Re: [Megillot] some recent publications

[RUSSELLGMIRKIN]

Actually, a (my) source critical analysis of the passages you cite in Josephus shows that they originated from an account of one of the Jewish delegates who addressed Pompey in 63 BCE, and who characterized the rule of Jannaeus as king as illegitimate.  So this source does negatively describe his rule as king, but elsewhere than in the particular passage you cite in War // Antiquities.  But a discussion of source criticism in Josephus would take us too far afield and is in any case unnecessary in light of Ant. 14.41 and parallels in Strabo and Diodorus where the accusation against Jannaeus and his sons is explicit.   Best regards, Russell Gmirkin Russell, you wrote today that "... all ancient  sources > critical of Jannaeus, both Jewish and Graeco-Roman, raise the  > accusation that he tyrannically seized the office of king." But Josephus War i.4.3 (88-89) and Antiquities 13.13.5 (372-4) and m. Sukkah 4:9 contain complaints against Jannaeus that do not mention his king claim.