Diagnosing Decline: Greco-Roman Rhetoric about the Middle and Late Roman Republic as Inspiration for Josephus’ Interpretation of the Book of Judges

In this study, I argue that Josephus’ interpretation of the period of the biblical judges, following the conquest of Canaan and settlement in the land, mirrors Greco-Roman rhetoric that traced the origins of Rome’s decline to the middle and late republic. Survey of Greco-Roman writers shows that Josephus modelled his diagnosis of the decline of Israel during the period of the judges on the causes of Roman decline identified by many Greek and Latin writers, these being: (1) influx of foreign wealth; (2) discharge of veterans and turn toward agricultural living; and (3) growth of rural elite estates. Beyond serving as his own inspiration, this literary milieu informed Josephus’ elite Greco-Roman audience, thus ensuring that they would read his interpretation of the period of the judges in light of tropes about Roman decline that were popular in their day.