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The Antiquities of the Jews #2
The Antiquities of the Jews, Volume II
The ambitious later work of the Jewish historian and Roman citizen Flavius Josephus, "Antiquities of the Jews" is a work of twenty volumes that gives a massive account of Jewish culture, law, custom, and history over time. Beginning with the biblical creation of Adam and Eve, Josephus then writes of Abraham teaching Egyptians science, going through most of the great biblical figures and presenting them as philosophizing leaders of their times. Though some are omitted while others are added, Josephus ends only with the Jewish people living under the Roman emperor Flavius Domitian of his own day, around the year 96 AD. The author additionally enters into philosophical debates of his day, ultimately offering an apologia for the Jewish people's antiquity and significance. This text is also of significance for its reference to Jesus, the earliest known Jewish source citing his existence. Overall, "Antiquities of the Jews" provides historians with valuable and reliable material concerning Jewish history, the early Christian period, and Judaism's place in that Roman world.
- GenresHistory
628 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
About the author
Flavius Josephus
1,623 books227 followersTitus Flavius Josephus was a 1st-century Romano-Jewish historian and hagiographer who was born in Jerusalem - then part of Roman Judea - to a father of priestly descent and a mother who claimed royal ancestry.
He initially fought against the Romans during the First Jewish–Roman War as the head of Jewish forces in Galilee, until surrendering in 67 to Roman forces led by Vespasian after the six-week siege of Jotapata. Josephus claims the Jewish Messianic prophecies that initiated the First Roman-Jewish War made reference to Vespasian becoming Emperor of Rome. In response Vespasian decided to keep Josephus as a hostage and interpreter. After Vespasian did become Emperor in 69, he granted Josephus his freedom, at which time Josephus assumed the emperor's family name of Flavius.
Flavius Josephus fully defected to the Roman side and was granted Roman citizenship. He became an advisor and friend of Vespasian's son Titus, serving as his translator when Titus led the Siege of Jerusalem, which resulted -- when the Jewish revolt did not surrender -- in the city's destruction and the looting and destruction of Herod's Temple (Second Temple).
Josephus recorded Jewish history, with special emphasis on the 1st century AD and the First Jewish–Roman War, including the Siege of Masada, but the imperial patronage of his work has sometimes caused it to be characterized as pro-Roman propaganda.
His most important works were The Jewish War (c. 75) and Antiquities of the Jews (c. 94). The Jewish War recounts the Jewish revolt against Roman occupation (66–70). Antiquities of the Jews recounts the history of the world from a Jewish perspective for an ostensibly Roman audience. These works provide valuable insight into 1st century Judaism and the background of Early Christianity.
Alternate spelling:
Flávio Josefo (Romance languages)
He initially fought against the Romans during the First Jewish–Roman War as the head of Jewish forces in Galilee, until surrendering in 67 to Roman forces led by Vespasian after the six-week siege of Jotapata. Josephus claims the Jewish Messianic prophecies that initiated the First Roman-Jewish War made reference to Vespasian becoming Emperor of Rome. In response Vespasian decided to keep Josephus as a hostage and interpreter. After Vespasian did become Emperor in 69, he granted Josephus his freedom, at which time Josephus assumed the emperor's family name of Flavius.
Flavius Josephus fully defected to the Roman side and was granted Roman citizenship. He became an advisor and friend of Vespasian's son Titus, serving as his translator when Titus led the Siege of Jerusalem, which resulted -- when the Jewish revolt did not surrender -- in the city's destruction and the looting and destruction of Herod's Temple (Second Temple).
Josephus recorded Jewish history, with special emphasis on the 1st century AD and the First Jewish–Roman War, including the Siege of Masada, but the imperial patronage of his work has sometimes caused it to be characterized as pro-Roman propaganda.
His most important works were The Jewish War (c. 75) and Antiquities of the Jews (c. 94). The Jewish War recounts the Jewish revolt against Roman occupation (66–70). Antiquities of the Jews recounts the history of the world from a Jewish perspective for an ostensibly Roman audience. These works provide valuable insight into 1st century Judaism and the background of Early Christianity.
Alternate spelling:
Flávio Josefo (Romance languages)
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 25, 2020
Like the first volume, this book is mostly taken from the old testament. However, this is told in chronological order which is really nice. Also in volume two he brings in some other world history which makes this history more interestingly associated with other world histories. I really enjoyed this volume.
February 14, 2021
Picked it back up at where I left off at some point last June- chapter 11 of book 7, and set it down again at chapter 7ish of book 13. From David's decline and Solomon's rise to the time of the Seleucids starting to have beef with Rome over Egypt and consequentially the Jews. A lot going down in Syria at that time.
April 27, 2013
En la reseña del primer tomo de Antigüedades de los judíos me preguntaba bajo qué criterio se había hecho la división en tres tomos. Después de leer el segundo, creo que se hizo por número de libros contenidos en cada tomo. En el primero, siete, en el segundo, siete y, en el tercero, imagino que otros siete.
En cuanto al contenido, las Antigüedades de los judíos II narra la historia del pueblo de judío desde el rey David, Salomón y la construcción del templo de Jerusalén, pasando por la separación de las tribus, los profetas, Alejandro Magno, los Ptolomeo, los persas y terminando en un sinfín de nombres repetidos de gobernantes judíos que soy incapaz de recordar.
Como nota curiosa, Dios desaparece como protagonista de toda la narración. En algún momento de la historia el ser superior deja de estar presente y los judíos dejan de actuar bajo sus órdenes para empezar a hacerlo en su nombre. Más curioso es aún que Flavio Josefo ni siquiera lo mencione, lo que indica en cierto modo que su intención no era analizar la historia sino plasmarla tal y como a él la leyó en los libros.
Por último, y por si alguien se lo pregunta, sí, la “edición” sigue priorizando y comparando lo que cuenta Flavio Josefo con la Biblia, como si ésta fuera una fuente histórica contrastada y fiable.
En cuanto al contenido, las Antigüedades de los judíos II narra la historia del pueblo de judío desde el rey David, Salomón y la construcción del templo de Jerusalén, pasando por la separación de las tribus, los profetas, Alejandro Magno, los Ptolomeo, los persas y terminando en un sinfín de nombres repetidos de gobernantes judíos que soy incapaz de recordar.
Como nota curiosa, Dios desaparece como protagonista de toda la narración. En algún momento de la historia el ser superior deja de estar presente y los judíos dejan de actuar bajo sus órdenes para empezar a hacerlo en su nombre. Más curioso es aún que Flavio Josefo ni siquiera lo mencione, lo que indica en cierto modo que su intención no era analizar la historia sino plasmarla tal y como a él la leyó en los libros.
Por último, y por si alguien se lo pregunta, sí, la “edición” sigue priorizando y comparando lo que cuenta Flavio Josefo con la Biblia, como si ésta fuera una fuente histórica contrastada y fiable.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews