ASSIGNMENT
1. Read the "Preface" and Book 1 (Penguin Classics pgs. 27-119): Antiochus Epiphanes throught the death of Herod the Great.
2. Read this brief biography of Josephus
INTERESTING STUFF ABOUT JOSEPHUS
Additional Josephus resources
A brief summary account of the life of King Herod the Great
STUDY QUESTIONS
The book, chapter, and section numbers below refer to the Whiston translation published by Hendrickson and other publishers. The "PC ##" in parentheses refers to the "Penguin Classics" editon and the page number.
- Preface, section 1 (PC 27): For whose sake does Josephus write this history? Section 5 (PC 29): To whom does he dedicate it? Section 4 (PC 28): What does Josephus consider to be the real cause of the destruction of Jerusalem? Note that sections 7-12 (PC 29-31) are Josephus's own summary of his Book and is therefore useful to return to now and then for the big picture.
- Book 1 covers a span of about 167 years, from Antiochus Ephphanes; taking of Jerusalem to the death of Herod the Great. Herod the Great died in 4 B.C., so about when did Antiochus Ephphanes take Jerusalem?
- Chap. 1, section 2 (PC 33). How did Antiochus profane the temple? Many see this as the "abomination of desolation" mentioned in Daniel 12:11. I Maccabees 1, an apocryphal but legitimate history, describes the small idolatrous altar, with an image of Zeus on it, that was set on the altar in the temple.
- Chap. 7 sect. 4, 5 (PC 46-47). What became of the Jews' dedication to their religious observances when Jerusalem was under attack by Pompey the Great? Section 6 (PC 47). What did Pompey do with the all the temple treasures after entering the Holy of Holies and seeing them?
- Compare Chaps. 9, sect. 3 (PC 51); Chap. 10, sect. 3 (PC 53), and Chap. 11, sect. 1 (PC 56). Which Caesar was it who was friends with Antipater, father of Herod the Great?
- Chap. 11, sect. 4 (PC 57). Who first promised to make Herod king of the Jews, and why? Chap. 14, sect. 4. (PC 64-65) Who actually makes him king, and why, and where, and instead of whom?
- Chap. 18, sect. 3 (PC 74, 75). How did Herod stop his Roman allies from plundering Jerusalem after they had taken it? Sections 4, 5 (PC 75). What effect did Antony's love for Cleopatra have on Herod?
- Chap. 20, sect. 1, 2 (PC 79-80). How did Herod gain Caesar's friendship after Caesar's victory over Antony, Herod's ally? Which Caesar is this? What territory did Herod gain from Caesar besides that which he'd lost to Cleopatra's greed?
- Chap. 21, sect. 13 (PC 84-85). What kind of man was Herod the Great?
- Chap. 22 (PC 86-87). Why did Herod kill Mariamne when he loved her so much? Why did she hate him?
- In general, what troubles did Herod have in his family, and what were the troubles primarily over?
- Chap. 28, sect. 4 (PC 104). How many wives did Herod have?
- Chap. 33 (PC 117-119). How did the rebellious Antipater finally die? How did Herod try to ensure that the Jews would mourn when he died? How did Herod himself die? Who succeeded him as king?
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