Interesting discussion.
For the sake of congruity, the terrorism example would have been better followed with a terrorism example (instead of an earthquake). For example, if we were to write a chapter for an American history textbook which discusses the exploits of Al Queda, would the chapter contain details of every massacre that has occurred in Chechnya? Would the chapter contain lengthy descriptions of the bombing of the Phillipine Airliner by Ramsay Yousef? (the supposed mastermind behind the first World Trade Center bombing)
Some could argue yes, but such an argument would be from a 21st Century perspective. The perspective of 1st Century historians may have been much different. On the other hand, the writings of Josephus actually DO provide evidence that Herod was capable of carrying out such an atrocious act, AND that he probably did so... The following is an excerpt taken from a website discussing the parallels between the writings of Josephus and the writings of the New Testament. There are many other fascinating examples on the site.
For the sake of congruity, the terrorism example would have been better followed with a terrorism example (instead of an earthquake). For example, if we were to write a chapter for an American history textbook which discusses the exploits of Al Queda, would the chapter contain details of every massacre that has occurred in Chechnya? Would the chapter contain lengthy descriptions of the bombing of the Phillipine Airliner by Ramsay Yousef? (the supposed mastermind behind the first World Trade Center bombing)
Some could argue yes, but such an argument would be from a 21st Century perspective. The perspective of 1st Century historians may have been much different. On the other hand, the writings of Josephus actually DO provide evidence that Herod was capable of carrying out such an atrocious act, AND that he probably did so... The following is an excerpt taken from a website discussing the parallels between the writings of Josephus and the writings of the New Testament. There are many other fascinating examples on the site.
Quote:
The Slaughter of the Innocents
Matt. 2:2-16
...wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In the Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet..."
...When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.
Antiquities 17.2.4 43 (Speculative)
Now there was a certain sect of Jews who valued themselves highly for the skill they had in the ways of their fathers and who believed they best observed the laws favored by God -- the sect called the Pharisees -- by whom the women of the palace were guided. They were fully able to deal successfully with the king due to their prescience, but often fell into fighting and setting up obstacles to him.
For example, when all the Jewish people pledged their loyalty to Caesar and to the king's government, these men, over six thousand of them, refused to swear; and when the king therefore imposed a fine on them, the wife of Pheroras [the king's brother] paid it. Now to repay this kindness of hers, being believed to have, by Divine inspiration, the foreknowledge of things to come, they foretold that God had decreed that Herod's government would be taken from him and from his descendants, and that the kingdom would come to her and Pheroras and to their children.
These predictions, which did not escape detection by Salome [the king's sister], were reported to the king, and also that they had subverted some others of the palace. So the king killed those of the Pharisees principally involved, as well as Bagoas the eunuch, and a certain Karos, who exceeded all of his peers in beauty and was his favorite boy. He also killed everyone of his own house who had allied themselves to the talk of the Pharisees. Bagoas had been elated by their prediction that he would be hailed as the father and the benefactor of the one who would be their appointed king; for to this king would fall power over all things, and he would provide Bagoas with a marriage and the ability to sire children of his own line.
Comment
There is no story in Josephus matching the nativity stories of Luke and Matthew. But the passage quoted above has some interesting similarities. Here we have wise men, believed to have the gift of prophecy, predicting the next king will end Herod's reign, frightening Herod into committing mass murder. The new king will have "the power over all things." There would be a miraculous birth by someone for whom it is impossible to have children -- in the gospels, the virgin Mary, in the above tale, the eunuch Bagoas.
The story demonstrates at the least that the actions of Herod and the other people in the nativity story was not unheard of for the time, so that something of the sort might have occurred but escaped Josephus' notice. Or, the above story itself might have served as the nucleus of a tale that was elaborated over the years and applied to Jesus by his followers.
Incidentally, in Antiquities 17.6.5 174 there is described a forced mass movement of people just before Herod's death. These people the king had planned to have these murdered so the Jews would be mourning when he died, rather than holding joyful festivities to celebrate his passing. This movement could conceivably have contributed both to the story of the slaughter of the innocents and the census of Quirinius (see below).
members.aol.com/FLJOSEPHU...#innocents
