Flavius Josephus: Hated By Some, Studied By All

Shrouded as it is in antiquity, little would be known about the war of the Jews against Rome if not for the historian Josephus. His text “The Jewish War” is used by scholars to this day, and even provides aid to archaeologists. Yet while the scholarship of Josephus is respected by many, he is far from being a neutral figure. An apologist for the Jews and Judaism, Josephus was nonetheless regarded by many of his compatriots as a traitor. He willingly took refuge in Rome even after his wife and parents perished in the Roman siege of Jerusalem.

Josephus lived from 37 A.D. to about 100 A.D. A highly educated man, Josephus was descended from a line of priestly aristocrats. Service to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was in his heritage. He was also a warrior, leading a contingent of Galilean soldiers in the battle against Rome. In the city of Jotpata his army was defeated, and Josephus and one other soldier surrendered to the Romans. The rest of their comrades had committed suicide.

This particular moment in life of Josephus is controversial. According to a legend—the truth of which is unknown—Josephus wanted to surrender to Rome, but his soldiers opposed him. Josephus therefore encouraged them to commit suicide, assuring them that he would do the same. But he did not, and escaped with one other soldier into Roman hands.

“The Jewish War”

In “The Jewish War,” Josephus claims that Titus did not order the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. This claim and others earned him a reputation among Jews for being pro-Roman. But Josephus also wrote “Apion,” a text in which he defends Judaism, blaming the war against Rome on the work of a handful of fanatical zealots.

Josephus was eyewitness to the fateful siege of Jerusalem, the war in which the Holy City would cease to be a Jewish city for the next 2,000 years. This climactic battle is mourned by Jews to this day, and is remembered as the war that forced the Jewish people into a long exile.

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