Josephus and the Ban on Jews in the 1814 Norwegian Constitution
Why is it that arguably the most liberal constitution of its time contained the most xenophobic clause? The pursuit of an answer to this question involves attempts to understand the literary landscapes of and the intellectual climate among those who crafted this constitution. My present contribution to this pursuit is an exploration of a corner within the thought world of Christian Magnus Falsen (1782–1830), the “father” of the Norwegian constitution of 1814 and one of the architects behind its ban on Jews. In an unpublished essay on ancient Israelite history, the Norwegian legislator articulated his understanding of the Jewish legislator, the Jewish people, legislation, historiography, and theology. I focus on Falsen’s use of the first century CE Jewish historian Flavius Josephus and the third century BCE Egyptian-Hellenistic author Manetho, whom Josephus engages in his treatise Contra Apionem. This chapter may serve as a reminder that reading and interpretation are always dependent upon cultural horizons, and that the mobilization of ancient writings in support of current concerns—be they political or educational—is not always a virtuous enterprise. Reception history is thus my approach, anti-Jewish motives and patterns are my specific focus, and ethical reading of ancient sources is my general concern.
Published in 2026
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