Josephus and the Jewish Wars

The character of Josephus presents an interesting study on both the events of the Jewish Wars and also the nature of the Roman Empire.  What makes Josephus such an interesting case is that previous to being a Roman historian, he was a Jewish rebel on the frontlines of the resistance.  When examining Josephus, it is important to first examine his past as an orthodox Jew.  He was of priestly and royal ancestry and well studied in both the teachings of the Sadducees and Pharisees.  It is quite apparent that as a young man, and throughout his life, he was sympathetic to the Jewish cause.  He had been sent to Rome to present the case for the release of Jewish priest to Nero and upon his return to Jerusalem, he was drafted as the commander of the Galilean forces. 

Roman bust said to be of Josephus (from Les Dossiers d' Archéologie)

The remainder of Josephus’ life after this event is what provides interest.  As commander of these rebel forces and surrounded by the Roman army, Josephus suggested a mass suicide for himself and his men. But Josephus did not kill himself and surrendered to the Romans as the sole survivor. Now what the Romans did next speaks to how the Romans sought to control a revolting people under their jurisdiction. Instead of killing or enslaving Josephus, which they could have easily done, he was appointed to write the histories of the Jewish War under Vespasian and Titus.  So in this manner, his account can be seen as explaining Judaism to the Romans and Roman rule to the Jews. The Roman rulers may have been sympathetic to Josephus for the reason that he felt Roman rule was compatible with Judaism. It would not be hard to argue that his work can be viewed as Roman propaganda. After all he was commissioned by the Romans to write his works. He only has praises for the Roman rulers and lauds the army in its efficiency

“One cannot but admire the forethought shown by the Romans, in making their servant class useful to them not only for the ministrations of ordinary life but also for war. If one goes on to study the organization of their army as a whole, it will be seen that this vast empire of theirs has come to them as the prize of valor, and not as a gift of fortune… one might say without exaggeration that, great as are their possessions, the people that won them are greater still.”

Josephus The Jewish Wars Book 3, Chapter 5

At the same time though he is sympathetic to the Jewish cause his sorrow is evident when he explains the destruction of the Temple and the sack of Jerusalem.

“And as for those that are already dead in the war, it is reasonable we should esteem them blessed, for they are dead in defending, and not in betraying their liberty; but as to the multitude of those that are now under the Romans, who would not pity their condition? and who would not make haste to die, before he would suffer the same miseries with them? Some of them have been put upon the rack, and tortured with fire and whippings, and so died.”

Josephus The Jewish Wars Book 7, Chapter 8

The Romans saw Josephus as an important tool to control the revolting Jews.  Here was a man of Jewish decent speaking well of the Romans and asserting that Judaism and Roman rule could be compatible. The question is how the common Jews viewed Josephus. Did they see him as a traitor now sympathetic to the Romans or possibly paid off to speak well of them?  Either way, his work provides great insight into the tactics the Romans used to control conquered lands and people, from the use of propaganda to the brute force of the Roman military.