The Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus: A Biographical Investigation

evolt was a crime. In order to stress this idea quite strongly, Josephus introduced an
additional significant change in the Antiquities. According to the War, the quarrelling brothers
were reconciled in the temple where they embraced each other; the Antiquities retains this –
also not logically since Hyrcanus was supposed to be in a sorry state indeed – ; but adds to this
that the reconciliation “had been reinforced by the swearing of oaths”. Thus Hyrcanus in his
insurgency had actually perjured himself; because he had acknowledged his intended role as a
commoner in this most ceremonious manner and despite this he revolted against his brother.
Granted, Hyrcanus’ insurgency is in truth the sole fault of Antipater, as will be shown, and so
the revision is ultimately directed against the latter, the progenitor of the Herodians. Already
here we have happened upon a manifestation of the phenomenon that we shall encounter
again and again. – As far as modern authors engage in questions of details, they consistently
follow the Antiquities, for example, Ewald 516, Réville 91, Felten 90, Schürer 291, Wilcken,
Realencyclopädie. 2.908, Bertholet 21, Renan 140, who all emphasize Hyrcanus’ private status
and to some extent stress in addition that they “especially liked his character”. In truth, this
outlook lacks all critical foundation, which is granted to us exclusively by the War instead:
according to this, the tenor of the agreement is that Hyrcanus and Aristobulus exchange their
positions, the latter becomes king whereas the former, as an official personality, enjoys the
honours due a king’s brother. Everything else in the Antiquities is an adjustment
[Zurectmachung] resulting from Josephus’ later feelings towards the Herodians.
2. The appearance of Antipater and Hyrcanus' escape
War 123 - 126a = Ant. 14.8 - 18
The peace between the two brothers was not to last long. The Idumean Antipater
appears and tries to persuade Hyrcanus to flee to Aretas, the king of the Arabians. Hyrcanus
does then flee to Aretas who, when requested, declares that he is prepared to lead him back
with forces in order to oust Aristobulus. Despite the much more succinct version of the War,
both of the reports are again very close to each other; [137] especially in the presentation of
Hyrcanus’ flight to Aretas [where they agree] almost verbatim. But on the other hand, in
contrast to this there are conspicuous expansions of the old text in the Antiquities, for one, and
reinterpretations that twist the sense of the whole, for another. The narrative of the Antiquities
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