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