Eleazar, a potent man, and the commander of
these Sicarii, that had seized upon it. He was a
descendant from that Judas who had persuaded
most of the Jews, …not to submit to the taxation
when Cyrenius was sent into Judea to make one;
for then it was that the Sicarii got together against
those that were willing to submit to the Romans,
and treated them in all respects as if they had
been their enemies, both by plundering them of
what they had, by driving away their cattle, and
by setting fire to their houses…. 8.1
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How did Josephus view his fellow Jews?
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..no kind of evil deeds were then left undone; nor could any
one so much as devise any bad thing that was new, so deeply
were they all infected, and strove with one another in their
single capacity, and in their communities, who sould run the
greatest length in impiety towards God, and in unjust actions
towards their neighbors; the men of power oppressing the
multitude, and the multitude earnestly laboring to destroy the
men of power…..They were the Sicarii who first began these
transgressions, and first became barbarous towards those
allied to them and left no words of reproach unsaid, and no
works or perdition untried, in order to destroy those whom
their contrivances affected.
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How did the other leaders do – John, Simon, the Idumeans?
Literary devices
Speeches – to what effect did Josephus
use speeches? First speech 1.6 Eleazar;
 2nd speech 1.7
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..”now who is there that revolves these thins
in his mind, and yet is able to bear the sight
of the sun, though he might live out of
danger? Who is there so much his country’s
enemy, or so unmanly, and so desirous of
living, as not to repent that he is still alive?
And I cannot but wish that we had all died
before we had seen that holy city demolished
by the hands of our enemies, or the
foundation of our holy temple dug up after so
profane a manner.
What is his view of the Romans and their
role in Judaea?
 Style: what literary devices does he use?
 To what purpose – and how effective are
they?
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