[B-Greek] Josephus on Isaiah (Ant.X.II.2)

Bryant J. Williams III bjwvmw at com-pair.net
Fri Nov 25 02:24:38 EST 2005


Dear Kostya,
Comments below.
>
> I got several questions on this text:
> 1. "and left them behind him in books" (greek BIBLIOS KATELIPEN ). What is
meant by "books"? Does Josephus use this term in a general way (and left them
behind him in Jewish sacred books) or he meant that Isaiah literally wrote more
than one book?

Bryant: I suspect that what is written as "books" is better translated as
"scrolls."Furthermore, the Qumran Isaiah is one large scroll covering, if I
remember correctly, all 66 chapters. There is a nice division of Isaiah of
chapters 1-39 and 40-66. It could very well have been divided into two separate
scrolls, but that is mere speculation; and whether Isaiah is one, or two or more
scrolls is speculation on both sides of the divide. Qumran Isaiah is evidence
that there was at least one scroll for the entire book.

> 2. "whatever is done among us, whether it be good, or whether it be bad, comes
to pass according to their prophecies" as far as I understand English he means
here that the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecies took part during the time of
his life (that is I AD).

Bryant: I would not answer this regarding the dating of the book (off-list)
since this is probably against rules of this list; see list parameters.

> Is there any other way this can be translated? I mean time rendering variants.

Bryant: No, and Yes (off-list;see 2 above) though Carl would correct me if I am
wrong.

> 3. It's interesting that in his Antiquities Josephus combines the writings of
Isaiah with the book of Twelve. The same order we can find in Talmud (BB 14b).
He also talks of Jeremiah and Ezekiel together. At this point I found one
argument pro Pseudo-Isaiah (mentioned by North in his commentary):
> The order in Talmud shows us that Isaiah precedes the Twelve. The reason is
their similarity: The book of Twelve consists of many oracles spoken by
different people, in the same way Isaiah consists of oracles spoken by
more-than-one man.
> I have another explanation of this phenomena:
> -Isaiah is put chronologically closer to the prophets who also prophecized
during his life (Amos, Hosea). In the same manner Jeremiah and Ezekiel are put
togher since they talked of the same events.

Bryant: I would agree that the arrangement is more by subject/chronological
matter than anything else with the exception of Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi
who are definitely post-exilic

En Xristwi,

Rev. Bryant J. Williams III
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