in Jerusalem that they should also surrender (J.W.6.96-110), has often at-
tracted strong criticism of his behavior. At the same time, Josephus has
been criticized for relying heavily on the notes of Vespasian and Titus in
constructing his account (Life358;Ag. Ap.1.56), and for uncritically draw-
ing material directly from other sources (e.g., Nicolaus of Damascus).
There is no doubt that the text provides a rich resource of information
on life in Judea in the first centuryc.e.and important aspects of Roman
history, ranging from details of Roman military practice (J.W.3.70-107) to
the thorough description of the triumphal procession (J.W.7.123-57). The
various digressions, on topography and buildings, reflect an accurate
knowledge of subject matter, and many of the archaeological excavations
of locations described by Josephus have affirmed the general nature of his
account. It is, however, important that material is not cited without due at-
tention being paid to its context, within the text and within the political
and literary context of Flavian Rome. Such elaborate elements as the
speeches associated with major characters at key stages in the narrative in-
dicate the extent to which theJewish Waris a crafted work (e.g., the speech
of Agrippa II on the nature of Roman rule at the start of the war,J.W.
2.345-404). Most important, it must be remembered that the text was writ-
ten after the event. The reconstruction of the situation in Judea before the
war and of how the war unfolded was formed with the perspective of hind-
sight. It was written to explain how and why the disastrous events of 70
c.e.had taken place and what the future possibly entailed for the Jewish
people. Josephus laid blame upon the Romans, depicting several governors
as actively provoking the Jews to take up arms. He also interpreted what
had happened as part of divine activity. God used the Romans as an in-
strument of punishment inflicted upon the Jews because of the actions of
a rogue element within the community. Whatever claim to victory Rome
asserted, Josephus assigned the control and direction of how events un-
folded to the God of the Jews.Jewish Antiquities
Josephus’sJewish Antiquities(orJudean Antiquities) is a twenty-volume
primer of Jewish history and culture. Books 1–11 offer a paraphrase and re-
working of the Bible, from creation to the return from the Babylonian Ex-
ile. Books 12–20 survey Jewish history in the Persian, Hellenistic, and early
Roman periods down to the eve of the First Jewish Revolt against Rome.299JosephusEERDMANS -- Early Judaism (Collins and Harlow) final text
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