Josephus' Story of the Later Monarchy: (AJ 9,1-10,185)

725 Pages·2000·15.87 MB·English

by  Christopher Begg

BIBLIOTHECA EPHEMERIDUM THEOLOGICARUM LOVA NIENSIUM
CXLV
JOSEPHUS' STORY
OF THE LATER MONARCHY
(Al9,1-10,185)
BY
CHRISTOPHER BEGG
LEUVEN UITGEVERIJ PEETERS
UNIVERSITY PRESS LEUVEN
2000
JOSEPHUS' STORY OF THE LATER MONARCHY

BIBLIOTHECA EPHEMERIDUM THEOLOGICARUM LOVANIENSIUM
CXLV
JOSEPHUS' STORY
OF THE LATER MONARCHY
(AJ 9,1-10,185)
BY
CHRISTOPHER BEGG
LEUVEN UITGEVERIJ PEETERS
UNIVERSITY PRESS LEUVEN
2000
ISBN 90 6186 966 8 (Leuven University Press)
D/1999/1869/31
ISBN 90-429-0785-1 (Uitgeverij Peeters)
D/1999/0602/74
All rights reserved. Except in those cases expressly determined by law,
no part of this publication may be multiplied, saved in an automated data file
or made public in any way whatsoever
without the express prior written consent of the publishers.
Leuven University Press / Presses Universitaires de Louvain
Universitaire Pers Leuven
Blijde-Inkomststraat 5, B-3000 Leuven-Louvain (Belgium)
© Peeters, Bondgenotenlaan 153, B-3000 Leuven (Belgium)
FOREWORD
As I bring to completion this, my second monograph on Josephus, I
am especially conscious of all I owe to so many people who have sup­
ported me through the years of my writing it. Those persons represent a
wide variety of groups and settings. My gratitude goes in first place to
all members of my family, George and Catherine Begg, Joseph and
Teresa Begg, and Joseph and Susan Fantom, in particular. As a priest of
the Archdiocese of Washington, I am thankful to my Ordinary, James
Cardinal Hickey, as well as to my long-time priest friends Rev. Michael
Murray and Rev. Msgr. Paul Langsfeld for their interest in my scholarly
endeavors. I appreciate too the hospitality of the people of St. Joseph's
Church, Washington, D.C. and their pastor, Rev. Paul Lavin, who have
afforded me a place to exercise my priestly ministry for many years.
Each summer for over a decade and a half Edna and Ida Fecker of Sig-
maringen, Germany have generously opened their home and their hearts
to me during my European wanderings; notwithstanding the physical
distance between us, they are often in my thoughts. All of the above per­
sons are ones whom I have known for a long time now, and most of
them appeared by name in the foreword of my earlier volume. To that
list I would like to add here a newer friend and source of great inspira­
tion to me, i.e. Rev. Daniel B. Gallagher of Gaylord, Michigan ("Amico
fideli nulla est comparatio et non est digna ponderatio auri et argenti
contra bonitatem fldei illius", Sir 6,15).
Among my colleagues at Catholic University, Washington, D.C.
where I have taught since 1982,1 would like to single out Profs. Frank
Matera and John Galvin for their daily companionship and counsel. Prof.
Louis H. Feldman of Yeshiva University has been of great assistance in
my project, both through his prolific writings and his numerous acts of
personal kindness.
I am also grateful to Prof. em. Frans Neirynck, general editor of
Bibliotheca Ephemeridum Theologicarum Lovaniensium, for accepting
my new volume in the series and to the publishers of BETL, Leuven
University Press and Uitgeverij Peeters, for making this publication
possible. Finally, I wish to thank Mr. James Hornecker for his help in
preparing the indexes.
Washington, D.C, March, 1999 Christopher BEGG

TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD vn
INTRODUCTION 1
I. Jehoshaphat at Mid-Career (AJ 9,1-17) 5
II. Ahaziah and Jehoram; Elijah and Elisha (AJ 9,18-28). . 29
III. The Campaign of the Three Kings {AJ 9,29-45) . .. 47
IV. Elisha's Great Deeds (AJ 9,46-94) 67
V. Joram of Judah (A/9,95-104) 113
VI. Jehu of Israel (AJ 9,105-139) 129
VII. Athaliah of Judah (AJ 9,140-156) 167
VIII. Joash of Judah (AJ 9,157-172) 189
IX. Jehoahaz and Joash of Israel (AJ 9,173-185) 207
X. Amaziahof Judah (AJ 9,186-204) 225
XI. Jeroboam II and Jonah (AJ 9,205-215) 251
XII. Uzziah of Judah and Northern Counterparts (AJ 9,216-235) 273
XIII. Jotham of Judah and the Prophet Nahum (AJ 9,236-243a) 297
XIV. Ahaz and Hoshea (AJ 9,243b-259) 315
XV. Hezekiah's Beginnings (AJ 9,260-276) 339
XVI. The End of Israel (AJ 9,277-291) 367
XVII. Jerusalem Delivered (AJ 10,1-23) 387
XVIII. The Finale of Hezekiah's Reign (AJ 10,24-36) . . .. 419
XIX. Manasseh and Amon (AJ 10,37-48) 441
XX. Josiah (AJ 10,49-80) 457
XXI. Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, and Jehoiachin (AJ 10,81-102 + 229-
230) 499
XXII. Zedekiah and Jeremiah (AJ 10,103-130) 535
XXIII. Jerusalem's Fall (AJ 10,131-154) 575
XXIV. The Governorship of Gedaliah and its Aftermath (AJ 10,155-
185) 599
Conclusions 623
INDEXES
Abbreviations 639
Bibliography 645
X TABLE OF CONTENTS
Modern Authors 661
Josephan Passages 666
Biblical Passages 684
Other Ancient Writings 698
Subjects 701
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The text and translation of Jewish Antiquities 9,1-10,185 cited in this volume
are reprinted by permission of the publishers and Loeb Classical Library from
Josephus, vol. VI, translated by R. Marcus, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University
Press, 1937. Other, shorter portions of the text and/or translation of Josephus'
writings cited in this volume are reprinted by permission of the publishers and
Loeb Classical Library from Josephus, vols. I-X, translated by H. St.J. THACKE­
RAY, et al.j Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press, 1926-1965. Scripture
quotations are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1946,
1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of
the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission.