The Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus: A Biographical Investigation

Thus far things are quite clear. But now the more difficult question subsequently arises,
where is the original version and where the modified [one]. In other words: Did Josephus
originally see an opponent solely in John and only later add the trend against the Tiberians or
did he originally hold the Tiberians to be equally at fault and only later delete them from this
enmity? Is the version of the War or that of the Life earlier? — Here one must first of all bear in
mind that the focus on John’s hostility totally corresponds to the context of the War; because
here the author structures the narrative in such a way that first Josephus’ general
administration is described, and then it is reported how the hostility of John (585 ff.) alone is
raised against it. Therefore those passages of the War that do not have any model in the Life
(ἐπίβουλος ἀνὴρ 585 = τὰ περὶ τὴν ἐπιβουλήν 616; ἀρετὴν ἡγούμενος τὴν ἀπάτην 586 = ἀπάταις
διαφθείρων 615) correspond to the general characterization that Josephus gives of John (585
ff.). The focus on [83] the person of John thus agrees with the structure of the Life and
therefore has been suitably adjusted [zurecht gemacht]. 30
On the other hand, one could also think that the Life is directed against Justus of
Tiberias, if we simply accept it just as it is and set aside everything that has been established
in the preceding chapters. Consequently it may also be said: a focus against the Tiberians is
justified by the purpose of the Life, therefore an adjustment [Zurechtmachung] exists here and
the original [version] lies in the War. One sees that a line of reasoning has been applied here
that can be twisted in both directions and thus appears useless, therefore we must attempt to
reach our goal by another path. For this purpose we present a second pronounced discrepancy
between the two narratives, which has remained just as unnoticed as the previous group.
Josephus flees to Tarichea in the Life (96), and hence it is the inhabitants of this town (οἱ
τὴν πόλιν ταύτην κατοικοῦντες 97) who take up arms in order to avenge Josephus and who
subsequently call the Galileans to battle. In contrast, according to the report of the War
Josephus flees “to the middle of the sea” (619), thus he does not come to Tarichea, and hence
the Taricheans must cease to apply as Josephus’ avengers: it is his soldiers who take up arms
(620) while the Galileans, who according to the Life were incited by the Taricheans, gather
30
Evidently connected to this [is the fact] that John has been inserted into the Dabaritta story
of the War as well. From the oldest version (Life 134) it emerges that Jesus primarily agitated
against Josephus. When Josephus then composed the War, he set John beside, or rather, before
Jesus (599). For everyone who has recognized Josephus’ method of working, it is certain that
John had nothing to do with this context, as the oldest report proves.
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