Bibliography
| Title: Eleazar's Second Speech on Masada and Its Literary Precedents Secondary Title: RMP Volume: 126 Pages: 25-43 Type: Journal Article Year: 1983 Abstract: "In B.J. VII,341-388 Josephus worked his historical examples and Jewish tradition into the framework of Greek philosophical oratory. A Greek reader of his day would not have failed to notice the concept, and even language, behind this speech, but would not have been perturbed by the discrepancy of a Zealot and a Jew speaking in this way".
"Eleazar's rhetorical exhortation in Josephus' War 7:341-388 deals with the immortality of the soul and its freedom (341-348), the repose of sleep as a reason for not fearing death (349-350), the example of the Indians and their fearlessness of death (351-357), and the horrors of war as proof that life is not worth living (358-388). Josephus worded his historical examples and Jewish traditions into the framework of Greek philosophical oratory. Greek readers of his day would have noticed the concepts and language behind the speech, and would not have been disturbed by the anomaly of a Jewish Zealot speaking in this way. they wool have recognized a fictitious set speech when they saw one". - D.J.H. Keywords: Prototypes and Sources for Josephus |