Wars of the Jews: A Military History from Biblical to Modern Times

by Monroe Rosenthal and Isaac Mozeson

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 087052786X
• ISBN13: 9780870527869
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Hippocrene Books
• Length: 297 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Good collection of Torah and Midrashic elements

I must say that I truly enjoy this book for what I would consider it to be, that is a collection of Biblical and Midrashic descriptions of the history of warfare in Israel. Now on one hand there are elements of this book that can be held into question depending on the view of history and scholarship you take. For example there are those who say that for example the Exodus never took place, and their view of a book like this will be of course formed around that view. There are those who believe the Exodus did take place and their view of this book will revolve around this angle. The one thing to remember is that archeology is not an exact science and it is not definitive. For example, there are those who say that Joshua never conquered the land of Israel, based on archaeologically. Yet, this is only based on what is assumed of archeology and assumptions of what the true interpretations of the Joshua are. Also, there are scholars for example who now believe that they have found evidence of the Exodus in a number of overlooked places. As someone who accepts that the Torah is true, yet must be understood from the standpoint of MIDDLE EASTERN Jewish idiom, culture, and interpretation I will say the following. Wars of the Jews is based on the Biblical and Judaic account of the events it covers in terms of the ancient wars of Abraham until the 2nd Temple period. Another good book to have along side this book is Battles of the Bible by Chaim Herzog and Mordechai Gichon. Where Wars of the Jews deals mainly with the history as it comes from the Biblical and Midrashic text, Battles of the Bible also supply views from a modern militaristic view. My suggestion is that you have to accept this book as a collection of accounts, which some may have to re-interpreted as more information comes to light while others are simply based on the information of the time.

An interesting book

Yes, it is interesting. But plenty of what is in it is dubious. It starts out with the Exodus. With a huge army fleeing Egypt. There's no archaeological evidence for any of this, of course. What it says about Biblical warfare is intriguing, but once again, I'd want to see independent confirmation of some of this before I fully accepted it. Then comes Joshua's conquest of Canaan. That also has no archaeological evidence to back it up. Finally, we get into an era where there's more and more evidence to back up what is being talked about. But by now, I think the main value of the book is to get the reader to ask a few questions that one might otherwise not have thought to ask. Here are eight examples: 1) Was there a Jewish revolt in 351 AD which led to the sacking of Tiberias? 2) Were there Samaritan rebellions against the Byzantines in 484 AD and 529 AD? Who led them? 3) Was there a Jewish and Samaritan riot against the Christians of Caesaria in 556 AD? Followed by a Jewish riot in Antioch in 608 AD? 4) Was Yemen a Jewish state in 525 AD, and if so, what wars did it get into? 5) Where can one find a more scholarly description of the final Zealot war, from 614 AD to 628 AD? 6) Who was Mahrab? Was he a powerful Jew who fought against the Muslims during Mohammed's lifetime? Did Mahrab really have a sister named Zainab who became one of Mohammed's wives but was executed for putting poison in his food? 7) Did Ethiopia have a Jewish Queen in 975 AD? 8) When did the Khazars convert to Judaism? The eighth century? The ninth? Anyway, the book is fun to read. However, most of it is speculative at best.