How did Josephus help us understand the Judean context from the Hasmonean rule to destruction of the temple?

Answer 1

Josephus is practically our only source on the Hasmoneans--as well, his perspective is important as it provides us with an extra-biblical account of key historical events.


From Wikpedia:

"He makes references to the Sadducees, Jewish High Priests of the time, Pharisees and Essenes, the Herodian Temple, Quirinius' census and the Zealots, and to such figures as Pontius Pilate, Herod the Great, Agrippa I and II, John the Baptist, James the brother of Jesus, and a highly disputed reference to Jesus. He is an important source for studies of immediate post-Temple Judaism (and, thus, the context of early Christianity)."

Answer 2

Josephus did a good job with documenting the times and cultures of the period you mention (the tension between the Romans and the Jews; the desire of the Jews to self-rule; the Messianic expectations; the social unrest; the rebellion leading to the destruction of the temple).

Answer 3

Josephus did a good job with documenting the times and cultures of the period you mention (the tension between the Romans and the Jews; the desire of the Jews to self-rule; the Messianic expectations; the social unrest; the rebellion leading to the destruction of the temple).

Cordially,
John

Answer 4

He recorded the oral traditions that had not yet been codified in the Jewish scriptures, in addition to concepts from those scriptures.

The problem with Josephus is twofold. Firstly, he was a tabloid journalist by modern standards rather than a historian. Second (which is interrelated with the first), he just recorded what he had been told. His record then is only as good as the record of those WHO told it to him, which has unknown fidelity.

Answer 5

Spamandham-you took my answer! That is a very good answer, and worded well.

Answer 6

looked it up on Yahoo!

Answer 7

what in the hell are u talking about