Bibliography
| Title: Prophetic Figures in Late Second Temple Jewish Palestine. The Evidence from Josephus Pages: XVII, 238 Type: Book Year: 1993 Abstract: "The present thesis comprises a study of the evidence from Josephus for prophetic figures in Jewish Palestine in the late Second Temple period. Chapter one takes up the question of the "cessation" of prophecy. It is often argued or assumed by scholars that Jews in this period believed that prophecy had ceased at some point in the past; it is normally assumed, in addition, that this belief had the status of an absolute dogma. Examination of the evidence from Josephus suggests that this last assumption is mistaken. Josephus believed both that prophecy belinged, in some sense, to the past, and that there were indivuduals in his own day who said and did very much the same kind of things as the ancient prophets had said and done. Chapter two considers the evidence which suggests that Josephus understood himself as a prophet. The account in War 3 which describes his surrender to the Romans and his prediction to Vespasian is carefully examined, and an attempt is made to determine the nature and significance of the experience described in War 3:351-54. The typological correspondances between Josephus' portrayal of himself and his portrayal of certain ancient prophets are also examined. Chapter three considers the evidence from Josephus for prophecy among the Essenes, both the general statement in War 2:159 and the three reports concerning individual Essene prophets. Several general issues concerning the Essenes and Essene prophecy are discussed. In chapter 4, I examine Josephus' reports concerning the so-called "sign prophets", who led large numbers of people from one place to another in anticipation of some divine act of deliverance. The nature of the miracles that were promised by these prophets is investigated, and the question is raised of whether or not they should be described as "eschatological prophets". Chapter five considers Josephus' report concerning the solitary woe-sayer, Jesus son of Ananias. The conclusion summarize the findings of the thesis and points forward to the way in which it might contribute to a larger history of prophecy in the late Second Temple period. - Revised Dissertation, Oxford University, 1990 (E. P. Sanders)." Keywords: Cultural and Religious History of Ancient Judaism Flavius Josephus, Views on Prophets. Prophets, Palestine, Historiography. Jews, History, 168 B.C.E.-135 C.E., Historiography. |