This is the fourth instalment in a series on the use of λογιζομαι in the Greek literature contemporary with the New Testament. Part 1 dealt with the Greek Apocrypha; part 2 dealt with the Greek pseudepigrapha, and part 3 examined the Apostolic Fathers. In this post, we will provide the instances of λογιζομαι from the works of Flavius Josephus.
The Greek text used is that of the 1890 Niese edition; the English translation is that of Whiston (1828).
In terms of abbreviations used
Ant. Antiquities of the Jews
Jwr. Jewish Wars
Apn. Against Apion
(Ant. 1:9 JOE) I yielded to this man's persuasions, who always excites such as have abilities in what is useful and acceptable, to join their endeavours with his. I was also ashamed myself to permit any laziness of disposition to have a greater influence upon me than the delight of taking pains in such studies as were very useful: I thereupon stirred up myself, and went on with my work more cheerfully. Besides the foregoing motives, I had others, which I greatly reflected (λογιζομαι) on: and these were, that our forefathers were willing to communicate such things to others; and that some of the Greeks took considerable pains to know the affairs of our nation.
(Ant. 1:314 JOE) When Laban had been thus forewarned by God, he called Jacob to him the next day, in order to treat with him, and showed to him what dream he had; in dependence whereupon he came confidently to him, and began to accuse him; alleging that he had entertained him when he was poor, and in want of all things, and had given him plenty of all things which he had; ``for,'' said he, ``I have joined my daughters to you in marriage, and supposed (λογιζομαι) that your kindness to me would be greater than before;
(Ant. 2:148 JOE) but now (for we do not plead for mercy for ourselves, though indeed, if we die, it will be while we are young, and before we have had the enjoyment of life,) have regard (λογιζομαι)to our father, and take pity of his old age, on whose account it is that we make these supplications to you. We beg you will give us those lives which this wickedness of ours has rendered obnoxious to your punishment;
(Ant. 2:169 JOE) he did not think anything he was told to be incredible, considering (λογιζομαι) the greatness of the works of God, and his kindness to him, although that kindness had, for some late times, been intermitted; so he immediately and zealously set out upon his journey to him.
(Ant. 2:301 JOE) At which terrible judgment the king of Egypt was in disorder, upon the fear into which he reasoned (λογιζομαι)himself, lest his people should be killed and that the manner of this death was also reproachful, so that he was forced in part to recover himself from his wicked temper to a sounder mind,
(Ant. 3:19 JOE) and that they ought not even now to despair of his providence over them; and accordingly he exhorted them to remain quiet, and to consider (λογιζομαι) that help would not come too late, though it come not immediately, if it be present with them before they suffer any great misfortune; that they ought to reason thus: that God delays to assist them, not because he has no regard to them, but because he will first try their fortitude, and the pleasure they take in their freedom,
(Ant. 3:208 JOE) Hereupon an affliction befell Aaron, considered (λογιζομαι) as a man and a father, but was undergone by him with true fortitude; for he had indeed a firmness of soul in such accidents, and he thought this calamity came upon him according to God's will:
(Ant. 3:283 JOE) This year also restores the land to its former possessors in the manner following:--When the Jubilee is come, which name denotes liberty, he that sold the land, and he that bought it, meet together, and make an estimate (λογιζομαι), on one hand, of the fruits gathered; and, on the other hand, of the expenses laid out upon it. If the fruits gathered come to more than the expenses laid out, he that sold it takes the land again;
(Ant. 4:6 JOE) Considering (λογιζομαι), therefore, the distressed state they were in at present, and that in those desert places they were still to expect things would be worse with them, they resolved to fight with the Canaanites, as submitting only to God, their supreme commander, and not waiting for any assistance from their legislator.
(Ant. 4:8 JOE) Whereupon this unexpected misfortune made them quite despondent; and they hoped (λογιζομαι) for nothing that was good; as gathering from it, that this affliction came from the wrath of God, because they rashly went out to war without his approbation.
(Ant. 4:103 JOE) but he did not judge it prudent to fight against them, after they had such prosperous successes, and even became out of ill successes more happy than before; but he thought (λογιζομαι) to hinder them, if he could, from growing greater, and so he resolved to send ambassadors to the Midianites about them.
(Ant. 4:119 JOE) To which Balaam replied, ``O Balak, if you rightly consider (λογιζομαι) this whole matter, can you suppose that it is in our power to be silent, or to say anything, when the Spirit of God seizes upon us? for he puts such words as he pleases in our mouths, and such discourses as we are not ourselves conscious of.
(Ant. 4:262 JOE) and now, since it is reasonable to forgive the sins of those who are young, let it suffice you to have given so many indications Of your contempt for us; reform yourself, and act more wisely for the time to come; considering (λογιζομαι) that God is displeased with those who are insolent toward their parents, because he is himself the Father of the whole race of mankind, and seems to bear part of that dishonour which falls upon those who have the same name, when they do not meet with due returns from their children; and on such the law inflicts inexorable punishment; of which punishment may you never have the experience!'
(Ant. 4:299 JOE) ``When you have pitched your camp, take care that you do nothing that is cruel; and when you are engaged in a siege, and want timber for the making of warlike engines, do not render the land naked by cutting down trees that bear fruit, but spare them, as considering (λογιζομαι) that they were made for the benefit of men; and that if they could speak, they would have a just plea against you, because, though they are not occasions of the war, they are unjustly treated, and suffer in it; and would, if they were able, move themselves into another land.
(Ant. 4:331 JOE) nor were those who had experienced his conduct the only persons that desired him, but those also that perused the laws he left behind him had a strong desire after him, and by them gathered the extraordinary virtue (τῆς ἀρετῆς ἐκ τούτων λογιζόμενοι) he was master of. And this shall suffice for the declaration of the manner of the death of Moses.
(Ant. 5:102 JOE) for they did not think it fit to regard (λογιζομαι) them on account of their kindred or the dignity of those who had given the occasion, but to regard the will of God, and the manner wherein he desired to be worshipped;
(Ant. 5:147 JOE) So she came to the place where she had been entertained, under great affliction at what had happened; and was very sorrowful upon occasion of what she had suffered, and dared not look her husband in the face for shame, for she concluded (λογιζομαι) that he would never forgive her for what she had done; so she fell down, and gave up the ghost:
(Ant. 6:9 JOE) However, there were those who said they should not do so, nor suffer themselves to be deluded, as ascribing the cause of their miseries to it, because it could not have such power and force upon them; for, had God had such a regard (λογιζομαι) to it, it would not have been delivered into the hands of men. So they exhorted them to be quiet, and to take patiently what had befallen them, and to suppose there was no other cause of it but nature, which, at certain seasons of time, produces such changes in the bodies of men, in the earth, in plants, and in all things that grow out of the earth.
(Ant. 6:59 JOE) which he thought would procure him envy, and when such things are heard, they are not easily believed; nor did he think it prudent to tell those things to him, although he appeared very friendly to him, and one whom he loved above the rest of his relatives, considering (λογιζομαι), I suppose, what human nature really is, that no one is a firm friend, neither among our intimates, nor of our kindred; nor do they preserve that kind disposition when God advances men to great prosperity, but they are still ill natured and envious at those who are in eminent stations.
(Ant. 6:134 JOE) So Saul promised to do what he was commanded; and supposing that his obedience to God would be shown, not only in making war against the Amalekites (ποιήσασθαι τὴν πρὸς τοὺς Ἀμαληκίτας στρατείαν λογιζόμενος), but more fully in the readiness and quickness of his proceedings, he made no delay, but immediately gathered together all his forces; and when he had numbered them in Gilgal, he found them to be about four hundred thousand of the Israelites, besides the tribe of Judah, for that tribe contained by itself thirty thousand.
(Ant. 6:144 JOE) but he did not grant that forgiveness to Saul which the prophet asked for, as not deeming (λογιζομαι) it a fit thing to grant forgiveness of [such] sins at his entreaties, since injuries do not otherwise grow so great as by the easy tempers of those who are injured; or while they hunt after the glory of being thought gentle and good natured, before they are aware they produce other sins.
(Ant. 6:194 JOE) Now, when the king heard them singing thus, and that he had himself the smallest share in their commendations, and the greater number, the ten thousands, were ascribed to the young man; and when he considered (λογιζομαι) with himself that there was nothing more wanting to David, after such a mighty applause, but the kingdom, he began to be afraid and suspicious of David.
(Ant. 6:211 JOE) Consider (λογιζομαι) these things, and change your mind to a more merciful temper, and do no mischief to a man, who, in the first place, has done us the greatest kindness of preserving you; for when an evil spirit and demons had seized upon you, he cast them out, and procured rest to your soul from their incursions: and, in the second place, has avenged us of our enemies; for it is a base thing to forget such benefits.''
(Ant. 6:257 JOE) Men do not choose to confer such favours on their adversaries, but on those who are esteemed to bear the highest goodwill and respect to them. Nor is this the first time that I prophesied for him, but I have done it often, and at other times as well as now. And when he told me that he was sent by you in great haste to do something, if I had furnished him with nothing that he desired I should have thought (λογιζομαι) that it was rather in contradiction to you than to him;
(Ant. 6:354 JOE) They thereupon desired him, out of a prudent foresight of this, to send him away, with his six hundred soldiers, to the place he had given him for his habitation; for that this was that David whom the virgins celebrated in their hymns, as having killed many ten thousands of the Philistines. When the king of Gath heard this, he thought (λογιζομαι) they spoke well; so he called David, and said to him, ``As for myself,
(Ant. 7:43 JOE) This procedure gained him the goodwill of the multitude; for such as had an affection for Abner were mightily satisfied with the respect he paid him when he was dead, and the observation of that faith he had pledged to him, which was shown in his vouchsafing him all the usual ceremonies, as if he had been his kinsman and his friend, and not suffering him to be neglected and injured with a dishonourable burial, as if he had been his enemy; insomuch that the entire nation rejoiced at the king's gentleness and mildness of disposition, everyone being ready to suppose (λογιζομαι) that the king would have taken the same care of them in the like circumstances, which they saw he showed in the burial of the dead body of Abner.
(Ant. 7:47 JOE) for these being of a family of the Benjamites, and of the first rank among them, thought (λογιζομαι) that if they should slay Ishbosheth, they should obtain large presents from David, and be made commanders by him, or, however, should have some other trust committed to them.
(Ant. 7:82 JOE) Hereupon both the king and the people were displeased at the death of Uzzah; and the place where he died is still called the Breach of Uzzah to this day. So David was afraid; and supposing (λογιζομαι) that if he received the ark to himself into the city, he might suffer in the like manner as Uzzah had suffered, who, upon his bare putting out his hand to the ark, died in the manner already mentioned,
(Ant. 7:147 JOE) With this marriage God was not well pleased, but was thereupon angry at David; and he appeared to Nathan the prophet in his sleep, and complained about the king. Now Nathan was a fair and prudent man; and considering (λογιζομαι) that kings, when they fall into a passion, are guided more by that passion than they are by justice, he resolved to conceal the threatenings that proceeded from God, and made a good natured discourse to him, and this after the manner following:
(Ant. 7:155 JOE) but when, on the seventh day, the child was dead, the king's servants dared not tell him of it, as supposing (λογιζομαι) that when he knew it, he would still less inclined to eat, and take care of himself, by reason of his grief at the death of his son, since when the child was only sick, he so greatly afflicted himself, and grieved for him;
(Ant. 7:264 JOE) All these, as well as the tribe of Judah, laid a bridge [of boats] over the river, that the king, and those who were with him, might with ease pass over it. Now as soon as he was come to Jordan, the tribe of Judah greeted him. Shimei also came upon the bridge, and took hold of his feet, and prayed him to forgive him what he had offended, and not to be too bitter against him, nor to think fit to make him the first example of severity under his new authority; but to consider (λογιζομαι) that he had repented of his failure of duty, and had taken care to come first of all to him.
(Ant. 7:322 JOE) But as he was fallen to a fatal choice of great miseries, he was in trouble, and sorely confounded; and when the prophet had said that he must of necessity make his choice, and had ordered him to answer quickly, that he might declare what he had chosen to God, the king reasoned (λογιζομαι) with himself, that in case he should ask for famine, he would appear to do it for others, and without danger to himself, since he had a great deal of grain hoarded up, but to the harm of others;
(Ant. 8:225 JOE) When, therefore, Jeroboam had built him a palace in the city of Shechem, he dwelt there. He also built for himself another at Penuel, a city so called; and now the feast of tabernacles was approaching in a little time, Jeroboam (λογιζομαι) considered, that if he should permit the multitude to go to worship God at Jerusalem, and there to celebrate the festival, they would probably repent of what they had done, and be enticed by the temple, and by the worship of God there performed, and would leave him, and return to their first king; and if so, he should run the risk of losing his own life; so he invented this contrivance:
(Ant. 8:279 JOE) but you considered nothing of all this then, neither do you consider (λογιζομαι) it now, but come with so great an army against us. And what is it you depend upon for victory? Is it upon these golden heifers, and the altars that you have on high places, which are demonstrations of your impiety, and not of religious worship? Or is it the exceeding multitude of your army which gives you such good hopes?
(Ant. 8:304 JOE) Whereupon Asa was afraid of the attempts the enemy might make upon him; and considering (λογιζομαι) with himself how many mischiefs this army that was left in Ramah might do to the country over which he reigned, he sent ambassadors to the king of the Damascenes, with gold and silver, desiring his assistance, and putting him in mind that we have had a friendship together from the times of our forefathers.
(Ant. 8:419 JOE) We may also guess (λογιζομαι), from what happened to this king, and have reason to consider the power of fate, that there is no way of avoiding it, even when we know it. It creeps upon human souls, and flatters them with pleasing hopes, till it leads them about to the place where it will be too hard for them.
(Ant. 9:61 JOE) So he made an expedition with a great army against Joram, who, not thinking himself a match for him, shut himself up in Samaria, and depended on the strength of its walls; but Benhadad supposed (λογιζομαι) he should take the city, if not by his engines of war, yet that he should overcome the Samaritans by famine, and the want of necessities, and brought his army upon them, and besieged the city;
(Ant. 9:75 JOE) and as they were prohibited from entering into the city by the law, and they considered (λογιζομαι) that if they were permitted to enter, they should miserably perish by the famine; as also, that if they stayed where they were, they should suffer in the same manner, they resolved to deliver themselves up to the enemy, that in case they should spare them, they should live; but if they should be killed, that would be an easy death.
(Ant. 9:104 JOE) I suppose (λογιζομαι) it was because they thought that such a death came upon him by the wrath of God, and that therefore he was not worthy to partake of such a funeral as became kings. Accordingly, they neither buried him in the sepulchres of his fathers, nor vouchsafed him any honours, but buried him like a private man, and this when he had lived forty years, and reigned eight; and the people of Jerusalem delivered the government to his son Ahaziah.
(Ant. 9:126 JOE) This he wrote to try the intentions of those of Samaria. Now when the rulers, and those who had brought up the children, had read the letter, they were afraid; and considering (λογιζομαι) that they were not at all able to oppose him, who had already subdued two very great kings, they returned him this answer: that they owned him for their lord, and would do whatever he bade them.
(Ant. 10:25 JOE) yet, while he was very zealous and diligent about the worship of God, did he soon afterward fall into a severe distemper, insomuch that the physicians despaired of him, and expected no good issue of his sickness, as neither did his friends: and besides the distemper {a} itself, there was a very melancholy circumstance that disordered the king, which was the consideration (λογιζομαι) that he was childless, and was going to die, and leave his house and his government without a successor from his own body;
(Ant. 10:45 JOE) and, indeed, when he had changed his former course, he so led his life for the time to come, that from the time of his return to piety toward God, he was deemed (λογιζομαι) a happy man, and a pattern for imitation.
(Ant. 10:246 JOE) However, he did not refuse what he had promised Daniel, although he were become a foreteller of misfortunes to him: but bestowed it all upon him; as reasoning (λογιζομαι) thus, that what he was to reward was peculiar to himself, and to fate, and did not belong to the prophet, but that it was the part of a good and a just man to give what he had promised, although the events were of a melancholy nature.
(Ant. 11:81 JOE) Now the priests and Levites, and the older part of the families, recollecting with themselves how much greater and more sumptuous the old temple had been, seeing what was now made how much inferior it was, on account of their poverty, to that which had been built of old, considered (λογιζομαι) with themselves how much their happy state was sunk below what it had been of old, as well as their temple. Hereupon they were disconsolate, and not able to contain their grief, and proceeded so far as to lament and shed tears on those accounts;
(Ant. 11:142 JOE) and considering (λογιζομαι) that if he should enjoin them to cast out their wives, and the children they had by them, he should not be listened to, he continued lying upon the ground. However, all the better sort came running to him, who also themselves wept, and partook of the grief he was under for what had been done.
(Ant. 11:253 JOE) Now Haman reasoned (λογιζομαι) with himself, that what opinion he should give would be for himself, since it was he alone who was beloved by the king; so he gave that advice which he thought of all other the best; for he said,
(Ant. 11:330 JOE) and when the Phoenicians and the Chaldeans that followed him thought they should have liberty to plunder the city, and torment the high priest to death, which the king's displeasure fairly promised them, the very reverse of it happened (λογιζομένων τὰ ἐναντία τούτων ἐγένετο);
(Ant. 12:62 JOE) According to which reasoning (λογιζομαι), that the former table was made of so moderate a size for use, and not for want of gold, he resolved that he would not exceed the former table in size; but would make it exceed it in the variety and elegancy of its materials.
(Ant. 12:281 JOE) but to become such sons as are worthy of me; to be above all force and necessity, and so to dispose your souls, as to be ready, when it shall be necessary, to die for your laws; as sensible of this, by just reasoning (λογιζομαι), that if God see that you are so disposed, he will not overlook you, but will have a great value for your virtue, and will restore to you again what you have lost, and will return to you that freedom in which you shall live quietly, and enjoy your own customs.
(Ant. 12:409 JOE) And when he had encouraged them not to be dismayed at the multitude of their enemies, nor to regard (λογιζομαι) how many they were against whom they were going to fight, but to consider who they themselves were, and for what great rewards they hazarded themselves, and to attack the enemy courageously, he led them out to fight, and joining battle with Nicanor, which proved to be a severe one, he overcame the enemy, and slew many of them; and at last Nicanor himself, as he was fighting gloriously, fell;
(Ant. 13:114 JOE) but being naturally a good and a righteous man, and not desirous of what belonged to others, and besides these dispositions, being also a wise man in reasoning (λογιζομαι) about the future, he determined to avoid the envy of the Romans, so he called the people of Antioch together to an assembly, and persuaded them to receive Demetrius;
(Ant. 13:306 JOE) and pretended that all these circumstances were not like those of a private person; that these actions were indications of an affectation for royal authority; and that his coming with a strong body of men must be with an intention to kill him; and that his way of reasoning (λογιζομαι) was this: that it was a silly thing in him, while it was in his power to reign himself, to look upon it as a great favour that he was honoured with a lower dignity by his brother.
(Ant. 14:183 JOE) So they desired (λογιζομαι) him to consider, that since it is God that turns the scales of war, there is great uncertainty in the issue of battles, and that therefore he ought of to expect the victory when he should fight with his king, and him that had supported him, and bestowed many benefits upon him, and had done nothing itself very severe to him; for his accusation, which was derived from evil counsellors, and not from himself, had rather the suspicion of some severity, than anything really severe in it.
(Ant. 15:314 JOE) insomuch that it appeared, upon a computation (λογιζομαι), that the number of cori of wheat, of ten Attic medimni each, that were given to foreigners, amounted to ten thousand; and the number that was given in his own kingdom was about eighty thousand.
(Ant. 17:227 JOE) And when he had come to Rome, all his relatives supported him; not out of their goodwill to him, but out of their hatred to Archelaus; though, indeed, they were most of all desirous of gaining their liberty, and to be put under a Roman governor; but if there were too great an opposition made to that, they thought (λογιζομαι) Antipas preferable to Archelaus, and so sided with him, in order to procure the kingdom for him. Sabinus also, by letters, accused Archelaus to Caesar.
(Ant. 18:271 JOE) and made supplication to him that he would by no means reduce them to such distresses, nor defile their city with the dedication of the statue. Then Petronius said to them, ``Will you then make war with Caesar, without considering (λογιζομαι) his great preparations for war, and your own weakness?'' They replied, ``We will not by any means make war with him, but still we will die before we see our laws transgressed.'' So they threw themselves down upon their faces, and stretched out their throats, and said they were ready to be slain;
(Ant. 18:304 JOE) ``Seeing you esteem the presents made to you by the Jews to be of greater value than my commands, and are grown insolent enough to be subservient to their pleasure, I charge you to become your own judge, and to consider (λογιζομαι) what you are to do, now you are under my displeasure; for I will make an example of you to the present and to all future ages, that they may not dare to oppose the commands of their emperor.''
(Ant. 18:315 JOE) but they took this just punishment (δικαίωσιν λογιζόμενοι) as an affront, and carried off all the weapons which were kept in that house, which were not a few, and went into a certain district called the Partition of the Rivers , and was a place naturally very fit for the feeding of cattle, and for preserving such fruits as were usually laid up for winter. The poorest sort of the young men also resorted to them, whom they armed with the weapons they had gotten, and became their captains, and nothing hindered them from being their leaders into mischief;
(Ant. 20:222 JOE) But King Agrippa, who had the care of the temple committed to him by Claudius Caesar, considering (λογιζομαι) that it is easy to demolish any building, but hard to build it up again, and that it was particularly hard to do it to these cloisters, which would require a considerable time, and great sums of money, he denied the petitioners their request about that matter; but he did not obstruct them when they desired the city might be paved with white stone.
(Wars 1:274 JOE) Now Herod did the more zealously pursue his journey into Arabia, as making haste to get money from the king, while his brother was yet alive; by which money alone it was that he hoped to prevail upon the covetous temper of the barbarians to spare Phasaelus; for he reasoned (λογιζομαι) thus with himself: that if the Arabian king was too forgetful of his father's friendship with him, and was too covetous to make him a free gift, he would however borrow from him as much as might redeem his brother, and put into his hands, as a pledge, the son of him that was to be redeemed.
(Wars 1:440 JOE) This charge fell like a thunderbolt upon Herod, and put him into disorder; and that especially, because his love to her occasioned him to be jealous, and because he considered (λογιζομαι) with himself that Cleopatra was a shrewd woman, and that on her account Lysanias the king was killed, as well as Malichus the Arabian; for his fear did not only extend to the dissolving of his marriage, but to the danger of his life.
(Wars 2:399 JOE) whom your enemies will slay, in case you go to war, and on that account also; and so every city which has Jews in it will be filled with slaughter for the sake of a few men, and they who slay them will be pardoned; but if that slaughter is not made by them, consider (λογιζομαι) how wicked a thing it is to take arms against those who are so kind to you.
(Wars 3:298 JOE) So Trajan gathered that the city was empty of people that could fight, and although there should be a few of them there, he supposed (λογιζομαι) that they would be too timorous to venture upon any opposition; so he reserved the taking of the city to the general. Accordingly, he sent messengers to Vespasian, and desired him to send his son Titus to finish the victory he had gained.
(Wars 3:475 JOE) let such a one consider (λογιζομαι) again, who we are that are to fight, and who those are against whom we are to fight. Now these Jews, though they be very bold and great despisers of death, are but a disorderly body, and unskilful in war, and may rather be called a rout than an army; while I need say nothing of our skill and our good order; for this is the reason why we Romans alone are exercised for war in time of peace, that we may not think of number for number when we come to fight with our enemies:
(Wars 3:477 JOE) Consider (λογιζομαι), further, that you are to have a conflict with men in effect unarmed, while you are well armed; with footmen, while you are horsemen; with those who have no good general, while you have one, and as these advantages make you in effect manifold more than you are, so do their disadvantages mightily diminish their number.
(Wars 4:50 JOE) But when they considered (λογιζομαι) with themselves that they had now no hopes of any terms of accommodation, and reflecting upon it that they could not get away, and that their provisions began already to be short, they were exceedingly cast down, and their courage failed them;
(Wars 4:266 JOE) However, consider (λογιζομαι) what these men will gain by being called into judgment before you, for such undeniable and such flagrant crimes, who would not vouchsafe to hear such as had no accusations laid against them to speak a word for themselves. However, let them gain this advantage by your coming.
(Wars 4:635 JOE) but when he saw there that the enemy were numerous and in good order, he dared not fight them; and as he thought a retreat dangerous, so he began to think (λογιζομαι) of betraying his army to Antonius.
(Apion 2:227 JOE) and let them further consider (λογιζομαι), that though the Lacedemonians did seem to observe their laws exactly while they enjoyed their liberty, yet that when they underwent a change of their fortune, they forgot almost all those laws;
(Apion 2:258 JOE) Apollonius Molo did no way consider (λογιζομαι) this, when he made it one branch of his accusation against us, that we do not admit such as have different notions about God, nor will we have fellowship with those who choose to observe a way of living different from ourselves;
