Jewish Biography as History Dr. Henry Abramson
Career in Rome
Writes _The Jewish War_, receives name "Flavius" from Vespasian's family, book placed in Imperial Library
Three failed marriages, three sons
Readership? Wide-scale interest in Jews and Judaism, despite repeated rebellions
Titus
The Rebellion Against Rome
Kulturkampf of Rome and Jerusalem
Outbreak of the Revolt
Internecine Strife
Josephus in the Galilee
Why did Josephus Survive?
Now, there lived about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ; and amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared alive to them again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.
Imperial approval
More important: reference to Jesus
Most likely a pious scribal interpolation: first appears in 4th century citation, not quoted in 3rd century texts
Josephus becomes hugely important source for Christians
Hebrew _Yosippon_ medieval paraphrase
Youthful Success
Mission to Rome
Contrasting Jerusalem and Rome in Jewish thought
Impression on young Josephus
Historical Context
Decline of Hasmonean dynasty
Roman domination
Sadducees
Pharisees
Essenes
Zealots
Four Major Jewish Sects
The Fall of Jotapata (Yodfat)
Apparently poor command, lacked popular support
Jotapata surrounded, Josephus survives suicide pact
Captured by Vespasian
Conclusions
Apion's ignoble, ironic end
Josephus' complex legacy
Retrospective on origins of antisemitism and the Jewish response
In Roman Captivity
Long captivity under Vespasian
Josephus prophesizes that Vespasian will become emperor (cf. Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai)
Vespasian leaves for Rome, assigns Josephus as advisor to son Titus
Remains in place through duration of the war, culminating in the destruction of the Temple
Cohen, prominent parents
Claims strong education
Apparently Pharisee, some scholarly debate
Major History of the Jews
Title reference to respect for age of Judaism
Best when copied from other sources (often)
Weak grasp of Rabbinic Judaism
Strongest in post-Hasmonean era
Family Background
Jewish Antiquities
Who Was Apion?
1st c. Hellenized Egyptian Grammarian
Work survives only in citations, e.g. Androcles and the Lion
Flavius Josephus, Against Apion
Likely Josephus' last work
Character: reflective, literate, evidence of tristesse
Historical value: sense of attitudes toward Jews in ancient world
Scholarly debate on the origins of antisemitism
Titus Flavius Josephus
(Yosef ben Matityahu)
37 - c. 100 CE
Historian of the First Roman-Jewish War
Ambiguous Legacy
Antisemitic Ideologies: Four Periods
Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose
or
Something new under the sun?
2. Early Christian Anti-Judaism
Distinctions between charges of Apion's era and the early Christian period
Based on sincere misunderstandings of authentic Judaic practice?
Xenophobia common to the human experience?
1. Antiquity of Judaism
2. Reason behind the Law
3. Populism of the Law
4. Dedication of common Jews to the Law