Antiguedades de Los Judios, Tomo 1

The Antiquities of the Jews #1

by Flavius Josephus

Great Binding. Inside some pages have underlining. Minor shelf wear. Shipping same day with FREE tracking number.

Genres: History, Audiobook, Classics

324 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 100

About the author

Titus 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)

Reviews

[Kathy Feera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re- writing of Bible with considerable uncertainties in translation

[Kristina]

What Josephus adds to the biblical account is interesting as a reflection of what Jews believed about those stories, whether those beliefs arose from external accounts or from a close reading and extrapolation of the biblical text. Although it is understandable, he lacks God's literary art. If that flaw were simply a lack of pithiness (like when he totally botched one of the best retorts in Scripture: "Let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off"), I could forgive him. But he likes to include morals at the ends of his stories and harps on people's moral excellence. He confuses Greek philosophy for Hebraic theology, talking about the Divine Being and how He loves and chooses people for their virtue. In short, Josephus made me glad that God and not Josephus wrote the Bible.

[Seth Atwater · Rating 3 out of 5]

A vast majority of what is written here is straight from the old testament. It is interesting top heat this irrespective but if you know the old testament moderately well you've already know what's written here. It is written in a more edible way for those who struggle with the Jane of the scriptures.

[Laraine]

Classical historian Flavius Josephus in the 13th year of the reign of Roman emperor Flavius Domitian which was around AD 93 or 94 writes about the history of the Jewish people following the accounts in The Holy Bible.

[Aaron Schuschu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Placeholder more or less for reading it from Creation to Absalom. Basically Old Testament retcon. Got bored with the whole thing before it even got juicy.

[Aaron Vance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josephus does a fair job laying out the Jewish perspective of what we know as Old Testament history, from Creation until Absolom. Very little variation from the OT historical books.

[Avery Amstutz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generally a boring read, still kinda fascinating, historically relevant

[Alexander · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ако читателят си мисли, че в настоящия труд ще намери нови сведения за миналото на еврейския народ, събрани и предадени в стила на Херодот, то той ще остане разочарован. "Юдейски древности" на Flavius Josephus представлява преразказ на Стария завет, като само на няколко места могат да се забележат някакви разминавания с написаното в Библията.
Тъй като Светото писание не е една от най-достъпно написаните книги, бих препоръчал този труд на всеки, който желае да се запознае с Ветхия завет в по-свободна и разбираема форма.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hace diez años, los dos tomos de las Antigüedades de los judíos de Flavio Josefo* costaban una fortuna. Esta edición, en facsímil, me costó 6 euros en Amazon. La diferencia de precio entre ambas ediciones es algo que no soy capaz de entender, aunque también es cierto que, salvo excepciones, suelo dar más importancia al contenido que al continente. Por otro lado, también desconozco por qué la facsímil está dividida en tres tomos. Quizá cuando los lea pueda dar una explicación.

Este primer tomo narra la historia de los judíos desde Adán y Eva hasta la subida al trono del rey David, es decir, los pesos pesados: Noé, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, José, Moisés, Josué, Samuel, Saúl, David y los Jueces. Veo como un acierto las notas que avisan de la discrepancia entre los libros de la Biblia y Flavio Josefo, aunque el tono de alguna de ellas da a entender que el libro sagrado es una fuente más fiable. O quizá solo haya sido mi impresión. Además, me gusta la coletilla que el autor pone a algunas de las historias que cuenta, sobre todo las referidas a la longevidad de los judíos antiguos, como si ni él mismo pudiera creerlas:

Sobre esto cada cual piense lo que le parezca mejor.

Lo mejor de las Antigüedades es que no intenta sentar cátedra, sino simplemente dar a conocer al mundo grecolatino la historia del pueblo judío. El mismo Flavio Josefo lo explica en el prólogo:

Otros, en fin, escriben la historia por imperio de las circunstancias, porque ellos mismos están involucrados en los sucesos y no pueden abstenerse de relatarlos a la posteridad. Y no son pocos los que se ven incitados a sacar los hechos a la luz del día, exponiéndolos al interés público, debido a la gran importancia de los acontecimientos. De las diversas razones que mueven a los historiadores a escribir sus libros, debo declarar que las mías son las dos mencionadas en último término.

Todo esto sin olvidar que Flavio Josefo era creyente, claro.

No he leído la Biblia ni está dentro de mis prioridades, así que no sé si la cólera de Dios se muestra tan cruda como en las Antigüedades. Mi religión es principalmente la del bien. La del respeto a la vida. Es más moral que otra cosa. Por eso me cuesta tanto entender el porqué de las peticiones de aniquilación de Dios a los judíos. No una ni dos veces. “Aniquilad a tal pueblo, matad a animales, hombres, mujeres y niños. Que no quede nadie.” Si se negaban, si dejaban a uno con vida, Dios castigaba sin piedad. ¿Qué clase de Dios es ése?