Statement
Josephus clears Titus: the fire supposedly came from a soldier, without orders and against the general's wishes. For some scholars this is another of Josephus's attempts to shield his imperial patrons; Titus, they hold, gave the order to burn the Temple.
References
p. 98
reports disagreement · main text · ch. 4
Efron, Lehmann and Weitzman. The Jews: A History. 3rd edition. New York and Abingdon: Routledge, 2019.
Verification anchor recorded · checked against the page text
p. 99
reports disagreement · main text · ch. 4
Efron, Lehmann and Weitzman. The Jews: A History. 3rd edition. New York and Abingdon: Routledge, 2019.
Verification anchor recorded · checked against the page text
Scholarly debate
Did Titus order the burning of the Temple in 70 CE?
2 positions · no single answer · take a seat →
- A
Against Titus's will
Flavius Josephus
The Temple was destroyed against Titus's will, when a fire began with a lone soldier's unauthorized act; Titus had even hesitated to destroy an 'ornament' of the empire.
- B
Titus's order
Some scholars
Josephus, who sought the imperial family's favor after switching sides, would have been making excuses for Titus; in fact the general ordered the burning.