JOSEPHUS' PORTRAIT OF JOSEPH
In his portrait of Joseph Josephus is particularly concerned to answer the anti-Jewish charges that the Jews had not produced any illustrious men and that thay were guilty of misanthropy. In numerous extra-biblical additions he depicts Joseph as a Pericles-like statesman and as a Platonic-like philo...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
1992
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| In: |
Revue biblique
Year: 1992, Volume: 99, Issue: 2, Pages: 379-417 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | In his portrait of Joseph Josephus is particularly concerned to answer the anti-Jewish charges that the Jews had not produced any illustrious men and that thay were guilty of misanthropy. In numerous extra-biblical additions he depicts Joseph as a Pericles-like statesman and as a Platonic-like philosopher-king. As in his portrayal of other Biblical heroes he expands on Joseph's good birth and handsomeness. In particular, he stresses his wisdom in his interpretation of dreams, so prized by the Greeks. He also expands on Joseph's courage, temperance (especially his self-control in the confrontation with Potiphar's wife and his modesty in his dealings with his brothers), justice (especially the related virtues of honesty, humanity, generosity, and sense of gratitude), and piety (above all, the acknowledgement that God directs all human events, while de-emphasizing the role of God in Joseph's actual achievements). Dans son portrait de Joseph, Flavius Josèphe est particulièrement attentif à répondre aux accusations anti-juives, à savoir qu'il n'y a pas parmi les Juifs d'hommes illustres et qu'ils étaient misanthropes. Dans de nombreuses additions extra-bibliques, il décrit Joseph comme un homme d'État à la manière de Périclès, et comme un roi-philosophe, à la manière de Platon. Comme pour ses portraits d'autres héros bibliques, il s'étend sur la bonne extraction et la générosité de Joseph. En particulier, il insiste sur sa sagesse dans l'interprétation des rêves, si prisée des Grecs. Il développe par ailleurs le courage de Joseph, sa modération (notamment son sang-froid lors de la confrontation avec la femme de Potiphar, et sa modestie dans ses rapports avec ses frères) ; on insiste aussi sur sa justice (et les vertus corrélatives d'honnêteté, d'humanité, de générosité et de gratitude), et enfin sur sa piété (surtout l'affirmation que Dieu dirige tous les événements humains, tout en minimisant le rôle de Dieu dans les réussites concrètes de Joseph). |
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| ISSN: | 2466-8583 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Revue biblique
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