Is the Josephan account of a Jesus crucified under Pilate in 19 c.e. a historical account or an interpretative account of Jewish history? Is the Josephan account of a John the baptizer figure executed around 36 c.e. a historical account or an interpretative account of Jewish history? In answering these two questions perhaps it's well to keep in mind the words of James McLaren:
It is evident that the narrative of events contained in Josephus's texts should not be taken at face value. The interpretative framework as outlined indicates that to distinguish between the comments and the narration of events is not possible. It is not simply a matter of dismissing Josephus's interpretations, nor a matter of working out which version of an event is accurate. The interpretative process is more fundamental: it controls the entire choice of subject matter and, therefore, the overall picture that is being conveyed. We must now contend with the possibility that although we can make conclusions and observations regarding what Josephus narrates, what we can conclude is, in itself, the product of an interpretation. In other words, the picture being used to understand the first century CE in Judaea may not necessarily provide the reader with a 'full' or 'balanced' representation of what was happening in the territory. In effect, our major resource for examining the period is itself a constructed picture.
James S. McLaren: Turbulent Times ? Josephus and Scholarship on Judaea in the First Century CE. page 67.
A
'constructed picture'. If that is the case with the writing of Josephus then unless his Jesus and John the baptizer figures can be independently verified as historical - then it's open season as to what Josephus has been doing with these two literary figures. If these literary figures are, as I would suggest, composite literary figures, they would provide an avenue, a method, whereby a writer of history could, as it were, cover a wide historical framework. A wide historical framework that includes a Roman crucifixion of the last King and High Priest of the Jews, Antigonus in 37 b.c. and the Herodian execution of a former King and High Priest, Hyrcanus II in 30 b.c.. Two historical, Hasmonean, figures around which Josephus has constructed a picture. The
'constructed picture' we are dealing with, Josephus' John the baptizer and his Jesus figure, needs to be unconstructed if movement towards understanding early christian origins can move forward.
(And yes, on a historical basis, the older man, Hyrcanus II, was executed after the crucifixion of the younger man, Antigonus......So, for that at least, Josephus has all his ducks in a row.......
.)