Bibliography
| Title: Josephus' Portrait of Daniel Secondary Title: Henoch Volume: 14 Pages: 37-96 Type: Journal Article Year: 1992 Abstract: "To understand Josephus' interpretation of the character of Daniel we must realize that he is addressing an audience of both Jews and non-Jews. For the latter he emphasizes, beyond his biblical source, Daniel's genealogy, handsome appearance, and possession of the cardinal virtues of wisdom (especially as seen in his interpretation of dreams), courage, temperance (which he identifies with modesty), and justice (which is coupled with humanity and unselfishness), plus the fifth virtue of piety. In addition Daniel shows the qualities of leadership so prized by Thucydides and Plato, whom Josephus and his audience so admired. Daniel is also referred to, as he is not in the Bible, as prophet, a quality which he shared with one which Josephus ascribed to himself. Because Jews had reached positions of the highest importance during the Hellenistic and Roman periods and aroused jealousy as well as charges of double loyalty Josephus uses this pericope to show the broadmindedness of Jews toward non-Jews. In particular, he seeks to cast the kings - Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, and Darius - with whom Daniel was closely associated in a more favorable light. (...) By emphasizing the honors accorded to Daniel Josephus also uses this pericope to anser the charge that the Jews are the most untalented of all barbarians. Moreover, in explaining Daniel's abstention from the king' s food and wine as due to health reasons Josephus answers the charge that the Jews have a way of life that is hostile to foreigners. (...) Josephus also adds drama to the narrative and, in particular, builds up suspense. He likewise heightens the irony, particularly in the scene in which Daniel's enemies, who had argued that the reason why Daniel was not harmed by the lions was because they were sated, are themselves fed to lions who are sated but who consume them nevertheless (93-94)".
"After noting Josephus' special interest in Daniel, the article discusses his portrayal of Daniel chiefly in Antiquities 10: Daniel's qualities of character (wisdom, courage, temperance, justice, piety), his roles as leader and prophet, attitude toward the state and its rulers, apologetic significance, and place in Josephus' theology. It also considers how in his paraphrase Josephus clarified the biblical text and added drama and suspense to the narrative". - D.J.H.
"This is another in the series of Feldman's studies of biblical figures in Josephus. The author shows how and why Josephus expands and changes the biblical treatment of Daniel. Josephus stresses Daniel's virtues and prophetic qualities. With an eye of his Roman audience, he draws a more favorable picture of the non-Jewish rulers than the Book of Daniel did. He deemphasises the miraculous elements of the Daniel story and speaks of God in Stoic terms. In addition, Josephus tries to clarify the biblical account and adds drama and suspense to it". Keywords: Antiquities |