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Josephus' reasons for the Jewish War

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this thesis I will examine and discuss the reasons given for the Jewish War of AD
66 - 70. Reasons put forward by modern scholars specializing in the study of the
works of Flavius Josephus are examined and discussed. However, the bulk of my
study centres on the reasons that Flavius Josephus supplies for the war as found in his
major work Bellum Judaicum. One is lead to the conclusion that he firmly believes
that reasons on the human and transcendent planes contributed to the catastrophic
events that lead to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.
The worldview of this Jewish priest, general and accomplished historiographer was
strongly influenced by the religious tenets of the Torah and the past history of the
Jewish nation. He cannot countenance the wicked and evil deeds committed
shamefacedly by his people against the clear standards that God had given to the
nation, and believes that retribution by God will follow. He cannot forget occasions
on the past when God intervened in the affairs of his nation by using a pagan world
power to accomplish the purposes of God. He sees a similar recurrence of the events
that lead to the destruction of the Jerusalem and the Temple in 587/6 BC being
manifested in the Jewish War of AD 66 - 70. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie tesis word die redes wat vir die Joodse Oorlog van AD 66-70 aangebied
word, ondersoek en bespreek. Veral die redes wat moderne geleerdes wat in die
bestudering van Flavius Josephus se werk spesialiseer, word nagespeur en bespreek.
Die grootste deel van die studie fokus egter op die redes wat Flavius Josephus self vir
die gebeurtenis voorhou, soos wat hy dit in sy belangrike werk, Bellum Judaicum,
uiteensit. 'n Mens kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat hy met groot oortuiging glo dat die
redes wat tot die katastrofiese gebeure rondom die vernietiging van Jerusalem en die
Tempel 'n bydrae gelewer het, op die vlak van sowel die menslike as bomenslike te
vinde is.
Die wêreldbeskouing van hierdie bedrewe geskiedskrywer en Joodse priester is deur
beide die Torah se godsdienstige voorskrifte en volksgeskiedenis sterk beïnvloed. Hy
kan nie sy steun aan die blatante en bose dade van sy volksgenote teen die duidelike
standaarde wat God gegee het, toesê nie. Volgens hom moes God se vergelding volg.
Hy kan ook nie vergeet hoe God in sy volk se verlede ingegryp het deur om goddelose
wêreldmagte aan te wend om sy Goddelike doelwitte te bereik nie. Hy gewaar 'n
soortgelyke herhaling van gebeurtenisse wat tot die vernietiging van Jerusalem en die
tempel in 587/6 vC gelei het, in die aanloop tot die Joodse Oorlog van AD 66-70.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52313
Date12 1900
CreatorsBenson, Derrick
ContributorsCook, J., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Format86 p.
RightsStellenbosch University

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