The Ruling Class of Judaea: The Origins of the Jewish Revolt against Rome, A.D. 66-70

by Martin Goodman

Overview

Goodman examines the background of the AD 66 Judean revolt against Rome. He attempts to explain both the rebellion itself and its temporary success by discussing the role of the Jewish ruling class in the sixty years preceding the war and in the independent state that lasted until AD 70. The author shows that the revolt's ultimate cause was a misunderstanding by Rome of the status criteria of Jewish society.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521447829
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	06/03/1993
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	280
Sales rank:	677,896
Product dimensions:	6.02(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.75(d)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: (i) The problem; (ii) The conventional explanations; (iii) Civil war, the ruling class and revolt; Part I. The Ruling Class AD 6–66: 2. The new ruling class AD 6; 3. Problems facing the ruling class: economic and social; 4. Problems facing the ruling class: religious ideology; 5. Why the ruling class failed; Part II. Faction Struggle within the Ruling Class: 6. Reactions to failure: the ruling class AD 6–66; 7. The outbreak of revolt; 8. The independent Jewish state AD 67–70; 9. Trends in faction politics AD 50–70; Part III. The Aftermath of the Revolt: 10. The Roman reaction.

Editorial Reviews

"This brief review cannot do justice to Goodman's substantive and provocative book. He has presented a plausible, well-argued, and significant contribution to the debate surrounding the reasons for the Jewish War. I heartily recommend it." Journal of Biblical Literature

"This is a well-written and persuasive book. Goodman reads Josephus with considerable political insight and a keen eye for detail. Re-read Josephus on the War; then read Goodman." The Expository Times

"This is one of those rare books from which one learns something new on almost every page. It goes without saying that it will be required reading for all students of Judaea in the intertestamentary period. It should also be on the desk of anyone with a serious interest in Roman provincial history and society." Journal of Jewish Studies

From the Publisher