Moses among the Greek Lawgivers: Reading Josephus' Antiquities through Plutarch's.

The article reviews Ursula Westwood’s 2023 book *Moses among the Greek Lawgivers: Reading Josephus’ Antiquities through Plutarch’s Lives*, which examines Flavius Josephus’ portrayal of Moses in *Jewish Antiquities* by situating it within Greek traditions about lawgivers. Westwood argues that Josephus’ depiction of Moses responds to broader Greek literary and philosophical expectations, particularly those reflected in Plutarch’s *Lives* of lawgivers such as Lycurgus and Numa, to illuminate how Moses’ laws and leadership were framed for a primarily Greek-speaking Roman audience. The study highlights Josephus’ nuanced presentation of Moses as both divinely inspired and actively engaged in lawgiving, addressing themes like ethical education, law transmission, and overcoming opposition. While the comparison with Plutarch’s audience raises some methodological questions, the work contributes significant insights into Josephus’ engagement with imperial Greek thought and offers a valuable resource for scholars of Josephus, ancient lawgivers, and Jewish-Greek cultural interactions.