Prophetic Figures in Late Second Temple Jewish Palestine : The Evidence from Josephus

This work examines the evidence from Josephus for prophetic figures in Jewish Palestine in the late Second Temple period, approximately 150 BC to AD 70.

Based on a revised Oxford University doctoral dissertation, this work examines the evidence from Josephus for prophetic figures in Jewish Palestine in the late Second Temple period, approximately 150 BCE to 70CE. Recent years have seen renewed interest in the question of how Jesus of Nazareth should be classified in terms of religious or social "type." Was he a teacher, prophet, miracle-worker, magician, charismatic or militant revolutionary? Although there is no real consensus among New Testament scholars on this question, "prophet" is probably the leading contender. If this designation is to be meaningful, however, a clearer picture of first-century Jewish prophecy in general is essential. The present work is intended as a contribution towards a better understanding of Jewish prophecy around the time of Jesus. Josephus is without question our most important source of information about events in Palestine in this period. Although Josephus is often cited in works on early Jewish prophecy, however, there has until now been no separate study of this material. Gray here not only offers the first comprehensive examination of Josephus'' writings on specific prophetic figures, but also analyses in detail his general views on prohecy and the prohetic claim he makes for himself.