The Influence of Josephus’ Career on His Historical Writings

Assignment Brief

Question:

How did Josephus own career influence his writing?

Sample Answer

How Did Josephus` Own Career Influence His Writing?

Flavius Josephus was a Jewish historian who lived in the first century AD. His career had a strong impact on his writing, shaping not only the topics he wrote about but also how he presented events and people. To understand this influence, we must look at both his life and his main works.

Josephus’ Background and Early Career

Josephus was born in Jerusalem around 37 AD into a wealthy and priestly family. As a young man, he was well educated in Jewish law and traditions and also had contact with Roman and Greek ideas. At the age of 26, he was sent to Rome to negotiate the release of Jewish priests. This experience gave him insight into Roman power, politics, and culture, which would later appear in his writing.

When the First Jewish–Roman War began in 66 AD, Josephus became a commander of Jewish forces in Galilee. However, during the war, he was captured by the Romans. Instead of being executed, he predicted that Vespasian, the Roman general, would become emperor. When this came true, Josephus was spared and later became a Roman citizen. He took the name "Flavius" from the imperial family and lived under their patronage.

His Writings

Josephus’ main historical works are:

• The Jewish War – about the Jewish revolt against Rome.

• Antiquities of the Jews – a history of the Jewish people from creation up to his own time.

• Against Apion – a defence of Judaism.

• The Life of Josephus – an autobiography.

Influence of His Career on His Writing

Josephus’ career had a huge effect on his writings in several ways:

1. His Role as a Mediator Between Cultures

Because Josephus lived between two worlds – Jewish and Roman – his works often tried to explain Jewish history and religion in a way that Romans and Greeks would understand. In Antiquities, for example, he sometimes compared Jewish figures to Greek ones to make his stories more acceptable to a non-Jewish audience.

2. Justifying His Choices

Josephus knew that many Jews saw him as a traitor for surrendering to the Romans and working for them. In his writings, especially The Life, he tried to defend his actions. He often presented himself as a wise and careful leader who wanted to save lives, not betray his people. He portrayed others, especially his enemies, in a negative light to strengthen his own reputation.

3. Favourable View of the Romans

As someone who lived under Roman support, Josephus often wrote about the Romans in a positive way. In The Jewish War, he blamed the Jewish rebels for the destruction of the Temple and tried to show that the Roman generals were not cruel, but forced to act. This helped to please his Roman sponsors but also distanced him from the Jewish rebels.

4. His Identity and Pride in Judaism

Even though he worked for Rome, Josephus was still proud of his Jewish heritage. He wanted to show that Judaism was an ancient and noble religion. In Against Apion, he responded to critics of Judaism and argued that Jewish customs and laws were wise and valuable. His goal was to earn respect for Jewish culture among non-Jews.

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