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