The Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus: A Biographical Investigation

[Josephus’] following of Taricheans is discarded. This view is then subsequently
inserted into the old administrative report for the purpose of equalizing [the two versions],
such that it truly falls apart internally. According to this we find:
[90] 1. Life 85 - 99; 32 103 = older administrative report before the War.
2. War 2.614 - 623 between 75 and 79.
at the same time as this, Life 100 - 102 as equalization.
3. the segment concerning Justus in section 88 after the year 100.
Therefore, within this part Josephus has worked on the “Life” in at least three
chronologically well-separated layers (cf. page 79).
3. The ships on Lake Tiberias
Life 155 - 174 = War 2.632 – 645
A short story, that is rather unusually nonviolent as far as Josephus is concerned, is
recounted with only slight discrepancies in the Life and in the War as follows: the Tiberians
request troops from King Agrippa since they wish to surrender their town to him. While
Josephus was nearby in Tarichea, Roman horsemen appeared by chance in the vicinity of
Tiberias, whom the Tiberians accidentally mistook for the forces expected from Agrippa and
accordingly welcomed. In this way Josephus learns about the intended defection of the
Tiberians from a messenger. Since he had dismissed his troops from Tarichea, however, he was
not in a position to assert himself by force in Tiberias and so he decided upon a ruse: first he
blocks the gates of Tarichea in order to prevent all communication with Tiberias, then he
confiscates all the ships that are on the lake, and occupies them with the few [people] whom
he has at his disposal. In order to evoke a strong impression on the Tiberians despite [his] low
numbers, he had the ships sail in the direction of Tiberias but maintain such a distance that no
one from Tiberias could discern the light crew complement of the ships. In fact, the terrified
Tiberians throw down their weapons; Josephus approaches the town in his boat, censures the
defection but is willing to grant pardon if negotiators are sent to him. This happens, and thus
Josephus eventually has the council and the leaders of the people in his power. He sends them
32 With the exception of the sentence dealing with Justus in section 88. This belongs just to the
period after 100 (cf. page 47).
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