Josephus Flavius was a Jew born in Jerusalem in the year 37. He is best known for detailing the story of the first Jewish revolt against the Roman Empire, in which he led the Jewish forces, as well as retelling the history of the Jewish people leading up to the revolt.
But, throughout the centuries, Josephus remains a controversial figure in Jewish history. According to Josephus.org, some Jewish historians defend his actions and writings, noting he was motivated by what he considered best for the survival of the Jewish people. Others are equally adamant that he was opportunistic and a traitor to the Jewish people.
Who was Josephus?
Born in 37 CE, Josephus was a “Kohen,” a descendant of Aaron, responsible for the service in the Holy Temple. As a young man, he traveled to Rome and became enamored of Roman culture. When war broke out, Josephus returned to Jerusalem where he appointed the military governor of the Galilee in the militarily strategic north of Israel.
According to Chabad.org, he commanded the Jewish forces in the city of Jotapata but realized that defeat was imminent. He hid in a cave with other fighters. When the Jews in the cave decided on a suicide pact, Josephus arranged matters to remain alive. Surrendering to the Romans, he convinced the Romans that he would be valuable as a spokesman to the Jews. Traveling with the Roman army on their road of conquest, Josephus constantly harangued the Jewish defenders, telling them of the futility of resistance.
After the war, he returned to Rome and wrote historical works with a pro-Roman slant. However, his Jewish sentiments do sometimes appear in his work, which includes “The Jewish War,” the Jewish history from the Maccabees to the downfall of Masada and “The Jewish Antiquities,” a history from creation to the outbreak of war with Rome.
Historical critics of Josephus’s writings say that his work contradicts Talmudic and Midrashic traditions while others say his recording of events, such as Masada, which do not appear in traditional sources, can be believed.
Discussing Josephus
Now, two millennia later, Josephus, his life, his work and his legacy are the focus of a special event this week at Washington University.
Professor of Ancient History Jonathan Price of Tel Aviv University is presenting a special lecture entitled “The Problem of Josephus” on Thursday, Sept. 7 at Busch Hall.
“Josephus poses serious problems for the modern reader, mainly, how to use any of his information reliably, and whether and how to read his huge corpus as literature rather than a vast repository of information,” wrote Dr. Price.
In this lecture, Price shall sharpen those problems by using examples from his writings and suggest ways through them.
The Problem of Josephus
When: Thursday, Sept. 7 at 6 p.m.
Where: Busch Hall 100
How much: Free
More info: For more information send an email to [email protected]
