Synthesized answer
Josephus's dual motivations to "convict those that reproach us of spite and voluntary falsehood" and "correct the ignorance of others" shape distinct argumentative strategies. To counter spite and falsehood, he proposes to use witnesses esteemed for truth and skill in antiquity by the Greeks, and to show how accusers contradict themselves in their own writings [2, 5]. This strategy targets those who deliberately spread lies. To correct ignorance, he aims to provide a brief account of subjects that are not widely mentioned by famous Greek historiographers, thereby instructing those "desirous of knowing the truth" and demonstrating the great antiquity of his nation [2].
These motivations suggest Josephus anticipates different types of opposition. The first motivation, convicting those of spite and falsehood, addresses deliberate slanderers and those driven by ill-will [5]. The second, correcting ignorance, addresses those who genuinely lack knowledge about his people. Josephus also anticipates opposition based on a lack of Greek historical mention of his nation, and plans to demonstrate that some Greek writers did mention the Jews [2, 3]. He also expects accusations concerning…
Synthesized from the book passages below. Chat with the book on Feynman for follow-up.
From the book
t began to reproach another, to be himself exposed to contempt on account of the vices he hath himself been guilty of. However, it is not a very easy thing to go over this man's discourse, nor to know plainly what he means; yet does he seem, amidst a great confusion and disorder in his falsehoods, to produce, in the first place, such things as resemble what we have examined already, and relate to the departure of our forefathers out of Egypt; and, in the second place, he accuses those Jews that are inhabitants of Alexandria; as, in the third place, he mixes with those things such…
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…
for our silence that I have now alleged, and would produce their neighbor nations as witnesses to their own antiquity? Now the very same thing will I endeavor to do; for I will bring the Egyptians and the Phoenicians as my principal witnesses, because nobody can complain Of their testimony as false, on account that they are known to have borne the greatest ill-will towards us; I mean this as to the Egyptians in general all of them, while of the Phoenicians it is known the Tyrians have been most of all in the same ill disposition towards us: yet do I confess that I cannot say the same…
laws, according to which we lead our lives, against the many and the lying objections that have been made against us. Moreover, since this Apollonius does not do like Apion, and lay a continued accusation against us, but does it only by starts, and up and clown his discourse, while he sometimes reproaches us as atheists, and man-haters, and sometimes hits us in the teeth with our want of courage, and yet sometimes, on the contrary, accuses us of too great boldness and madness in our conduct; nay, he says that we are the weakest of all the barbarians, and that this is the reason why we…
t therefore to be forgiven them; for it was not in their power to understand our writings with the utmost accuracy. 24. One particular there is still remaining behind of what I at first proposed to speak to, and that is, to demonstrate that those calumnies and reproaches which some have thrown upon our nation, are lies, and to make use of those writers' own testimonies against themselves; and that in general this self-contradiction hath happened to many other authors by reason of their ill-will to some people, I conclude, is not unknown to such as have read histories with sufficient…
More questions about this book
- 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?
- Josephus asserts that Greek history, including their cities, arts, and laws, is "of yesterday only." How does this specific critique of Greek historical depth function as a counter-argument to those who doubt Jewish antiquity, and what does it reveal about his understanding of historical perspective itself?
- 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?