Full Description
A Jewish priest, a freedom fighter, a Roman citizen, a biblical scholar, and a traitor. Josephus (37-100 CE) has been called all these and more. A controversial figure in his time, Jews and Romans alike either admired or hated him. He is our major historian of the Greek and the Roman periods in the Middle East from the second century BCE to the late first century CE. In addition to documenting these eras, Josephus participated in many of the great events of his time. His eyewitness account of the 70 CE Roman destruction of the Jerusalem Temple is among the most dramatic narratives from antiquity. Among his extensive writings is the first autobiography in Western tradition and a detailed retelling of the Old Testament. No scholar or serious student of the Bible, classical literature, or ancient history can conduct their research without using Josephus' books. With its contributions from a diverse array of experts representing both established academics and the best of a promising generation of new scholars from four continents, the Oxford Handbook of Josephus will shape the direction of future research on Josephus, the Bible, Classics, Ancient History, and related fields.
Contents
Part I. Josephus: The Man and His Works
1: Kenneth Atkinson: Josephus' Background as a Jew and a Roman
2: Samuele Rocca: The Jewish War
3: Chris Seeman: Antiquities
4: Davina Grojnowski: Life (Josephus' Autobiography)
5: Benedikt Eckhardt: Against Apion
Part II. Biblical Figures and Scriptural Interpretation in Josephus' Writings
6: Michael Avioz: Josephus' Reinterpretation of Scripture
7: Carson Bay and René Bloch: The Abrahamic Covenant in Josephus' Writings
8: Rivka Nir: John the Baptist, Jesus, and Other New Testament Figures in Josephus' Writings
9: Margaret Williams: Pontius Pilate and Other Roman Officials in Josephus' Writings
10: Lorenzo DiTommaso: Prophecy and Apocalypticism in Josephus' Writings
Part III. Greco-Roman History in Josephus' Writings
11: Sylvie Honigman: Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the Maccabean Rebellion in Josephus' Writings
12: Jennifer Gerrish: The Roman Republic in Josephus' Writings
13: Julia Wilker: Josephus on the Hasmonean Monarchy
14: Andrew M. McClellan: Josephus on Pompey's Conquest of Jerusalem
15: Nikos Kokkinos: Herod the Great and the Herodian Dynasty in Josephus' Writings
16: William den Hollander: The Emperors Vespasian and Titus in Josephus' Writings
Part IV. Religious Groups and Institutions in Josephus' Writings
17: Joan E. Taylor: Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes in Josephus' Writings
18: Vasile Babota: High Priests in Josephus' Writings
19: Andrew R. Krause: Synagogues in Josephus' Writings
Part V. Foreign Empires and Conflicts in Josephus' Writings
20: Edward Drabrowa: The Seleucid Empire in Josephus' Writings
21: Sandra Gambetti: The Ptolemaic Empire in Josephus' Writings
22: Nikolaus Leo Overtoom: The Parthian Empire in Josephus' Writings
23: Brent D. Shaw: Josephus: The Historian and the Bandit
Part VI. Jewish and Roman Backgrounds in Josephus' Writings
24: Eelco Glas and Pieter B. Hartog: The Dead Sea Scrolls and Josephus' Writings
25: Patrick Pouchelle: The Pseudepigrapha and Josephus' Writings
26: Linda T. Zollschan: The Start of the Jewish War in Roman International Law
Part VII. Recent Developments in Josephus Studies
27: Caryn A. Reeder: Gender and War in Josephus' Writings
28: Françoise Mirguet: Emotions in Josephus' Writings
29: Jason Von Ehrenkrook: Iconoclastic Jerusalem: A Rhetorical Reading of Josephus' Writings
30: Rodney A. Werline: Prayer in Josephus' Writings
31: Robert Wafawanaka: A Postcolonial Reading of Josephus' Writings
32: Matthew V. Novenson: Josephus and the New Testament
