Bibliography
| Title: Judaea after A.D. 70 Secondary Title: JJS Volume: 35 Pages: 44-50 Type: Journal Article Year: 1984 Abstract: "A reinterpretation of Josephus BJ VII 6,6 (216); Vita 76 (422). Josephus does not say that Jewish land was held as private property by the Emperor. Any reference to crown land in this passage exists only in the imagination of those who emended the text, .... Vespasian, according to Josephus, did not keep any territory in Judaea, but gave instructions to dispose of all confiscated land. That would not apply to crown land which had that status before the revolt, of course. Josephus means to emphasise that Vespasian did not introduce foreigners into any newly-founded Flavian city, intended to replace Jerusalem. He stressed therefore that only a limited number of veterans was established at the modest settlement of Emmaus".
"Josephus' statements in War 7:216 about Vespasian's treatment of Jewish land after the First Revolt have been misinterpreted by modern scholars. The phrase "all Jewish land" referred only to confiscated property, which could be given as a present to others (see Josephus Life 422). It is clear that Jews possessed land in Judea in fact and by right after A.D. 70". - D.J.H. Keywords: Jewish History: Roman Era |