Product Description
The encounter between interpretation and history in the writings of Josephus provides the conceptual framework for this collection of essays. The contributions in this volume, which were presented at an international colloquium entitled "Josephus: Interpretation and History" held in Dublin in 2004, are united, not by a single view of Josephus, but by the question of historical method, both ancient and modern. These essays take up aspects of a problem basic to all researchers who would use Josephus for historical purposes, namely: What is the relationship between narratives and history? Organized thematically, the volume reflects a critical engagement with the texts of Josephus, other literary texts, case studies of particular events, and material remains. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

making history?
This collection of essays with wide-ranging approaches to Josephus and history is well edited by Zuleika Rodgers. I recommend this to whichever history research libraries can afford it. Here I comment merely on Steve Mason's "Essenes and Lurking Spartans in Josephus' _Judean War_: From Story to History." In a previous article ("What Josephus Says about the Essenes in his _Judean War_," available online) Mason made some valid criticisms of the source criticism Bergmeier offered on Josephus. And he rightly noted that "John the Essene" is a misreading--there was no warrior by that name. But, in this new article, as in the older one, Mason again unaccountably underestimates the relevance of sources in the accounts on Essenes in Josephus. Evidently, sources cramp his style--by his, I mean Mason's. Need he be reminded that Josephus, born c. 37 CE, could not write about, say, Judah the Essene, fl. 104 BCE, without a source? Again Mason subjects Josephus to psychoanalysis by concordance, _as if_ Josephus did not use sources. Mason practically ignores Philo, who wrote on Essenes before Josephus. Josephus and Philo share a source, as seen, e.g., in their joint estimate that Essenes numbered "over 4000" (Philo also writes "myriads"). Philo says Essenes were peaceful, an embarassment to Mason's Spartan proposal. Philo wrote: "Essenes...work in various crafts contributing to peace....In vain would one look among them for makers of arrows, or javelins, or swords, or helmets, or armour, or shields; in short, for makers of arms, or military machines, or any instrument of war, or even peaceful objects which might be turned to evil purpose." Spartans were warriors, first and foremost; Essenes were not. No matter; Mason has other plans, so does not quote Philo for his readers. Mason writes that Pliny is not entirely reliable, so can be ignored. But it's unequal treatment to ignore Pliny--who is not really so unreliable when one realizes his source on Essenes, M. Agrippa, is from the time of Herod the Great--and then to comb through Josephus, who is not entirely reliable. That's bracketing off and ignoring evidence. Mason, citing an unreliable secondary source, would have readers imagine that before the Dead Sea Scrolls came to light in 1948 no one located Essenes in the Qumran area. False. Strack did in 1853, placing Ein Gedi south of the Essenes. De Saulcy's 1858 Atlas places a "pays des Esseniens" north of Ein Gedi. Ginsburg in 1870 located Pliny's Essenes on the "north-west shore" of the Dead Sea, right where Qumran is. Many pre-1948 writers speculated that John the Baptist lived in that same wilderness area and may have met Essenes, or even have been one for a time. Gibbon's _Decline and Fall_ 1854 annotated edition (ch. 37) correctly places Essenes not far distant from the St. Sabas Laura. And Joan Taylor wrote on Dixon's account which "states--somewhat prophetically--in 1866 that the 'chief seats of this sect [Essenes] were pitched on the western shores of the Dead Sea, about the present Ras al Feshka'"--as indeed was the case. This dismissal of Pliny on Qumran Essenes is deeply flawed. (Not even Magen and Peleg buy Hirschfeld's attempt to place Essenes uphill of Ein Gedi; they prefer Essenes out of Qumran and into limbo.) It's not circular to say that the best reading of Pliny points to Qumran. Also flawed is Mason's dismissal of the increasingly-recognized Hebrew origin of the name "Essenes," found in Qumran texts recognized as Essene on other grounds. Several times osey hatorah, observers of torah, appears as a self designation. And Mason knows Philo and Epiphanius spelled the name with O--Ossaioi/Osshnoi in Epiphanius. How many 2000-year old confirming repetitions would Mason require before paying attention? Again, this was known before 1948. Melanchthon in 1532 knew the correct Hebrew root, as did other scholars in every century following. Mason writes (p. 220) that in the 1950s "there were no interpretations of Josephus' Essene portrait..." Again, utterly false. A glance at Wagner's book Die Essener in der wissenschaftlichen Diskussion, vom Ausgang des 18. bis zum Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts; eine wissenschaftliche Studie--with a massive bibliography--suffices to show Mason's assertion absurdly misleading. For further information, see "Jannaeus, His Brother Absalom, and Judah the Essene," available online. Conybeare long ago saw the invitation to compare Spartans and Jews in a discussion of Essenes: 1 Maccabees 12 and the happenstance that Essenes are first mentioned in Josephus as existing (not starting) in 146 BCE (because his source Posidonius began then). But we now know that 1 Maccabees, though available then in Hebrew, is quite absent among the circa 900 manuscripts of Qumran. The pro-Maccabee festival Hanukkah is also unmentioned in those many calendar texts. Qumran was anti-Hasmonean, anti the family writing letters to Sparta. 4Q448 is increasingly recognized as a curse on Alexander Jannaeus. Essenes are more akin to Daniel than 1 Maccabees, and were unarmed (unlike David Koresh, whose disaster Mason oddly compares). If Josephus wanted to compare the Essenes and the Spartans, why did he not, you know, use the word "Spartans"? He used "Pythagoreans" and "Dacians" when he compared; Philo also named names to compare: Magi, Gymnosophists. Mason guesses married Essenes--he supposes invented by Josephus "as a means of permitting his own Essene affiliation"(!)--were in the desert and celebates in the cities, despite the wilderness types including Banus and John the Baptist. Initiation and the giving of all property is a big step, found explicitly in War 2 and in the Qumran cave texts; Mason misdirects attention from that. Moses was a writing lawgiver; Lycurgus was not. Such a waste of learned talent, this incantation of the Josephan nature of all, even his hapax patterns. The essay may be a virtuoso rhetorical performance, but it misleads readers, and unfortunately has little to do with ancient history. (to be continued/revised)
Some of the Dead Sea Scrolls *do* self-identify as Essenes. The evidence (e.g., 1QpHab 7:11; 8:1; 12:4-5; 4Q171 1-10 ii 5, 15, 23; etc.) is in the scrolls and discussed in detail in Goranson, Stephen. "Others and Intra-Jewish Polemic as Reflected in Qumran Texts." In The Dead Sea Scrolls after Fifty Years: A Comprehensive Assessment, ed. Peter W. Flint and James C. VanderKam, 2:534-551. Leiden, 1999, and in VanderKam's essay in that volume. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a collection of essays focusing on the threads in Josephus (a first century Jewish historian and apologist whose works provide valuable insight into the background of first century Judaism and early Christianity) that are of particular interest to people studying the background and development of Christianity.

"Some of our most basic analytical categories, such as `religion,' `Judaism,' and even `gospel,' do not map onto ancient conceptions or language." This insight, gained from long study in the biblical world, governs Josephus, Judea, and Christian Origins. Steve Mason combines recently published essays with new studies to produce a coherent, sequential exploration of "methods and categories" important for the study of Roman Judea and Christian beginnings.

This book takes up basic but often overlooked questions of historical method in studying first-century Judea and the origins of Christianity. Many of these questions concern the use of Josephus (the first-century Jewish historian whose work is of crucial importance for this period) for reconstructing this history. Chapters deal with Josephus' authority, his method of publication and audiences, "Judaism," Pharisees, Essenes, "gospel," and much else. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Product Description
Josephus, author of the "Jewish War" and the "Jewish Antiquities," belongs equally to Jewish and to Greco-Roman history. A well-to-do priest and Pharisee at Jerusalem, he was a contemporary and chronicler of the great changes which took place in the Roman Empire in the first century A.D. and a controversial general in the great Jewish revolt of 66-73 against Rome.

Tessa Rajak, an ancient historian versed in both Greek and Hebrew, assesses the varied source material to produce a sociological account of the Jewish revolt which casts fresh light on Josephus’ attitudes, placing his achievement in the context of both Jewish values and the Greek historical tradition. This second edition includes a substantial new Introduction and Bibliography. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A excellent commentary on a true classic of history
Now in it's second edition featuring a new Introduction and additional Bibliography, Josephus: The Historian And His Societyis a excellent commentary on a true classic of history by Tessa Rajak (Reader in Classics at the University of Reading). A Jerusalem upperclass priest and Pharisee, and a controversial Jewish general in the great and doomed revolt against their Roman occupiers by the Jewish populace in 66-73 CE, Josephus was the author of two ancient history texts: "Jewish Wars" and "Jewish Antiquities" which became seminal works of importance to both Jewish and Greco-Roman history. These works were combined under one cover and became known to academia as an indispensable reference resource for scholars and non-specialist general readers with an interest in ancient history. Well versed in both Greek and Hebrew, Tessa Rajak is particularly positioned to assess diverse source materials and provide contemporary readers with a sociological account of the Jewish revolt and its cultural context, as well as the role of Josephus himself in the events in which he participated and/or personally observed, as well as his chronicled accounts of Jewish and Roman personalities and politics.
... Read more

Product Description
Antiquities of the Jews was written and published by the important Jewish historian Flavius Josephus about 93-94.

Antiquities of the Jews is a history of the Jewish people, written in Greek for Josephus' gentile patrons. Beginning with the creation of Adam and Eve, it follows the events of the historical books of the Hebrew Bible, but sometimes omits or adds information.

This work, along with Josephus's other major work, The Jewish Wars, provides valuable background material to historians wishing to understand first-century Judaism and the early Christian period. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not a bargain
Two problems with this edition. First, there's no table of contents - which makes browsing more difficult. Second, there are "hard returns" at the end of lines. So if you change the type size, you end up with awkward line breaks and lots of blank space. While the price is a modest 99 cents, I would have been happier paying a little more for an edition without these problems. ... Read more

Product Description
The four surviving works of Flavius Josephus (38-100? A.D.) are the most important witnesses to the background to the New Testament and the life of Christ, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the institutions of ancient Judea. This full literary and historical commentary on these works, prepared by a team of scholars under Steve Mason, draws on the mass of new archaeological data, the results of studies of the Qumran texts, and on studies of early Christianity and Judaism. It is accompanied by a new English translation of the original text. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Definitive Josephus
Most will want to compare this edition to the Loeb Classics version. Loeb offers facing page Greek text, which this edition does not. However, since I don't read Greek, this was not a problem. Whereas Loeb carries a modicum of footnotes explaining disputed points, theBrilledition is about 75% commentary, contained inextensive andenlightening footnote/essays on every page. The general introduction toJosephus as well as the introduction to Antiquities in particular hassomething to say to both novice andthe reader familiar with Josephanscholarship. My own interest is in the War and the Life, which will not beprinted for a few years. So I ordered Antiquities to see whether theproject was worthwhile for future reference. I will have no hestiation inordering other volumes as they become available.Louis Feldman's masterfulcommentary is a compendium of current scholarship on Josephus' rendition ofthe Old Testament. Even Books III, which concern matters of Jewish law,chiefly as concerns ritual and observance, but also social strictures, wereenlivened and made relevant to Josephus' aims and historical context by Dr.Feldman's expert insights. The indices key on ancient texts,including theTorah, Rabbinical commentary (Midrash) and parallel relevant Greek andRoman historical works, plus persons, places, and modern authors. Icompared the translation of the opening paragraph to the same passage inthe Loeb. The differences are quite interesting and clearly show how Dr.Feldman and his colleagues picked up nuances from the original thatThackeray (the Loeb translator) had missed. I unhesitatinglyrecommendthis edition. Of course the entire set will be prohibitively costly.University libraries will carry them no doubt. However if you are intrigued with Josephus, as I am, you will want to own some selectedvolumes. This is truly a work of reference to which I will return again andagain. ... Read more

Product Description
Since the 1980s, scholars have called for a new, critical history of the Pharisees. Required is a careful analysis of each source's evidence as a prior condition of historical judgements. By analyzing Flavius Josephus' portrayal of the group, this study clarifies some of the crucial evidence that any hypothesis must explain. Josephus writes about the Pharisees in three of his four extant works, describing their actions under the Hashmoneans, Herod the Great, and during his own tenure as Galilean commander of the revolt against Rome. This study tries to show how his discussions of the Pharisees contribute to his literary aims. With the help of K.H. Rengstorf's new concordance, the author explores the ten pertinent passages in their contexts, supplying also introductory chapters on the Jedean War, the Jewish Antiquities, and the Life. This analysis yields the conclusion that, although the Pharisees were the most popular party in first-century Judaism, Josephus was consistently hostile toward them for reasons peculiar to his own situation. ... Read more

Product Description
Due to the very old age and scarcity of this book, many of the pages may be hard to read due to the blurring of the original text. ... Read more

Product Description

Josephus, soldier, statesman, historian, was a Jew born at Jerusalem about 37 CE. A man of high descent, he early became learned in Jewish law and Greek literature and was a Pharisee. After pleading in Rome the cause of some Jewish priests he returned to Jerusalem and in 66 tried to prevent revolt against Rome, managing for the Jews the affairs of Galilee. In the troubles which followed he made his peace with Vespasian. Present at the siege of Jerusalem by Titus, he received favours from these two as emperors and from Domitian and assumed their family name Flavius. He died after 97.

As a historical source Josephus is invaluable. His major works are: History of the Jewish War, in seven books, from 170 BCE to his own time, first written in Aramaic but translated by himself into the Greek we now have; and Jewish Antiquities, in twenty books, from the creation of the world to 66 CE. The Loeb Classical Library edition of the works of Josephus also includes the autobiographical Life and his treatise Against Apion.

Customer Reviews (1)

Jewish Antiquities
Great book, I especially like that the publisher has used both the ogrinal Greek and then the English translation.It is a great help in the research paper that I am writing about Flavious Josephus. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
8vo - over 7 3/4" - 9 3/4" tall. xvi + 1055pp. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Life and Works of Flavius Josephus, by Flavius Josephus
The book came in excellant condition and it was a pleasure doing business with the vendor who sold it to me.This book is a must read for those interested in researching ancient history.

Flavius Josephus
This book really sheds some light into the history of the period where the romans occupied Judea since he was alive during that period...one of the very few historians that were. You will not find any of this stuff through mainstream history or churches. Josephus was a Jewish historian living as a roman citizen. ... Read more

Product Description
This book aims to introduce the work of Hellenistic Jewish writers of the period 200 BC to AD 200. Four in particular are studied. The authors of the Letter of Aristeas and the Sibylline Oracles came from second-century BC Egypt. Eupolemus wrote probably in Jerusalem at the same time. Josephus, a priest from Judaea, wrote in Rome in the late first century AD. Using Greek, not Hebrew or Aramaic, and conscious of the position of Jews in the Graeco-Roman world, they wished to demonstrate that their cultural and religious heritage stood comparison with the Graeco-Roman tradition and that Jews were neither so philosophically naive nor so politically troublesome as they were often supposed to be. An opening chapter describing the position of Jews in the Hellenistic world is followed by selected passages, all newly translated, with introductory essays and commentary. The collection makes available to students much material hitherto not easily accessible. ... Read more

Product Description
The Wars of the Jews; or the history of the destruction of Jerusalem is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Flavius Josephus is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of Flavius Josephus then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

Product Description
This version of the famous works are complete with over 1010 pages of the works of Flavius Josephus and his writings about the jews.
... Read more