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Josephus on Mattathias
The Two Mattathiases In Jewish Wars, Books V and VI
Many elements of Josephus are convoluted. And the most convoluted passages of the entire writings of Josephus might be the discussion of two high priests named Mattathias in Jewish Wars, Books V and VI. In fact, it appears some scholars are under the impression Josephus is only discussing one high priest named Mattathias. Josephus' words clearly refer to two separate individuals; however, I'll grant the point that this may be obscufation on Josephus' part.
Let's dissect the text. First, Jewish Wars, Book V, 13:1--
1. ACCORDINGLY Simon would not suffer Matthias, by whose means he got possession of the city, to go off without torment. This Matthias was the son of Boethus, and was one of the high priests, one that had been very faithful to the people, and in great esteem with them; he, when the multitude were distressed by the zealots, among whom John was numbered, persuaded the people to admit this Simon to come in to assist them, while he had made no terms with him, nor expected any thing that was evil from him. But when Simon was come in, and had gotten the city under his power, he esteemed him that had advised them to admit him as his enemy equally with the rest, as looking upon that advice as a piece of his simplicity only; so he [Simon] had him [Matthias ben Boethus] then brought before him, and condemned to die for being on the side of the Romans, without giving him leave to make his defense. He condemned also his three sons to die with him; for as to the fourth, he prevented him [Simon] by running away to Titus before. And when he begged for this, that he might be slain before his sons, and that as a favor, on account that he had procured the gates of the city to be opened to him, he gave order that he should be slain the last of them all; so he was not slain till he had seen his sons slain before his eyes, and that by being produced over against the Romans; for such a charge had Simon given to Artanus, the son of Bamadus, who was the most barbarous of all his guards. He also jested upon him, and told him that he might now see whether those to whom he intended to go over would send him any succors or not; but still he forbade their dead bodies should be buried. After the slaughter of these, a certain priest, Ananias, the son of Masambalus, a person of eminency, as also Aristens, the scribe of the sanhedrim, and born at Emmaus, and with them fifteen men of figure among the people, were slain. They also kept Josephus's father in prison, and made public proclamation, that no citizen whosoever should either speak to him himself, or go into his company among others, for fear he should betray them.
Recapping what occurred in the quoted material from Jewish Wars, Book V: (a) Matthias ben Boethus (a high priest) is executed by Simon along with three of Matthias' four sons for being Roman sympathizers, (b) the remaining son of Matthias Boethus has escaped execution by defecting to the Romans, and (c) Josephus' father Matthias is thrown in prison. Let's turn to Jewish Wars, Book VI, 2:2. It begins with Josephus with the Romans outside the walls of Jerusalem (then besieged by Rome). Josephus gives a speech to the Jews inside the city pleading with them to surrender. At this point, we don't know whether the son of Matthias referred to in Book V defected to the Romans before or after his family was arrested and executed by Simon.
As Josephus spoke these words, with groans and tears in his eyes, his voice was intercepted by sobs. However, the Romans could not but pity the affliction he was under, and wonder at his conduct. But for John, and those that were with him, they were but the more exasperated against the Romans on this account, and were desirous to get Josephus also into their power: yet did that discourse influence a great many of the better sort; and truly some of them were so afraid of the guards set by the seditious, that they tarried where they were, but still were satisfied that both they and the city were doomed to destruction. Some also there were who, watching a proper opportunity when they might quietly get away, fled to the Romans, of whom were the high priests Joseph and Jesus, and of the sons of high priests three, whose father was Ishmael, who was beheaded in Cyrene, and four sons of Matthias, as also one son of the other Matthias, who ran away after his father's death, and whose father was slain by Simon the son of Gioras, with three of his sons, as I have already related; many also of the other nobility went over to the Romans, together with the high priests.
A recap of the action: (a) Josephus pleads for the people of Jerusalem to surrender to the Romans (an act of treason), (b) the zealots inside the city walls wish to get their hands on Josephus (presumably to kill him), and (c) Josephus gives a list of the notable individuals who heeded his call and escaped the city. The list of individuals starts with two high priests and continues with sons of high priests.
- Joseph and Jesus, high priests
- Three sons of the high priest Ishamael
- Four sons of Matthias
- One son of "the other Matthias" who ran away after his father's death along with three of his own sons (the son of Matthais ben Boethus who defected to the Romans)
Josephus gives the full name of the Matthias executed by Simon in Book V--Matthias ben Boethus. In Book VI, Matthias ben Boethus, said to be a high priest, is referred to only as "the other Matthais". But who is the first Matthias whose four sons escaped to the Romans? This individual is other than Matthias ben Boethus who only has one remaining son alive. Josephus appears only to be listing high priests and their sons (remember that retired high priest are still referred to by their former title). Therefore, this Matthias was surely a high priest. Further, the acting high priest at the time of the revolt was Matthias ben Theophilus. See Antiquities, Book XX 9:7. Although Josephus tell us in Antiquities that Matthias ben Theophilus was the high priest at the time of the revolt, he completely omits discussion of Matthias ben Theophilus in Jewish Wars when the story of the revolt is told. The only reasonable conclusion of the above puzzle is that the "four sons of Matthias" are the sons of the high priest, Matthias ben Theophilus.
But what happened to the acting high priest, Matthias ben Theophilus? And what happened to Josephus' father (also named Matthias) who Simon threw into prison in Book V? Josephus doesn't say. Josephus tells us he comes from a family of priests and high priests. I submit Matthias ben Theophilus, the high priest, is one in the same with Josephus' father named Matthias. What happened to him? There is no doubt Matthias ben Theophilus, father of Josephus, was executed in very short order by the zealots after Josephus showed up at the city walls begging the Jews to surrender to the Romans. They had already executed Matthias ben Boethus (and family) for collaberation with the Romans. Surely Josephus' act of treason was a death sentance for his father then in prison inside the city walls. One can see why Josephus neglected to give us this information.
JJR
5-3-08
Related article: Josephus' ancestry
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