Failed last year, thought I'd try again this one. Before I petered out, I read about 1500 paragraphs of Josephus. I read Life, Apion, and read about 430 paragraphs into Book 1 of Jewish War. That's about 30 paragraphs a day. So here's my revised schedule for finishing War Book 1:
Jan. 1: 430-460
Jan. 2: 460-490
Jan. 3: 490-520
Jan. 4: 520-550
Jan. 5: 550-580
Jan. 6: 580-610
Jan. 7: 610-640
Jan. 8: 640-673
Friday, December 31, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Jewish War 1:187-430
Well, I'm almost a month behind, but I have been reading. The portion I've read since the last post covers a period of about fifty years, from the time of Pompey's engagement to the establishment of Herod the Great.
We hear of brigands in Galilee during this period (e.g., 1.204, 304). There is the story about them hiding in caves and a father tossing his family and himself down (1.313), I remember mention of a cliff face in Israel just off the Sea of Galilee in reference to this.
There is the mention of a law indicating that a person cannot be put to death without a trial (1.209), interesting in the light of Stephen's stoning. Lots of death.
The material is fun if you remember Julius Caesar from history. On these pages we see Pompey, Julius Caesar, Cassius, Marc Antony, Cleopatra, and of course Augustus. Herod sided with Antony, but is fully accepted by Augustus after Antony bites the dust.
Herod repeatedly confirms that Arabia includes the area just to the east of Damascus. Petra, for example, is in Arabia (1.267). He interestingly refers repeatedly to Fate, destiny, and the like.
I was a little surprised to find reference to "Herodians" in 1.319. I thought I had read somewhere that they were only mentioned in the gospels (e.g., Mark 12:13--slightly different spelling). A speech in 373ff is of possible interest in comparison with the speeches of Acts.
378 mentions the universal law of mankind. 401ff talks of Herod's refurbishment of the temple, which began around 20BC. He built his palace, built cities, made a harbor. Basically, spent an aweful lot of money.
We hear of brigands in Galilee during this period (e.g., 1.204, 304). There is the story about them hiding in caves and a father tossing his family and himself down (1.313), I remember mention of a cliff face in Israel just off the Sea of Galilee in reference to this.
There is the mention of a law indicating that a person cannot be put to death without a trial (1.209), interesting in the light of Stephen's stoning. Lots of death.
The material is fun if you remember Julius Caesar from history. On these pages we see Pompey, Julius Caesar, Cassius, Marc Antony, Cleopatra, and of course Augustus. Herod sided with Antony, but is fully accepted by Augustus after Antony bites the dust.
Herod repeatedly confirms that Arabia includes the area just to the east of Damascus. Petra, for example, is in Arabia (1.267). He interestingly refers repeatedly to Fate, destiny, and the like.
I was a little surprised to find reference to "Herodians" in 1.319. I thought I had read somewhere that they were only mentioned in the gospels (e.g., Mark 12:13--slightly different spelling). A speech in 373ff is of possible interest in comparison with the speeches of Acts.
378 mentions the universal law of mankind. 401ff talks of Herod's refurbishment of the temple, which began around 20BC. He built his palace, built cities, made a harbor. Basically, spent an aweful lot of money.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Way Behind: Jewish War 1.1-186
Way behind, but I've read the first 186 of War 1.
Mostly boring--so and so attacked so and so. Then so and so attacked so and so. Josephus is also often wrong in his reconstruction, at least when you compare him to 1 Maccabees, which is almost 200 years earlier. Mostly on the Maccabees.
Of interest are his comments on Judah the Essene (1.78-80), on the Pharisees (1.110-12), and on Pompey's entrance into the Holy of Holies (1.152).
Mention of soul (1.84) and he supports Paul's Arabia as the Nabatean kingdom with Petra as capital.
Mostly boring--so and so attacked so and so. Then so and so attacked so and so. Josephus is also often wrong in his reconstruction, at least when you compare him to 1 Maccabees, which is almost 200 years earlier. Mostly on the Maccabees.
Of interest are his comments on Judah the Essene (1.78-80), on the Pharisees (1.110-12), and on Pompey's entrance into the Holy of Holies (1.152).
Mention of soul (1.84) and he supports Paul's Arabia as the Nabatean kingdom with Petra as capital.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Schedule for Jewish War Book 1
Feb. 1: 1-34
Feb. 2: 35-68
Feb. 3: 69-102
Feb. 4: 103-36
Feb. 5: 137-70
Feb. 6: 171-204
Feb. 7: 205-38
Feb. 8: 239-72
Feb. 9: 273-306
Feb. 10: 307-340
Feb. 11: 341-74
Feb. 12: 375-408
Feb. 13: 409-42
Feb. 14: 443-76
Feb. 15: 477-510
Feb. 16: 511-44
Feb. 17: 545-78
Feb. 18: 579-612
Feb. 19: 613-46
Feb. 20: 647-73
Feb. 2: 35-68
Feb. 3: 69-102
Feb. 4: 103-36
Feb. 5: 137-70
Feb. 6: 171-204
Feb. 7: 205-38
Feb. 8: 239-72
Feb. 9: 273-306
Feb. 10: 307-340
Feb. 11: 341-74
Feb. 12: 375-408
Feb. 13: 409-42
Feb. 14: 443-76
Feb. 15: 477-510
Feb. 16: 511-44
Feb. 17: 545-78
Feb. 18: 579-612
Feb. 19: 613-46
Feb. 20: 647-73
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Apion Book 2 finished... (2.181-296)
... and only a week behind. :-)
This last section largely deals with the excellence of the Law in comparison with other races, especially the Greeks. Here are some interesting bits:
This last section largely deals with the excellence of the Law in comparison with other races, especially the Greeks. Here are some interesting bits:
- God is the beginning, middle, and end of all things (2.190).
- Again, Hebrews watch, Josephus speaks of the temple and its operations as if they were still going on (2.193ff).
- Josephus understands the Law to imply monogamy and sex only for procreation (2.199).
- Interesting interpolation on women I discuss elsewhere (2.201).
- Stuff on soul (2.202-3)
- Prophecy background to 2 Peter 1 (2.218).
- Josephus' view of resurrection (2.218).
- Allegorical defense of the ancient myths (2.255).
- God permeates the universe (2.284)
- Everything in the universe is under the eye and direction of God (2.294).
Now on to the Jewish War.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Apion 2.79-175
Almost a week behind, but hope to finish Apion this weekend.
Interesting and strange rumors about Jewish practices--like kidnapping and sacrificing a Greek (95).
Interesting description of the temple holiness layers (103-5).
Interesting comments on sin:
"to those who believe that their lives are under the eye of God all sin is intolerable" (160).
"our leader [Moses] made the Law the standard and rule, that we might live under it as under a father and master, and be guilty of no sin through wilfulness or ignorance" (174).
The word theocracy is used at 165 in description of Mosaic rule.
God is the One, uncreated, immutable God, whose being itself is beyond knowledge, inscrutable (167).
Godliness for Moses, according to Josephus, is not one virtue but the virtue of which other virtues are only a part (e.g., justice, temperance, etc.) 170.
Interesting and strange rumors about Jewish practices--like kidnapping and sacrificing a Greek (95).
Interesting description of the temple holiness layers (103-5).
Interesting comments on sin:
"to those who believe that their lives are under the eye of God all sin is intolerable" (160).
"our leader [Moses] made the Law the standard and rule, that we might live under it as under a father and master, and be guilty of no sin through wilfulness or ignorance" (174).
The word theocracy is used at 165 in description of Mosaic rule.
God is the One, uncreated, immutable God, whose being itself is beyond knowledge, inscrutable (167).
Godliness for Moses, according to Josephus, is not one virtue but the virtue of which other virtues are only a part (e.g., justice, temperance, etc.) 170.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Apion 2.1-78
Some great stuff! I keep hitting myself for not reading straight through Josephus before. It really enhances so much that I think every PhD in New Testament, even many MAs, should read through significant portions. Alas...
Apion 2 begins with a dedication of the second volume to Epaphroditus that is really similar to the introduction to Acts. "Through the first book, my most honored Epaproditus..." Presumably this was conventional dedication to one's patron.
In the second volume, we finally meet Apion, who led the opposite delegation to Philo to Rome under Caligula after the pogrom of AD38. He wrote a book on Egypt much like Manetho's and dependant on Manetho's.
Good description of Alexandria and where the Jews primarily lived in the city. He mentions a stele in Alexandria that recorded the rights given the Jews by Julius Caesar (37). Josephus is not completely to be trusted. For example, when Claudius in the early 40s issued a verdict on whether the Jews were citizens of Alexandria, he answered that they never really were. Obviously, both Philo and Josephus disagreed.
The Greek text is missing for a significant portion, starting at 52. Fun to see the Greek switch to Latin till 114.
Allusion to the crisis of 3 Maccabees, although there are significant questions about when and if this persecution took place. Josephus also backdates the Jewish position to Alexander, when it seems more likely that Ptolemy 1 Soter settled many Jews there against their will. Ptolemy II Philadelphus seems to have been more favorable.
Mention of primary sources like letters from Caesar are interesting (61).
A significant text for Hebrews scholarship is 2.77, where Josephus speaks of temple practice as if it were still currently taking place. In reality of course, the temple had been destroyed for almost 30 years by the time Josephus was writing. The present tense of Hebrews in relation to the offering of sacrifices is thus no argument for a pre-70 date for the sermon.
Apion 2 begins with a dedication of the second volume to Epaphroditus that is really similar to the introduction to Acts. "Through the first book, my most honored Epaproditus..." Presumably this was conventional dedication to one's patron.
In the second volume, we finally meet Apion, who led the opposite delegation to Philo to Rome under Caligula after the pogrom of AD38. He wrote a book on Egypt much like Manetho's and dependant on Manetho's.
Good description of Alexandria and where the Jews primarily lived in the city. He mentions a stele in Alexandria that recorded the rights given the Jews by Julius Caesar (37). Josephus is not completely to be trusted. For example, when Claudius in the early 40s issued a verdict on whether the Jews were citizens of Alexandria, he answered that they never really were. Obviously, both Philo and Josephus disagreed.
The Greek text is missing for a significant portion, starting at 52. Fun to see the Greek switch to Latin till 114.
Allusion to the crisis of 3 Maccabees, although there are significant questions about when and if this persecution took place. Josephus also backdates the Jewish position to Alexander, when it seems more likely that Ptolemy 1 Soter settled many Jews there against their will. Ptolemy II Philadelphus seems to have been more favorable.
Mention of primary sources like letters from Caesar are interesting (61).
A significant text for Hebrews scholarship is 2.77, where Josephus speaks of temple practice as if it were still currently taking place. In reality of course, the temple had been destroyed for almost 30 years by the time Josephus was writing. The present tense of Hebrews in relation to the offering of sacrifices is thus no argument for a pre-70 date for the sermon.
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