Revolt in the Galilee

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.