Revolt in the Galilee

Josephus

The Jewish War 2.562–568

ca. 75

When the Jews who had pursued Cestius returned to Jerusalem, they either forced or persuaded any remaining pro-Romans to join their movement, and held a mass meeting at the temple to appoint further generals to direct the war. Joseph the son of Gorion and Ananus the high priest were elected to absolute authority in all home affairs, with particular…

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An early and impressive victory against Roman forces initially fuels revolutionary passions, and the rebels meet in Jerusalem to determine who will lead the coming revolt. It is at this juncture that Josephus is given command of the Galilee on behalf of the rebel parties. Throughout his narrative, Josephus describes his own behavior as impeccable, crediting his survival to his ethical comportment. He is careful to depict his actions as means of seeking peace within the region and of discouraging revolt. His primary focus, as he claims, is on the peace and security of the region. Written in Rome after he survived the Jewish revolt by cooperating with the Romans, Josephus’ history is undeniably self-serving, leaving the reader to conjecture about the accuracy of many of his historical depictions.

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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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