The Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus: A Biographical Investigation

So the year 100 drew near; after the appearance of the Antiquities Josephus had worked
diligently as well; he inserted the documents perhaps only later, he set about [composing] the
writing against Apion and adjusted his old War for the new edition. Filled with hope, Josephus
could look forward to his future, then he was dealt the severest blow that was conceivable:
Justus of Tiberias entered into literary competition with him and brought along talents that
were lacking in Josephus; a brilliant style commended his work to the public, and Justus, filled
with derision, did not tire of looking down on the miserable scribe [Scribenten] Josephus in his
introduction (chapter 2.1). And with his attacks Justus did make an impression on
Epaphroditus as well, to whom Josephus tries to defend his work.
One should picture what Josephus had at stake. When he had lost his association with
the Roman court after Domitian’s ascension to the government, it was Epaphroditus who took
him in and enabled his literary existence. Epaphroditus, however, required an authority in the
field of Judaism for his business, and then – threatening this deep relationship – Justus stepped
in between with his writing. If this gained the approval of Epaphroditus, then [267] Josephus’
livelihood was finished; swinging between his connection to Rome and his Jewish past, he
found a foothold on the neutral terrain of Epaphroditus; and this was to be pulled out from
under his feet. Now it was no longer a matter of politics for Josephus, now he was compelled to
salvage his literary honour from the outrageous attack and preserve Epaphroditus’ trust in
him.
He downright assails him with [statements of] defence; in the middle of the writing
against Apion, in a passage where it has neither sense nor purpose at all, he defends himself
and attacks Justus most viciously. Granted, Justus may be superior to Josephus stylistically, but
Josephus has secured authorities for himself for thorough stylistic revision [Durcharbeitung];
educated Greeks have read his work with pleasure and, most importantly, the factual accuracy
in [the work] of Josephus, who fought in the war, is beyond all doubt. This is corroborated by
the leaders in the war, whose judgement Josephus invokes again now: Vespasian and Titus
have accorded him [their] approbation; and from the series of educated Greeks he singles out
“the admirable King Agrippa”(1.51). Has Josephus swung around yet again and drawn nearer to
the Herodians? The idea is out of the question, Agrippa was dead, but now it is also no longer a
matter of politics at all, but of literary combat. In this, however, Josephus willingly accepts the
testimony of the man whom he had smothered with flattery [gelobhudelt] in the War, [only]
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