Full title
Josephus' Rewriting of the Babel Narrative (Gen 11:1-9)
Research notes
reader checked|24/02/2012 AL
Reference type
Year
2006
Journal / Book Title || Series Title
Journal for the Study of Judaism
Volume
37
Number of volumes
0
Issue / Series Volume
2
Pages
169-191
Alternative title
JSJ
Label
01/05/2006
Abstract
This paper analyzes Josephus' appropriation of the biblical episode of the tower of Babel. It aims to highlight its originality as well as its purposes. Its methodology is two-fold: firstly, it recasts Josephus' passage in the context of the contemporary Jewish literature in general and of Josephus' writings in particular; secondly, it closely examines its language. This analysis reveals that Josephus was inspired by his own experience during the war in Judaea, and therefore presents the episode of Babel as a political-theological myth. In addition, this study explores the manner in which Josephus used the biblical narrative in order to polemicize against the Greeks.