Archive for January, 2008

Josephus, Antiquities XIV, 1-3: Josephus’ Philosophy of History
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Josephus, Antiquities XIV, 1-3: Josephus’ Philosophy of History

Josephus tells us that he sought to present a historically accurate work even while using literary techniques to create an enjoyable book. (1) We have related the affairs of Queen Alexandra and her death in the foregoing book, and will now speak of what followed immediately thereafter, declaring, before we proceed, that we have nothing so much […]

Josephus, War, Preface 6-16: Writing the History of the Jewish War
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Josephus, War, Preface 6-16: Writing the History of the Jewish War

In the preface to the Jewish War, written in Rome between 75 and 79 C.E., Josephus sets forth the principles on which he proposed to write on accurate history of the Jewish war with Rome. From it we learn much about his concept and attitude as a historian. Apparently, the work was written to correct […]

Josephus, Life 414-30: Josephus after the Revolt
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Josephus, Life 414-30: Josephus after the Revolt

Josephus served as a rebel commander in the Galilee. After the fall of Jotapata, Josephus found shelter with some comrades in a cave and wished to surrender to the Romans, but his companions insisted that lots be drawn, and the besieged killed one another until he and one other were the last alive. They decided […]

Josephus, Life 1-24, 80-83: The Autobiography of a Historian
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Josephus, Life 1-24, 80-83: The Autobiography of a Historian

In the Life, Josephus gives some details of his biography and the perspective from which he wrote. His picture is self-glorifying and at times even tendentious, yet when critically evaluated it provides an important perspective on his historical works. The Life probably was written in Rome toward the very end of the first century C.E. […]

Josephus, War VII, 252-404: The Siege of Masada
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Josephus, War VII, 252-404: The Siege of Masada

The final chapter in the Great Revolt was the battle for Masada. Here, according to Josephus, the rebels faced certain defeat and so elected to deny their captors the opportunity to deprive them of their freedom by killing themselves. In recent years, scholars have debated the historicity of this account. (252) When Bassus 56 had […]

Dio Cassius, Historia Romana LXVI, 47: A Roman Account of the Revolt
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Dio Cassius, Historia Romana LXVI, 47: A Roman Account of the Revolt

The Roman historian Dio Cassius (ca. 164-after 229 C.E.) gives an account which in the  main agrees with that of Josephus, except that he sees Titus as encouraging the destruction of the Temple, as did Tacitus. (4-1) Titus, who had been assigned to the war against the Jews, undertook to win them over by certain representations and […]

Josephus, War VI, 149-266: The Final Roman Victory
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Josephus, War VI, 149-266: The Final Roman Victory

The Romans finally overcame the Jews amid great slaughter. The final battle was for the Temple. Josephus portrays Titus as wanting to spare it, but in the end it was destroyed nonetheless. (149) In the meantime, the rest of the Roman army in seven days’ time had overthrown the foundations of the tower of Antonia, and […]

Babylonian Talmud Gittin 56a-b: The Rabbinic Account of the Siege
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Babylonian Talmud Gittin 56a-b: The Rabbinic Account of the Siege

The Babylonian Talmud includes a long account of the siege which emphasizes the difficult conditions of the majority of the people and which claims Rabbinic opposition to the revolt. This passage also tells the story of the escape of Yohanan ben Zakkai and the transfer of the seat of Rabbinic leadership to Yavneh after the […]

Tacitus, Historiae V, 10-14: The Roman Earthworks at Jerusalem
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Tacitus, Historiae V, 10-14: The Roman Earthworks at Jerusalem

Tacitus, the Roman historian (ca. 56-ca. 118 C.E.), describes the siege of Jerusalem from the Roman point of view. While Josephus described Titus as hastening the battle out of compassion for the starving Jews} Tacitus ascribes it to base instincts. He accents as well the difficulties of the siege. (10) Still the Jews’ patience lasted […]

Josephus, War, X, 420-565: The Siege of Jerusalem
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Josephus, War, X, 420-565: The Siege of Jerusalem

In what follows, Josephus describes the horrible conditions the Jews faced in the city as the siege progressed. His own pro-Roman feelings and his deep disgust with the rebel factions comes out clearly in this passage. (420) As Josephus was speaking thus with a loud voice, the revolutionaries would neither yield to what he said, nor […]