Josephus excelled at saving his own ass, alright. He wasn't even shy about admitting it.
A lot of that has the smell of later apologetical thinking, though, or at least rationalization. By the time that Josephus allegedly decided that Vespasian (and we have only Josephus' claim that this was so, and he remained a prisoner of Vespasian's for two years thereafter ) was to be the new emperor and Vespasian had made moves in that direction there had been one Emperor who "came out of Spain," Sulpicius Galba. Another, Salvius Otho, who also began as a governor in Spain and finally Aulus Vitellius, who came out of Germany. These were all Italians who had been posted to provincial offices just like Vespasian. In fact, after such upheavals it would almost have seemed strange if the Eastern legions had not gotten in on the fun, so to speak, and wanted their commander to succeed to the purple. That could be lucrative for the soldiers. The Eastern armies were intact while the Western armies had been fighting each other.
Like many other ancient "prophecies" the gods' meaning only becomes clear after the events have taken place.
A lot of that has the smell of later apologetical thinking, though, or at least rationalization. By the time that Josephus allegedly decided that Vespasian (and we have only Josephus' claim that this was so, and he remained a prisoner of Vespasian's for two years thereafter ) was to be the new emperor and Vespasian had made moves in that direction there had been one Emperor who "came out of Spain," Sulpicius Galba. Another, Salvius Otho, who also began as a governor in Spain and finally Aulus Vitellius, who came out of Germany. These were all Italians who had been posted to provincial offices just like Vespasian. In fact, after such upheavals it would almost have seemed strange if the Eastern legions had not gotten in on the fun, so to speak, and wanted their commander to succeed to the purple. That could be lucrative for the soldiers. The Eastern armies were intact while the Western armies had been fighting each other.
Like many other ancient "prophecies" the gods' meaning only becomes clear after the events have taken place.
Robert G. Ingersoll : “No man with a sense of humor ever founded a religion.”
