jjares reviewed The Sicarii: The History of the Ancient Jewish Assassins Who Fought the Romans on + 3405 more book reviews
Charles Rivers writes some of the finest history available, but frankly, this isn't one of them. Let me give a synopsis of what was said and then why it was a problem.
There is no doubt that the fighting between the Romans and the Jews in 70 CE was traumatic. When the Romans conquered Jerusalem, they destroyed the most important building in the country, slaughtered thousands, collected thousands more for slaves, and caused those still alive to disperse from their native homeland. Although the Romans were usually tolerant of other religions, because of the unwillingness of the Jews to remain defeated, the Romans tried to destroy their spirit.
The main biographer/historian of these events was Titus Flavius Josephus. He was a first-century Romano-Jewish historian, born in Jerusalem. It is important to note that he was of the priestly class (and his mother was from royalty). Thus, Josephus was an elite Jew who was interested in currying favor with the Romans. Why this history lesson is necessary is because Josephus (while writing his histories) bent the truth whenever the truth might not be what the Romans wanted to hear.
THE MAIN POINT: This book tries to separate what Josephus said vs. what really happened. Unfortunately, by explaining it as the author did, it turned into a hot mess (in my opinion).
When Caligula (and other Romans) insisted that the Jews worship him, the Jews, as monotheists, could not do that without endangering their souls. Most of the Jews just wanted the problem to go away. But there were Zealots who refused and caused disobedience and revolt. A smaller group, probably within the Zealot's umbrella, was the Sicarii. Their name refers to small daggers; probably the weapons used by these men. They carried out ruthless assassinations to further their goals.
This book makes the point that these were the first known assassin units and that they are worth studying because they are an example of "ancient asymmetrical warfare."
There is no doubt that the fighting between the Romans and the Jews in 70 CE was traumatic. When the Romans conquered Jerusalem, they destroyed the most important building in the country, slaughtered thousands, collected thousands more for slaves, and caused those still alive to disperse from their native homeland. Although the Romans were usually tolerant of other religions, because of the unwillingness of the Jews to remain defeated, the Romans tried to destroy their spirit.
The main biographer/historian of these events was Titus Flavius Josephus. He was a first-century Romano-Jewish historian, born in Jerusalem. It is important to note that he was of the priestly class (and his mother was from royalty). Thus, Josephus was an elite Jew who was interested in currying favor with the Romans. Why this history lesson is necessary is because Josephus (while writing his histories) bent the truth whenever the truth might not be what the Romans wanted to hear.
THE MAIN POINT: This book tries to separate what Josephus said vs. what really happened. Unfortunately, by explaining it as the author did, it turned into a hot mess (in my opinion).
When Caligula (and other Romans) insisted that the Jews worship him, the Jews, as monotheists, could not do that without endangering their souls. Most of the Jews just wanted the problem to go away. But there were Zealots who refused and caused disobedience and revolt. A smaller group, probably within the Zealot's umbrella, was the Sicarii. Their name refers to small daggers; probably the weapons used by these men. They carried out ruthless assassinations to further their goals.
This book makes the point that these were the first known assassin units and that they are worth studying because they are an example of "ancient asymmetrical warfare."
