Well Written But Incorrect
This is a well written book with lots of notes and extensive documentation. The main thesis is that Jesus was a Zealot. Unfortunately, there are so many errors...
"So the Pharisees invited the Romans to come in under the leadership of Pompey, saying they would rather have outsiders run the country than have high priests and kings merge and then become corrupt..." (p. 2). In fact Pompey was invited in to settle a dispute, not run the country. And it was only after the Romans conquered Judea that the posts of High Priest and Ethnarch (not King) were merged. And it had nothing to do with the Pharisees!
"4BC, the probably year of Jesus' birth." (p. 9). Most scholars would place it at 6 BC.
"In order to extract tribute from the Jews in accordance with the practice followed in all provinces of the Empire...in AD 6...a census of the Jews..." (p. 10) The census of 6 AD was due to the removal of Herod's son from rule of Judea, leaving the Romans to have to tax the inhabitants instead of relying on the Jewish rulers.
The Sicarii "...assassinate a high priest in AD 26...." (p. 11). The High Priest in 26 AD was Caiaphas who we know lived for many more years.
Of course, not every thing is this book is incorrect, and there are many interesting and informative comments, especially about the Essenes and the Zealots. But mixed in are so many fallacious conclusions and facts that only a true scholar can tell the difference.
The danger in a book like this is that it perpetuates incorrect ideas in a field where they are already rampant. The fact that it is well written and seems to have lots of documentation makes it even more harmful.
If you have more than a little information about the historical Jesus and you're prepared to do your homework, this can be a very valuable and stimulating book. Everyone else, beware.
