Incitement to Revolt
Josephus
The Jewish War 2.264–265
ca. 75
So this boil [of the Egyptian false prophet] too was lanced, but, as happens in a sick body, another tumour broke out elsewhere. The charlatans and the terrorists joined forces to incite large numbers to revolt: they encouraged a fight for independence by threatening death to anyone who kowtowed to the dictates of Roman rule, and proclaiming that…
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Josephus recounts that the “charlatans and the terrorists” join together to force other Judeans to join their rebellion against the Roman Empire, bringing Judaea ever closer to full revolt.
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The Early Roman Period in History and Memory
1st Century BCE–3rd Century CE
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Creator Bio
Josephus
37–100
Flavius Josephus was born into a prominent Jewish priestly family and served as a general stationed in the Galilee during the First Jewish Revolt (66–73 CE). He was captured by the Romans and eventually integrated into the Flavian imperial aristocracy, who commissioned him to compose chronicles of the Jewish–Roman war and the history of the Jews. Josephus’ works, all written in Greek, include The Jewish War, Jewish Antiquities, Against Apion, and his autobiography, Life of Josephus. These writings provide important insights into the Judaisms of the Second Temple period and include one of the few surviving accounts of the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE.
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