Roman Corruption

Josephus

The Jewish War 2.271–283

ca. 75

Felix’s successor as procurator, Festus, set out to deal with the main plague affecting the country: he captured large numbers of the terrorizing bandits, and put a good many to death. But his successor Albinus ran a very different administration, characterized by every possible form of corruption. This was not only in his official capacity, which…

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Among the important remaining causes of the First Jewish Revolt to which Josephus points is the immense corruption of a number of the Roman procurators. According to Josephus, these men treat their appointments in Judaea as opportunities to enrich themselves. Porcius Festus served as procurator of Judaea from 60 to 62 CE and was succeeded by Lucceius Albinus, whose appointment was from 62 to 64 CE. Josephus describes how Jewish rebels bribe Albinus to let them continue to foment their rebellion. In Josephus’ telling, none is worse than the last procurator before the war, Gessius Florus, who held the appointment from 64 to 66 CE. Florus is especially brazen in his misdeeds—“utterly shameless.” In response to Jewish complaints to Florus’ superior Cestius over Florus’ corruption, Josephus explains that Florus understands that the only means for him to save face is to engineer a full-blown Jewish revolt.

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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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