Josephus and Judaean Politics (Columbia Studies in the Classical Tradition) [Hardcover]

Seth Schwartz (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 9004092307 | ISBN-13: 978-9004092303 | Publication Date: August 1997

This synthetic treatment of Josephus and his times has two aims. The first is to establish Josephus' attitudes to the various Judaean aristocratic groups of the first century - priests, descendants of Herod, certain sectarians - and how these attitudes changed. The second aim is more speculative: to connect these changes with actual changes in Judaean politics and society in the c. 30 years of Josephus' literary activity, a critical period of transformation following the destruction of Jerusalem. The first chapter examines Josephus' life from his detection to Vespasian, and suggests that Josephus always retained an interest in current public affairs, particularly those of Judaea. Chapters 2-4 discuss the changes of attitude within the Josephan corpus and place them in the context of the evidence of the coins, inscriptions, Rabbinic literature and pagan historians. It is argued that these changes allow us to trace the decline of the pre-66 aristocracy groups after 70. Chapter 5 argues that there arose a new aristocracy in the 80s and 90s, a rise which left its mark in Josephus' later work.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 268 pages
• Publisher: Brill Academic Pub (August 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9004092307
• ISBN-13: 978-9004092303
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,159,198 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Genius, December 4, 2002

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"sbelect2" (Woodmere, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Josephus and Judaean Politics (Columbia Studies in the Classical Tradition) (Hardcover)

Schwartz is a genius. This is not subtle. He is a genius.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Inadequate, May 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Josephus and Judaean Politics (Columbia Studies in the Classical Tradition) (Hardcover)

For a topic this broad the author has delivered a very slender volume. The author relies heavily on the scholarship of his predecessors. He has a propensity of extrapolating examples from Jewish texts, taking them out of context, and frequently failing to provide adequate translation to demonstrate the connections he is attempting to construct. In all should one wish to consult a reputable authority on the subject the gold standard is still Leiberman.