Thank you for your most interesting development of thoughts around the narrative of Josephus and the self interested Josephus's interpretations.
I would like to add a few comments:
Psychologically speaking, it is interesting to read what Josephus made of Masada's' issue, knowing the situation he himself faced earlier in Galilea (when he avoided the contractual mutual suicide). Was it a way to uplift himself ?
I read that the first 6 chapters of the "Jewish War" were written and published rather quickly under Vespasian reign, Josephus thus accomplishing his expected duty to extoll the military deeds of the new emperor. Josephus owed his life to General Vespasian, but it is said that Josephus was even closer to the son Titus whom he assisted during the last siege.
I read that the 7th and last book of the "Jewish War" (years 70 to 73) was published after Titus death in 81.
One can understand why.
As such, the purpose and the nature of this 7th chapter is totally different from the first 6 chapters.
They do not aim any more to flatter the Roman emperors, but can be more concerned about the Jewish readers.
In this case, Josephus do not any more write as a personal witness of the facts (which he was for chapter 1 to 6), but can let his spirit compose freely his love for the Jewish cause.
One evidence are the two amazing speeches, fantastic pieces of self made litterature, quite long compared to material war facts considerations.
It seems to me that with the first 6 chapters of the Jewish War, Josephus had
fulfilled his job in regard to the Roman ruler. The last chapter is were he could freely do what was dearest to his heart and mind.
Being a Christian, the greatest discovery to me lately and assumption still to be proven, is that the reading of Josephus Jewish War, and more particularly his ch.7, and more particularly the second speech of Eleazar ben Yaïr, has been a real and tremendous trigger for what the apostle John embarked upon in writing the last gospel. All the wishes of Josephus expressed in the two speeches are answered and prolonged in a fantastic manner in John's gospel (read chapters 11-12 about Lazarus in the tomb, and the proclamation of faith of his sisters).
John writes in a way that do not contradict Josephus at all, but shows that the All mighty had already shown his answers to Josephus questions through the nazir from Galilea...
In my views, John should be read after the narrative of Masada, and the speeches composed by Josephus.
Thank you for your most interesting development of thoughts around the narrative of Josephus and the self interested Josephus's interpretations.
I would like to add a few comments:
Psychologically speaking, it is interesting to read what Josephus made of Masada's' issue, knowing the situation he himself faced earlier in Galilea (when he avoided the contractual mutual suicide). Was it a way to uplift himself ?
I read that the first 6 chapters of the "Jewish War" were written and published rather quickly under Vespasian reign, Josephus thus accomplishing his expected duty to extoll the military deeds of the new emperor. Josephus owed his life to General Vespasian, but it is said that Josephus was even closer to the son Titus whom he assisted during the last siege.
I read that the 7th and last book of the "Jewish War" (years 70 to 73) was published after Titus death in 81.
One can understand why.
As such, the purpose and the nature of this 7th chapter is totally different from the first 6 chapters.
They do not aim any more to flatter the Roman emperors, but can be more concerned about the Jewish readers.
In this case, Josephus do not any more write as a personal witness of the facts (which he was for chapter 1 to 6), but can let his spirit compose freely his love for the Jewish cause.
One evidence are the two amazing speeches, fantastic pieces of self made litterature, quite long compared to material war facts considerations.
It seems to me that with the first 6 chapters of the Jewish War, Josephus had
fulfilled his job in regard to the Roman ruler. The last chapter is were he could freely do what was dearest to his heart and mind.
Being a Christian, the greatest discovery to me lately and assumption still to be proven, is that the reading of Josephus Jewish War, and more particularly his ch.7, and more particularly the second speech of Eleazar ben Yaïr, has been a real and tremendous trigger for what the apostle John embarked upon in writing the last gospel. All the wishes of Josephus expressed in the two speeches are answered and prolonged in a fantastic manner in John's gospel (read chapters 11-12 about Lazarus in the tomb, and the proclamation of faith of his sisters).
John writes in a way that do not contradict Josephus at all, but shows that the All mighty had already shown his answers to Josephus questions through the nazir from Galilea...
In my views, John should be read after the narrative of Masada, and the speeches composed by Josephus.
Olivier de Kerchove
Brussels
Belgium