Josephus

It is said that, in Britain from the 18th Century, copies of Josephus’ works were as widespread and as well read as The Bible. Christians valued “The Antiquities of the Jews” in particular, for the retelling of parts of the Old Testament and apparently corroborating the historical existence of Jesus. Born Joseph son of Matthias, in Jerusalem, in 37AD, he fought the Romans in Galilee in the First Jewish-Roman War. He was captured by Vespasian’s troops and became a Roman citizen, later describing the siege and fall of Jerusalem. His actions and writings made him a controversial figure, from his lifetime to the present day.

→ Play on BBC Sounds website

Guests

• Tessa Rajak 2 episodes
  Professor Emeritus of Ancient History, University of Reading
• Philip Alexander 4 episodes
  Professor Emeritus of Jewish Studies, University of Manchester
• Martin Goodman No other episodes
  Professor of Jewish Studies, University of Oxford and President of the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies

Reading list

• Flavius Josephus and Flavian Rome
  Jonathan Edmondson, Steve Mason and James Rives (eds.) (Oxford University Press, 2005) Google Books →
• Josephus's Interpretation of the Bible
  Louis H. Feldman (University of California Press, 1999) Google Books →
• The Ruling Class of Judaea: The Origins of the Jewish Revolt against Rome, A.D. 66-70
  Martin Goodman (Cambridge University Press, 1987) Google Books →
• Rome and Jerusalem: The Clash of Ancient Civilizations
  Martin Goodman (Allen Lane, 2007) Google Books →
• Prophetic Figures in Late Second Temple Palestine: The Evidence from Josephus
  Rebecca Gray (Oxford University Press, 1997) Google Books →
• Josephus, the Emperors and the City of Rome
  William den Hollander (Brill, 2014) Google Books →
• The Jewish War
  Josephus (trans. G. A. Williamson) (Penguin, 1981) Google Books →
• Flavius Josephus, Translation and Commentary
  Steve Mason (ed.) (Brill, 1999) Google Books →
• Josephus, Judea and Christian Origins: Methods and Categories
  Steve Mason (Baker, 2008) Google Books →
• Josephus: The Historian and his Society
  Tessa Rajak (Duckworth, 2002) Google Books →
• Making History: Josephus and Historical Method
  Zuleika Rodgers (ed.) (Brill, 2006) Google Books →

Related episodes

• Early Christian Martyrdom
  
  28 Apr, 2022 270 History of Christianity
• Judas Maccabeus
  
  24 Nov, 2011 930 History of the Ancient World
• Herodotus
  
  23 Sep, 2021 930 History of the Ancient World
• The Dead Sea Scrolls
  
  4 May, 2023 220 The Bible
• Archaeology and Imperialism
  
  14 Apr, 2005 930 History of the Ancient World
• Julius Caesar
  
  2 Oct, 2014 930 History of the Ancient World
• Augustine’s Confessions
  
  15 Mar, 2018 270 History of Christianity
• Marlowe
  
  7 Jul, 2005 820 English and Old English literatures
• The Talmud
  
  29 May, 2014 290 Other religions
• Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
  
  13 Feb, 2020 930 History of the Ancient World
• Tacitus and the Decadence of Rome
  
  10 Jul, 2008 930 History of the Ancient World
• Foxe’s Book of Martyrs
  
  18 Nov, 2010 270 History of Christianity
• Xenophon
  
  26 May, 2011 930 History of the Ancient World
• Thucydides
  
  29 Jan, 2015 930 History of the Ancient World
• Just War
  
  3 Jun, 1999 170 Ethics
• Roman Slavery
  
  5 Apr, 2018 930 History of the Ancient World
• The Venerable Bede
  
  25 Nov, 2004 270 History of Christianity
• Constantine the Great
  
  5 Oct, 2017 930 History of the Ancient World
• Pliny the Younger
  
  12 Dec, 2013 870 Latin and Italic literatures
• History of History
  
  22 Jan, 2009 900 History

---

Programme ID: b05vfdzl

Episode page: bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05vfdzl

Auto-category: 220 (Bible and related religious texts)