Bibliography
| Title: Josephus' Portrait of Solomon Secondary Title: HUCA Volume: 66 Pages: 103-167 Type: Journal Article Year: 1995 Abstract: in: AnPh 67 (1996), 205: "In the Jewish Antiquities, King Solomon is a major figure in Josephus' attempt to answer the anti-Jewish charge that the Jews had failed to produce men of eminence. Solomon is an exemplary king who possesses the virtues of wisdom, courage, temperance, justice , and piety". Collins, John J. in: JSJ 28.4 (1997), 472: "The author attempts to provide an in-depth evaluation of Josephus' portrait of Solomon. King Solomon is a very important figure in Josephus' Antiquities, in his attempt to answer the anti-Jewish charge that the Jews had failed to produce great men. Josephus seems to be indebted to Homer, Hesiod, Sophocles and Thucydides among others, in his portrait of Solomon. Reminiscences of such popular writers would surely have endeared Josephus to his non-Jewish audience. There are also a number of indications of Stoic influence in the Solomon pericope. Solomon emerges as possessing the four cardinal virtues - wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice, as well as the spiritual virtue of piety. Unlike his portrayal in rabbinic literature, where he is the prototype of the Talmudic sage and where many miraculous and supernatural elements are attributed to him, Josephus stresses Solomon's wisdom as a rational king and judge. Furthermore, in his rewriting of the Bible, Josephus has sought to improve upon the biblical text by avoiding difficulties and implausibilities and by increasing suspense and dramatic and romantic interest". Keywords: Antiquities |