The Search for the Real Josephus Problem

Many of the problems that mathematicians and computer scientists dearly love have been around for a long time. One such problem is known as the Josephus Problem, named after the first century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus. Josephus did not invent the problem. Instead, an event from his life served as the inspiration for the problem statement. Many current books refer to Mathematical Recreations and Essays by W. W. Rouse Ball [originally published in 1892] for the problem statement. The problem is quite interesting (and will be solved here). However, the story, as quoted in Bell, is not completely accurate

More than Meets the Eye: Incongruity and Observation in Josephus's Account of the Triumph of Vespasian and Titus

The article begins with a brief discussion of Josephus’s experience in the First Jewish War before turning to a close reading of Josephus’s narrative. Then, following insights from Jonathan Z. Smith and his interpreters, we take up the question of the meaning of ritual and how such meaning has been elucidated in treatments of Josephus. A “locative” view of the Roman triumph, I contend, controls the critical treatment of book 7 of the Jewish War, and this model leads inevitably to a negative evaluation of Josephus. Finally, the article will propose its own theory about how Josephus, through his account of the Roman triumph, presents himself as the consummate observer of Roman rituals of war

Confirmation and Contradiction: A Continuous Recreation of Gender and Ethnicity in the Works of Josephus

This essay addresses Josephus\u27s The Life as a autobiographical representation of his own masculinity and ethnicity during the the first century

Sketching the Pharisees

This paper explores the Pharisees and their place in Palestinian society, particularly during the first century. Recent scholarly reconstructions are reviewed and compared to the evidence found in the works of Josephus, the New Testament, and rabbinic literature. This paper examines the Pharisees through the eyes of each source and attempts to use each viewpoint to develop a picture of the Pharisaic movement. The evidence proves too ambiguous to clarify the fine details of the movement, and it resists placing them at the top of the Jewish social or religious system. It does, however, suggest that the Pharisees represent a recognizable, well-known, and even celebrated expression of mainline Judaism, and it is possible that the movement\u27s positive reputation offered members special opportunities which lead to a measure of influence in society. This conclusion is useful as a basis for multiple reconstructions, including some of the scholarly reconstructions reviewed in the paper

Josephus’ Sources and Motivations in Depicting Davidic Kingship

In Antiquitates judaicae (A.J.), book 7, Josephus (37–ca. 100 CE) retells the stories of David’s kingship in 2 Samuel. Instead of quoting the Samuel text, he paraphrases it in a fairly high-style Greek. Generally, the scholarly opinion is divided on whether Josephus based his exposition mainly on a Hebrew (so Nodet) or a Greek (Mez, Ulrich) text, or whether he used both (Rahlfs, Brock). In this article, a case will be made for Josephus being dependent on a Greek text in A.J. 7, but it is difficult to determine whether that Greek text was closer to the Lucianic (Antiochian) text than the B or majority texts (so Mez, Ulrich, Spottorno). The most decisive factors behind Josephus’ formulations are the need to produce a good story and to present King David in a favorable light. However, details of the underlying Greek text affect Josephus’ choice of words in isolated cases, e.g., referring to King David as “the shepherd” of his people (2 Sam 24:17 // A.J. 7.328) and explicating that David chose the plague over other forms of punishment following the census (2 Sam 24:14 // A.J. 7.322–323). Both of these cases are based on a Greek reading absent from the MT. In addition to details in the Greek text, Josephus’ choice of words or a free expansion are partly motivated by his own situation after the Jewish War. Josephus’ motivations can be detected when he deviates from the biblical narrative. Examples of this phenomenon include depicting David’s son Absalom as a demagogue who incited the mob to rebellion (A.J. 7.196) and justifying the purportedly changed allegiance of David’s friend Hushai by prudence and acknowledgement of divine providence (A.J. 7.211–212). The study of Josephus’ depiction of Davidic kingship must take into account both the sources and the personal motivations of the author. The study illuminates the impact of a large-scale political transition—the Jewish War and its aftermath—on the rewriting of scriptural texts and traditions.Peer reviewe

Toward a Mediating Understanding of Tongues: A Historical and Exegetical Examination of Early Literature

Studies regarding pneumatology and charismata have maintained distinctions largely due to previously held presuppositions. Christians have debated Luke’s and Paul’s usage of specific words and have taken diametrically opposite positions on this issue. This study will not attempt to answer the question of the legitimacy of spiritual gifts; we must, rather, begin from a proper understanding of words and concepts, thus allowing God’s Word to change us if we are to be mindful of our obedience toward Him. This study will examine the historic meaning of the word and concept of tongues in order to better gauge Luke’s and Paul’s—and thus God’s—meaning for proper obedience. The issue under examination is a question of meaning: does the original meaning of tongues include only the miraculous endowment to speak an unlearned language, or only something related to the modern phenomenon of glossolalia, or an admixture of both? An examination of meaning includes an examination of historically contemporary authors, both biblical and extrabiblical. There are a variety of ways that ancient authors recognized different tongues phenomena, but for the modern Christian, it is finally important to understand what Luke and Paul meant. While it is true that Cessationists are correct to understand Luke’s use as that of a miraculously endowed foreign language, Paul and the Corinthians likely embraced a broader semantic range of this phenomenon

Sketching the Pharisees

This paper explores the Pharisees and their place in Palestinian society, particularly during the first century. Recent scholarly reconstructions are reviewed and compared to the evidence found in the works of Josephus, the New Testament, and rabbinic literature. This paper examines the Pharisees through the eyes of each source and attempts to use each viewpoint to develop a picture of the Pharisaic movement. The evidence proves too ambiguous to clarify the fine details of the movement, and it resists placing them at the top of the Jewish social or religious system. It does, however, suggest that the Pharisees represent a recognizable, well-known, and even celebrated expression of mainline Judaism, and it is possible that the movement\u27s positive reputation offered members special opportunities which lead to a measure of influence in society. This conclusion is useful as a basis for multiple reconstructions, including some of the scholarly reconstructions reviewed in the paper