Bibliography
| Title: Josephus' Portrait of Isaac Secondary Title: RSLR Volume: 29 Pages: 3-33 Type: Journal Article Year: 1993 Abstract: "In his treatment of Isaac (see Ant. 1) Josephus developed the themes of Isaac 's noble birth, his reverence for his father, and possession of the cardinal virtues of wisdom, courage, temperance, justice, and piety. As a man of peace who achieves security through reasonable calculation, Isaac served as a model for Josephus' contemporary Jews. Josephus' solution to the problem posed by Esau 's intermarriages was to make clear that Isaac was not consulted by Esau but held his peace once the marriages took place. He "improved" upon the biblical narrative in various ways". - D.J.H.
"In contrast to Philo and rabbinic literature, Josephus does not aggrandize the figure of Isaac, but does attribute to him the cardinal virtues. The account of the Aqedah, although centered on Abraham, does emphasize Isaac's justice. Isaac is presented as a man of peace and a model for Josephus' contemporary Jews. Feldman emphasizes several traits that are geared in particular to a Roman audience, as the accommodating attitude toward intermarriage and the omission of the promise of the Land to Abraham and his descendants. Stylistically, Josephus hightened the drama of the Aqedah. The irony of the situation is increased by comparison with Homeric characters". Keywords: Antiquities |