Shifting Images of the Hasmoneans: Second Temple Legends and Their Reception in Josephus and Rabbinic Literature

Presents the Hasmoneans from the perspective of reception history.
Examines six sets of parallel stories on the Hasmonean dynasty appearing in Josephus' works and in rabbinic literature, in an attempt to reconstruct the putative original traditions and their attitude towards the Hasmonean dynasty.
Investigates the ways these legends were adapted within each corpus and the motivation behind these adaptations, and explores the nature of the relationship between the Josephan and the rabbinic versions.