Orientation to the History of Roman Judaea

"This magisterial work advocates a humanistic approach to historical enquiry as the meticulous exploration of sources in all their emic particularity, while generously acknowledging the value of social-scientific investigation. In particular, it overwhelmingly confirms that ancient Ioudaioi were members of an ethnic group, not adherents of a religion ('Judaism'), whereas Christ-groups represented an asymmetrical identity, as in voluntary associations. Since this perspective revolutionizes how we interpret Judean and Christ-movement texts historically, Steve Mason's book is now indispensable reading."

--Philip Esler, Portland Chair in New Testament Studies, University of Gloucestershire; Author of Babatha's Orchard



"Mason's new work is invaluable for researchers and indispensable for students. He provides a lucid, balanced, and often brilliant account of the theoretical/methodological problems attendant upon history, and especially ancient history, and especially ancient Judean history. Whatever choices are made, and Mason's house has many mansions, researchers young and old will be led to understand better why and how they are making choices. I will require this book of every one of my graduate students from now on and use parts of it in undergraduate teaching as well."

--Daniel Boyarin, Taubman Professor of Talmudic Culture, UC Berkeley; Co-author of Imagine No Religion



"Advanced students and professional scholars alike will benefit greatly from Mason's rich reflections on the practice of ancient history and the particular challenges of capturing the sense of our ancient sources for Roman Judaea. Lucid, rigorously argued, always thought-provoking, Orientation to the Study of Roman Judaea is a first-class study from a great practitioner of ancient history."

--Sarah Pearce, Ian Karten Professor of Ancient Jewish Studies, University of Southampton