THE BOOK FAIR

“The Jewish War”, written in 78CE by Josephus, offers a detailed account of a turbulent and calamitous period in Jewish history.  The Roman-Jewish historian begins with the Hasmonaean Dynasty and the historic struggle between the Greeks and Jews, Josephus, himself, a descendent of the Hasmonaean lineage.   Details of Greek Kings, Greek dominion over Israel, Jewish Kings and periods of Jewish triumph follow.

Pompeii, the Roman general arrived on the scene in Israel in 63BCE, hastened in by rival brothers, and effectively ended the Hasmonaean Dynasty.  Josephus’ account inevitably turns to the Roman Jewish wars lasting from 63BCE to 72CE.  However, the Jewish revolts against Rome continued for more than another 60 years.

Josephus’ account of the Jewish Roman wars begins with Augustus, and his rise as emperor of the Roman Empire.  The Jews, staunch believers in their faith and the right to independence in their own land set them at odds with the hegemony of Roman rule.

Josephus, born into a family of wealth and priesthood in 37CE, later became a general in the Jewish army.  Josephus, commander of the Galilee (northern Israel), battles the Romans together with his Jewish brethren until the fateful day of his colorful capture, during the 60’s.

Josephus’ work provides not only an account of Jewish history, and the wars with Rome and Hellenism but it is also a descriptive view into the era, rich with details for example, of the goings-on in King Herod’s court.

Of the war between Rome and the Jews, Josephus describes the fall of the Jewish towns and cities, describes the calamity of slaughter in horrific detail, including burning and crucifixion.

Josephus begins the narrative expressing love for his people but throughout his work, blames the zealots who fought Rome and brought about the utter destruction that befell the Jews.  Josephus excuses his own cowardice acts, praises the brutal Roman victories while endlessly deriding, belittling and demonizing the rebels with whom he once fought.  The derision of his fellow Jews however, should be tempered with the knowledge that Josephus was a captive of the Romans, though freed by Vespasian, and Titus, who would read his works.