The Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus: A Biographical Investigation

sections in comparison with War I, but also [the attitude] towards Tiberias. This town has
played absolutely no role in our context as yet; now all at once the town is brought up in the
added segments and its inhabitants are characterized in such a way that Josephus’ opinion of
them leaves no doubt: The Tiberians, thus reads War 2.606, wish to appropriate the stolen
goods; it is they who, in contrast to the Taricheans, revile and threaten Josephus (608). This
passage is especially indicative because “the people from the countryside” were named instead
of the Tiberians in the passage according to which 608 was shaped, namely 602. Now, Josephus’
attitude towards the town of Tiberias had completely shifted during the course of his life, as
already mentioned (page 70; cf. 84 ff.). Whereas he adopted a friendly bearing towards Tiberias
while composing War I and always stressed their mutual agreement, both earlier and later he
persecuted the town of Tiberias with fierce animosity. We distinctly encounter this sentiment
especially in the added segment War 2.602 - 608, which is precisely where his pronounced
stance against Agrippa is also most noticeable. Conversely, the Taricheans [76] are highly
featured in 606, and it is in their honour that the insertions, discussed above on page 70, are
integrated into 602 and 608; [these insertions] are to emphasize Josephus’ close rapport with
Tarichea: When Josephus recorded his War, he was acting in honour of Agrippa
and the town of Tiberias patronized by the latter; on the other hand he
persecuted Tarichea, which was hostile to Agrippa and the Romans. Later on,
this entire relationship was reversed: Josephus moved away from Agrippa,
[and] consequently censured Tiberias and praised Tarichea. And it is precisely
this sentiment that we encounter with total clarity in the insertion War 2.602 -
608; it therefore originates from a much later period than the first draft of the
War.
Consequently, when Josephus wished to have his attitude to Agrippa, the Tiberians and
the Taricheans be understood as modified for reasons that are to be discussed elsewhere, he
brought forth his War and inserted passages into it which were to take his new sentiment into
account. According to War I, the split between the opponents resulted from [the fact] that
Josephus presented himself to the crowd in the demeanour of one who was distraught and part
of the crowd thereupon sided with him, and part against him, so that Josephus, relying upon
his newly won adherents, was able to speak frankly and promise the fortification first of
Tarichea and then of the other towns. Josephus now makes the fortification of the towns as the
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