The Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus: A Biographical Investigation

together on their own initiative upon tidings of the events (622). Thus, here too is a complete
reworking and it would be evident even to me that it was methodically executed in full
consciousness and with deliberate intention, if I were not able to indicate a second fact as well.
On the occasion of another story, the context of which is not relevant now, Josephus recounts
in the Life that he had [84] remained in Tarichea entirely without troops; because he had
dismissed them to [go] home since the next day was a Sabbath, and he had wished to spare the
Taricheans the burden of billeting [his troops]. In Tarichea he never had to provide for his
personal protection, πεῖραν παρὰ τῶν ἐνοικούντων τῆς πρὸς με πίστεως λαβὼν πολλάκις (160).
So, whereas here the absence of the troops is explained by a reference to Josephus’
close relations to Tarichea, [a town] devoted to him that had often furnished evidence of its
loyalty, in the War there is no trace of this view; it is replaced here by the simple notice that
Josephus had sent the troops away to procure supplies (634). It seems to me that there is no
doubt possible that the same difference in trend exists here as above. Precisely because the
Taricheans had been discarded as friends of Josephus in War 619 ff., the friendship theme could
not be retained in 634 either. Conversely, the views of Life 96 f. and 160 are in agreement: The
author, who repeatedly stressed his deep relationship with Tarichea while composing the Life,
categorically discarded this view when he wrote the War. 31
Now we are in a position to establish in summary where the earlier view is to be found,
whether in the Life or in the War.
1. In the Life the Tiberians attack Josephus; when the Taricheans “hear about the
unfaithfulness of the Tiberians”, they protect him and call the Galileans to battle against
Tiberias; so Josephus fears a civil war between Tiberias on the one side, and Tarichea and
Galilee on the other side (97 - 100). The War retains the theme of his concern about the civil
war (620); but in truth the premises for this are missing because the Tiberians are not involved,
the Taricheans are completely missing, and the Galileans are mentioned only later in a further
step of the plot (621). Section 620 deals only with the punishment of John by Josephus’ soldiers.
But this is no civil war, when a few murderous thugs are arrested in a loyally minded town.
Therefore this theme, [85] which is an organic element of the Life, does not fit into the War, i.e.
31 As we shall remember, this fact has already been applied on page 70 ff. There it was also
shown that an antagonism was constructed between Josephus and Tarichea. Both analyses
mutually complement and substantiate each other.
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