Josephus and the Maccabean Revolt : the representation of the early Maccabees in the writings of Flavius Josephus

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to analyse Josephus’ presentation of the early Hasmonean leaders in his two narratives of the Maccabean Revolt (War i. 31-53; Ant. xii.  237-xiii. 216), namely Mattathias, Judas Maccabaeus, Jonathan, and the early years of Simon.  By a detailed ‘context-critical’ examination this thesis highlights features that are unique to Josephus’ rendition of the period, as well as themes and literary motifs that play a central role throughout his literary enterprise.  Both narratives provide ample opportunity for research due to their important historical functions and, in the case of the Antiquities of the Jews, because Josephus’ source survives allowing for direct scholarly comparison.  I will argue that in both Josephus’ accounts of this event, he constructs the individuals of his narrative to reflect biblical and Hellenistic models, while the revolt itself is built in contradistinction to the later First Jewish Revolt - he achieves this by stressing themes of justice and tyranny.  This thesis represents the first detailed analysis of Josephus’ presentation of the Maccabean Revolt.

Part 1 of this thesis is concerned with Flavius Josephus as an author.  It tackles commonly debated questions surrounding the authenticity of his work, as well as summarising scholarly approaches to using his work.  The main outcome of this introductory part is the definition of an appropriate methodology, which I then apply to the two case studies in parts 2 and 3.

In Part 2, the account of the Maccabean Revolt in the Jewish War of Flavius Josephus is examined.  I identify the significance of this introductory narrative to the wider framework of War.  This part offers a detailed study of Josephus’ motives and audience, with the aim of establishing a suitable historical and literary context for the subsequent examination of the War.  I apply the ‘context-critical’ method to identify the key themes and designs of the narrative, and focus on the virtues of the Maccabees as leaders of the Jewish resistance.  I will also use the ‘Slavonic edition’ of War as an intertext to the Greek version.

Part 3 represents a concentrated study of Josephus’ Jewish Antiquities and, in particular, his paraphrase of 1 Maccabees.  Methodological questions relating to the Antiquities are discussed, in particular those relating to audience and genre.  Previous studies of Josephus and 1 Maccabees have revealed his care and competence in the treatment of sources.  This part contains a focused enquiry into the key features of Antiquities and suggests an alternative literary genre of ‘ethnic discourse’.  I survey Josephus’ narrative identifying the main functions of his thorough rewriting process.  In this examination I have found several previously unnoticed aspects of the text, which come to light as a result of the ‘context-critical’ methodology.

Appendices contain an annotated map of the Maccabean uprising in the light of the Josephan evidence and a synoptic view of English translations of War i. 31-53 and its Slavonic counterpart.

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