The Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus: A Biographical Investigation

other than such reworkings as we have already detected so often: reinterpretations of the old
[text] so that it is provided with a new political trend. And yet this time we do not manage
with such a new conception alone; because [199] Josephus introduces new facts into the
insertions such as the seven-day duration of Herod’s stay in Italy, his alleged intention of
gaining the rulership for Alexander; for this there must be an underlying source, and the trend
of this [source] can also be precisely determined. That is to say, even though it was definitely
not Josephus’ intention to stand up for Herod in 386 ff., whoever first expressed the idea that
Herod wished to gain the kingship for the Hasmonean Alexander, did in fact have the intention
of standing up for Herod and of making excuses for him; but Josephus has twisted this view
into its opposite in conformity with the trend of the Antiquities. The source appears to be
extremely well informed about Herod’s intentions, it mentions his considerations and his
expectations in detail and is aware of the exact length of his stay in Italy. Already here, the
conjecture cannot be suppressed that it is the same source to which we owe the warm-hearted
description in 354 ff.: it is Herod himself who would have made these notes in his memoirs,
with which Josephus was acquainted, but whose contents he twisted into their opposite –
commensurate with his view.
14. Herod's return to Judaea
War 286 - 320 = Ant. 390 - 438
After the politically momentous decision had been passed in Rome and Herod had been
appointed king of the Jews, he was compelled to assert himself by force against Antigonus, the
current ruler of Judaea. Josephus could not bring a lively personal interest to this fighting and
its outcome. The presentation of the War was based on Nicolaus and as result was readily
sympathetic to Herod, yet in the Antiquities Josephus did admittedly turn against Herod, and
for other reasons (cf. page 191) he had persecuted no less [vehemently] the character of
Antigonus, Herod’s opponent and made his characterization negative. So when composing the
Antiquities he was basically hostile towards both of the parties that were fighting each other:
towards Herod because of his illegitimacy, towards Antigonus because of his personal policy
that was inimical to the Jews. Out of this peculiar situation there arose ultimately the attempt
at a solution that is quite [200] unique to Josephus (cf. page 198): Herod as a half Jew was not
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