Seems that "Of course" should be followed by an "aarrgghh!"If the question is did the historical Josephus "turn" on the Jewish revolutionary movement he was a part of during the Jewish War of 66 - 70 CE? Of course. No question.
My observation that "most government workers naturally attempt to do their duty for the governments they work for" (or thereabouts) was intended to convey the idea that he can change his mind after a while. "I didn't sigh up for this!" realization that what was happening was sending the Judean people on the road to ruin. He fully supported the cause at first, as best as he was able, lionizing the aristocrat's HP hierarchy as the most reasonable around. However, to surrender on terms, they had to bloody up the Roman's nose. In the areas of Idumea, Samaria, Galilee and Perea, there were all sorts of militias roaming about, but not very unified. He at least entertained the Romans by putting up an "interesting" defense of Jotapata, employing all sorts of psychological tricks and the ideas that would soften blows of battering rams, burn the attackers with hot oil, and such. After surrendering himself, and going to work for Vespasian & Titus, he had to watched his idols, the High Priestly aristocracy he admired so much, get bowled over by revolutionaries much more radical than he ever was.
I suppose to eventually learn he had been set up as a patsy was a blow to him psychologically. I think when he wrote his books he was honestly trying to rehabilitate Judaism's image from the taint left by the revolution of 66 CE, and admitted (with Vespasian & Titus's approval) that there had been excesses in response to threats, real or perceived, by Romans as well as Judeans in the various elements of the revolt.
DCH
Statistics: Posted by DCHindley — Tue Mar 12, 2024 3:20 pm