Synthesized answer
Josephus asserts that Greek history, including their cities, arts, and laws, is "of yesterday only" [1]. He argues that when inquiring about ancient facts, one should not solely rely on Greeks, as "almost all which concerns the Greeks happened not long ago" [1]. This critique functions as a counter-argument to those who doubt Jewish antiquity by highlighting the relatively recent origins of Greek civilization and its historical records [1]. If Greek history is so recent, then Jewish history, which predates it, must be significantly older [1].
This assertion reveals Josephus's understanding of historical perspective as tied to the depth of written records and the development of civilization. He implies that true antiquity is characterized by a longer and more established history, which he believes Jewish history possesses, unlike the Greeks whose "care about the writing down of their histories, it is very near the last thing they set about" [1]. He suggests that those who doubt Jewish antiquity are misled by a focus on Greek narratives, failing to recognize the true age of Jewish civilization [1, 2].
Synthesized from the book passages below. Chat with the book on Feynman for follow-up.
From the book
so happened, that there have not been a great number of Greeks who have made mention of our nation in their histories. I will, however, bring those Grecians to light who have not omitted such our history, for the sake of those that either do not know them, or pretend not to know them already. 2. And now, in the first place, I cannot but greatly wonder at those men, who suppose that we must attend to none but Grecians, when we are inquiring about the most ancient facts, and must inform ourselves of their truth from them only, while we must not believe ourselves nor other men; for I am…
date, because they are not so much as vouchsafed a bare mention by the most famous historiographers among the Grecians. I therefore have thought myself under an obligation to write somewhat briefly about these subjects, in order to convict those that reproach us of spite and voluntary falsehood, and to correct the ignorance of others, and withal to instruct all those who are desirous of knowing the truth of what great antiquity we really are. As for the witnesses whom I shall produce for the proof of what I say, they shall be such as are esteemed to be of the greatest reputation for…
ng faults with transactions, or with the writers of such transactions, and thought to make a great figure by so doing. And indeed these do what is of all things the most contrary to true history; for it is the great character of true history that all concerned therein both speak and write the same things; while these men, by writing differently about the same things, think they shall be believed to write with the greatest regard to truth. We therefore [who are Jews] must yield to the Grecian writers as to language and eloquence of composition; but then we shall give them no such…
observation of their laws, and their religion towards God, before the preservation of themselves and their country. 23. Now that some writers have omitted to mention our nation, not because they knew nothing of us, but because they envied us, or for some other unjustifiable reasons, I think I can demonstrate by particular instances; for Hieronymus, who wrote the History of Alexander's Successors, lived at the same time with Hecateus, and was a friend of king Antigonus, and president of Syria. Now it is plain that Hecateus wrote an entire book concerning us, while Hieronymus never…
esteem these books to contain Divine doctrines, and to persist in them, and, if occasion be willingly to die for them. For it is no new thing for our captives, many of them in number, and frequently in time, to be seen to endure racks and deaths of all kinds upon the theatres, that they may not be obliged to say one word against our laws and the records that contain them; whereas there are none at all among the Greeks who would undergo the least harm on that account, no, nor in case all the writings that are among them were to be destroyed; for they take them to be such discourses as…
More questions about this book
- Josephus outlines his intention to "convict those that reproach us of spite and voluntary falsehood, and to correct the ignorance of others." How do these distinct motivations shape the various argumentative strategies he proposes to employ, and what does this tell us about the different types of opposition he anticipates?
- The core challenge Josephus addresses is the skepticism arising from the "bare mention by the most famous historiographers among the Grecians." How does Josephus plan to navigate this apparent absence of evidence, and what does his approach imply about the nature of historical proof in ancient contexts?
- Josephus promises to bring forth "witnesses... esteemed to be of the greatest reputation for truth... by the Greeks themselves." Why is it strategically vital for him to appeal to Greek authorities and standards of truth, rather than exclusively Jewish sources, when making his case for Jewish antiquity?
- Consider the broader implications of Josephus's mission: what are the potential cultural, political, or even existential consequences for the Jewish nation if he fails to successfully demonstrate their "very great antiquity" to his audience?