Statement

Whatever the truth, the episode touches a theme dear to Josephus: when it is right to choose death. Jews honored those who died rather than betray God or the Law, and Romans admired suicide that saved honor and spared the humiliation of defeat; Masada is exemplary in both senses. But Josephus also has reservations: in the cave at Yodefat he himself argued the opposite, and it is unclear whether he thought Masada's choice was right.

References

1. p. 100

   supports · boxed feature · ch. 4

   Efron, Lehmann and Weitzman. The Jews: A History. 3rd edition. New York and Abingdon: Routledge, 2019.

   Section: The Mass Suicide at Masada

   Verification anchor recorded · checked against the page text

2. p. 101

   supports · boxed feature · ch. 4

   Efron, Lehmann and Weitzman. The Jews: A History. 3rd edition. New York and Abingdon: Routledge, 2019.

   Section: The Mass Suicide at Masada

   Verification anchor recorded · checked against the page text