The Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus: A Biographical Investigation

permitted to become king; however, since the Hasmonean Antigonus was just as impossible as
a human being, his children should then have received the crown (section 489). In light of such
an opinion, it is with a certain suspense that one will examine how Josephus comes to terms in
the Antiquities with the problem of the bellicose dispute between Herod and Antigonus. On the
whole, Josephus remodelled very little here, even the stylistic execution of the details has
hardly been altered; here as well one receives the impression that Josephus’ creative power
was somehow weakened; all the more significant are the few small changes that Josephus
introduced, namely to the detriment of Antigonus.
While Antigonus besieges the Herodians in Masada, they almost had to surrender for
lack of water. In the final night, however, it begins to rain and so the fortress can continue
intact. The Herodians are victorious during sallies; at times they are forced back as well. In this
report from War 286 - 287, [the version in] Ant. 391 includes that the sudden rain was perceived
as a divine sign; therefore God contends against Antigonus. One must bear in mind along with
this that immediately following, in the description of the engagements during the sallies
[Ausfallsgefechte], the advantages that Antigonus had won now and then according to the War
are deleted. – War 304 reported that the watchmen had fled from Sepphoris, in Ant. 414
Josephus specifies that it was Antigonus’ guard detachment, who ran off. Most notably,
however, the brief expansion in 418 is connected with this unfavourable view of Antigonus.
The War had related the vacillating attitude of the Roman commander Silo, who
admittedly was instructed by the Roman government to support Herod, but who did this only
with reluctance since he was bribed by Antigonus. Silo admittedly took part in the siege of
Jerusalem (294), however, he created such difficulties over the food supplies that it was
concluded that he had been bribed by Antigonus (297). These difficulties were well resolved
yet so much time had been lost that the siege could not be brought to an end in the summer.
The Roman army moved into winter quarters in Herod’s territory, however, [201] Antigonus
once again managed to attract a part of the Roman army to his [side] through bribery (302).
Then in the next spring, when Silo and Herod received orders to pacify Judaea first and then to
prepare for the campaign against the Parthians, Herod understandably “gladly” dispensed
with the assistance of Silo who was so unreliable and sent him to Bassus while he conducted
the battle against the Jews by himself alone (section 309). In comparison to this, the Antiquities
enriched the presentation by one trait: namely, in the winter quarters food was provided for
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