you are here: > Josephus, The Jewish Wars (Summary) > Chapter 07
 
Chapter 7  
     
1.
 Josephus ben Matthias as a son of a High Priest of the House of Ananus did not become a Roman Citizen because of Vespianus, he was already a full Roman citizen because of the priviledge of his birth into one of the most powerful Sadduceean families of history.
  
2.
 Like the sons of Joseph Ha-Rama-Theo (His Divine Highness), sometimes called Joseph of Arimathea, the richest man of Judea and the legitimate crown prince in exile, they too were full Roman citizens.
  
3.
 So why would Josephus concoct an improbable story about becoming a Roman citizen after the improbable story of being awarded command of a zealot garrison then failing to take his own life in the face of all his men dying with honor?
  
4.
 It wouldn’t matter how devious Vespianus and his son Titus were, such an act would defy everything upon which the legions of Rome and indeed Rome had been built and such an act if every discovered would put their own lives and the security of the whole empire at risk of complete revolt by the legions.
  
5.
 In other words, Josephus would have to have been a Roman citizen by birth, prior to being captured. There is simply no other way.
  
6.
 But if Josephus was not a leader in the revolt, how then can his role as head negotiator with the rebel leaders be explained? Clearly he knew them on a first name basis. The Romans didn’t just pick him because he was smart- he knew them well enough to be trusted by Vespianus as the best man for the job.
  
7.
 Now Josephus was a smart man- smarter than most but a few men in history. He surely would have known that his improbable story of being a leader of zealots but surviving when they committed suicide would paint him as a terrible coward, potential liar and hence a detested person, especially by Jews for centuries to come.
  
8.
 The only explanation can be that Josephus ben Matthias is trying to hide is Roman citizenship by birth, his true identity and relationship to historic figures of the siege and the nature of his return to Judea.
  
9.
 Whatever the reason for hiding these secrets it was worth Josephus sacrificing his honor and reputation in history as a human being. A brilliant move by a brilliant man considering it has evoked an emotional cover over the truth for nearly two thousand years.
  
10.
 To understand what Josephus is clearly hiding in his writings, let us consider who he might well have met and known during his life considering his family name and privileged upbringing.
 

 
 
 

Copyright © 2010 One-Faith-Of-God.Org. All rights reserved.