tracts of what was still a work in progress. Elsewhere, Josephus states that
he sent material to Titus and Agrippa II in order to receive their letter of
recommendation (Life363–67). Titus has a much larger profile than
Vespasian; he is singled out in the preface (J.W.1.10) and then dominates
the account of the siege of Jerusalem. Even more significant for determin-
ing the dating is the negative reference to C. Caecina Alienus (J.W.4.634-
44). Such a depiction was plausible only after 79c.e., when Caecina was
executed for allegedly plotting against Titus. The attempt to promote the
prowess of Domitian (J.W.7.85-88), along with the disparate nature of the
subject matter, suggests that book 7 was added at some stage during
Domitian’s reign.Contents
The arrangement of the work into seven books was the choice of Josephus
(J.W.1.30;Ant.18.11;Life412). He intended the work to rival other ac-
counts, deliberately modeling it along classical lines (J.W.1.1-2, 7-8). A de-
tailed preface stakes his claim to be writing an authoritative account of the
war, as a participant and eye-witness concerned to provide readers with
the truth of what happened (J.W.1.13-16, 22, 30). The background to the
war is outlined in books 1-2. Josephus makes the assault on the Temple by
Antiochus IV the starting point (J.W.1.31-35). He then outlines the rise of
the Hasmoneans and their subsequent rule (J.W.1.36-170). The vast bulk of
book 1 describes the life and career of Herod (J.W.1.171-673). The first part
of book 2 provides a brief account of the activities of Herod’s sons and the
two periods of direct Roman rule interspersed with the reigns of Agrippa I
and Agrippa II (J.W.2.1-276). The remainder of book 2 provides a detailed
account of when and how the warbegan and the first moves by the main
protagonists (J.W.2.277-654). In book 3 Josephus describes the campaign
of Vespasian in Galilee, with the assault on Jotapata, where Josephus sur-
rendered, forming the main focus of the narrative (J.W.3.141-408). There
are four different areas of interest in book 4: the completion of the cam-
paign in Galilee (J.W.4.1-120), of which the capture of Gamla formed the
key component (J.W.4.2-83); the state of affairs in Jerusalem, with a par-
ticular emphasis being placed on fighting among the Jews (J.W.4.121-409);
the isolation of Jerusalem in preparation for the final assault (J.W.4.410-
90); and the fighting among the Romans that resulted in Vespasian becom-
ing emperor and Titus being dispatched to lead the attack on Jerusalem296steve mason, james s. mclaren, and john m. g. barclayEERDMANS -- Early Judaism (Collins and Harlow) final text
Tuesday, October 09, 2012 12:04:10 PM