Josephus, the first-century Romano-Jewish historian, certainly felt that way, and in his work Against Apion, he confronts this head-on.
Josephus points out that some writers chose to ignore the Jewish people, not because they were ignorant of them, but out of envy or other less-than-noble motivations. He uses the example of Hieronymus, who wrote a history of Alexander the Great's successors. Hieronymus lived at the same time as Hecateus, and even knew King Antigonus, and presided over Syria. Hecateus, as Josephus reminds us, dedicated an entire book to the Jewish people. Yet, Hieronymus, despite living close to where Jews resided, never mentions them at all!
What's behind such a glaring omission? Josephus suggests it boils down to human nature. One person, Hecateus, recognized the importance of recording Jewish history, while another, Hieronymus, was blinded by prejudice and failed to acknowledge the truth.
But Josephus doesn't leave it there. He wants to demonstrate the antiquity of the Jewish people, and he piles on the evidence. He reminds his reader of the records of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Phoenicians, along with numerous Greek writers, all of whom, in their own way, attest to the long history of the Jewish people. He mentions names like Theophilus, Theodotus, Mnaseas, Aristophanes, Hermogenes, Euhemerus, Conon, and Zopyrion, admitting he may have missed even more.
Josephus concedes that some of these writers made mistakes, especially when discussing the earliest periods of Jewish history. Why? Because, quite simply, they hadn't studied the Jewish sacred texts. But even with their inaccuracies, they still provide valuable testimony to the antiquity of the Jewish people – the very point Josephus is driving home.
He gives credit where it's due, though. Josephus notes that Demetrius Phalereus, the elder Philo, and Eupolemus came closer to the truth in their accounts. Josephus says their minor errors should be forgiven, recognizing that fully understanding Jewish writings was a challenge for outsiders.
What's the takeaway here? Josephus is doing more than just correcting the historical record. He's reminding us that even when others try to erase or misrepresent our story, the truth has a way of enduring. He's reminding us to look to our own sources, to our own sacred texts, to find the authentic narrative. And perhaps most importantly, he's reminding us that history is often shaped by the biases and motivations of those who write it. So, who gets to tell your story? And how will you ensure that it's told truthfully?