Bibliography
| Title: Turbulent Times? Josephus and Scholarship on Judaea in the First Century CE Secondary Title: JSPE.S 29 Type: Book Year: 1998 Abstract: in: JSPE 17 (1998), 94: "How do you contend with Josephus' interpretation of events when understanding historical inquiry? Taking as a test case the presentation of Judaea in the first century CE, McLaren argues that existing scholarship fails to achieve conceptual independence from Josephus, it simply repeats Josephus' presentation of a society engulfed in a escalating turmoil that allegedly culminated in the revolt of 66-70 CE. A new strategy is needed, applying a case-study approach and formulating open-ended questions. In embarking upon such a strategy, McLaren offers an entirely fresh appraisal of the situation in Judaea where Josephus acts as a major source".
Feldman, Louis Harry in: OZA 21.3 (1998), 551-552: "M. points out the lack of recognition by scholars of the all-encompassing nature of Josephus' interpretation of events in the first Century C.E. M. likewise argues that modern scholarship has generally proclaimed its conceptual independence from Josephus, but has failed to achieve this goal. He insists that each incident described by Josephus must be removed from its narrative context and examined separately, noting gaps and inconsistencies; and that only after this has been done can a synthesis be arrived at and conclusions drawn. It is crucial too that open-ended questions be considered. M. illustrates the value of this "case-study approach" by analyzing Josephus' description of three separate incidents - the fall of Masada (War 2.408), the rejection of sacrifices and gifts offered by foreigners (War 2.409-17), and the capture of Machaerus (War 2.485-86). He concludes that the narrative of Josephus can be used to explore the actual historical Situation independently of the framework established by Josephus and adopted by scholarship. He insists that Josephus' portrayal of the aristocracy and the revolutionary movement at the beginning of the War should be considered abstracting from the regnant parameters of scholarly inquiry. He asserts that not one part of the narrative is devoid of Josephus' controlling hand. Of particular importance is the need to limit the influence of 70 C.E. as the center point of the first Century. The framework of an escalating level of turmoil which climaxes with the inevitable revolt is not a sound starting point for historical inquiry into the period".
in: NTAb 43.2 (1999), 426: "McLaren, lecturer in the School of Theology, Australian Catholic University, Ascot Vale, Victoria, contends that modern scholarship on Judea in the 1 st century A.D. fails to achieve conceptual independence from Josephus, and simply repeats Josephus' presentation of a society engulfed in an escalating turmoil that allegedly culminated in the revolt of A.D. 66-70. After outlining how Josephus portrays the state of affairs in 1 st-century A.D. Judea up to A.D. 66, the author explores how Josephus developed his crafted narrative, analyzes his interpretative framework in operation in his major works (Life, War, Antiquities), considers how scholarship interacts with Josephus' narrative, and shows the clear parallel between the picture presented by Josephus and that constructed by scholarship. The he proposes a "case study" approach and presents a reading of event in Judea during A.D. 66 as a sample that shows the way toward developing a more appropriate methodology for using Josephus' works in historical research". Keywords: Jewish History: Roman Era |