Josephus, soldier, statesman, historian, was a Jew born at Jerusalem about 37 CE. A man of high descent, he early became learned in Jewish law and Greek literature and was a Pharisee. After pleading in Rome the cause of some Jewish priests he returned to Jerusalem and in 66 tried to prevent revolt against Rome, managing for the Jews the affairs of Galilee. In the troubles which followed he made his peace with Vespasian. Present at the siege of Jerusalem by Titus, he received favours from these two as emperors and from Domitian and assumed their family name Flavius. He died after 97.
As a historical source Josephus is invaluable. His major works are: History of the Jewish War, in seven books, from 170 BCE to his own time, first written in Aramaic but translated by himself into the Greek we now have; and Jewish Antiquities, in twenty books, from the creation of the world to 66 CE. The Loeb Classical Library edition of the works of Josephus also includes the autobiographical Life and his treatise Against Apion.
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Flavius' Jewish Wars:
Anyone interested in the history of Israel around the time of Jesus will be fascinated by this chronicle of events unbiased by Christian beliefs or Jewish influence.
The Jewish War:
The Jewish War by Flavious Josephus is an excellent read about the beginings of Roman rule in the Middle East to the Jewish War of 66-67 AD. The Penguin Classics edition is a well translated, lade out and well edited edition of Josephus's discription of events. It is a wealth of information for anyone who wants to learn about the First Jewish War.
An excellent translation..:
Josephus was a traitor,yes,and he was not an eyewitness to it all. His sources were an invaluable help to him in writing this account.And once again the Jewish people get short shrift. Yet this book is a necessary evil and should be read,not on its own,but with other sources for a rounded history. Everything we read can be put together like a jigsaw puzzle providing us with the insights needed to understand the Middle East today.
A tale of horror for the Jewish people:
This tells the story of the terrible tragedy of the fall of Jerusalem, and the end of Jewish rule in the holy- land. It is written by the Jewish general and turncoat Josephus whose powerful skills as historian are compromised by his questionable behavior in regard to his own people.
Josephus does sympathize with the Jewish people, and writes as their defender. But he is also the hireling of the Romans and is careful to present them in an overly sympathetic light.
This is one of the great... more info
