Jewish Antiquities, Books I-IV

by Flavius Josephus

Flavius Josephus is without a doubt the most important witness to ancient Judaism from the close of the biblical period to the aftermath of the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70. His four surviving works - "Judean War", "Judean Antiquities", "Life", and "Against Apion" - provide the narrative stucture for interpreting the other, more fragmentary written sources and physical remains from this period. His descriptions of the Temple, the Judean countryside, Jewish-Roman relations and conflicts, and groups and institutions of ancient Judea have become indispensable for the student of early Judaism, the Classicist, and the reader of the New Testament alike. The priestly aristocrat Josephus was born in A.D. 37 and died around the year 100. After fighting against the Romans in the war of 66-73/4 and surrendering in the earliest phase of the campaign, he moved to Rome where he began a productive literary career. His four surviving works in thirty Greek volumes are widely excerpted for historical purposes, but still not often read in their literary and historical contexts. This project aims to assist every serious reader of Josephus by providing a new literal translation, along with a commentary suggesting literary and historical connnections.

Genres: History, Classical Studies, Nonfiction, Classics

670 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 94

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

[Tim Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent -- this first Century common era book of "Introduction" and "Defense" to a Theo-philus
(friend of God / Religion heritage) has much to teach all of us who already know the canonical take on the earliest days of the Jewish people and the forebears in the Pentateuch and the Prophets. This is a modern English translation that deserves to be published apart from the copious notes and annotations. I highly recommend this edition. 5* out of 5

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flavius Josephus wrote this History of the Jewish Peoples around the time of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. He was of the Jewish elite, an adherent of the Pharisaical sect, and distinguished himself by his high standards of learning. Greek at the time was the Lingua Franca of the Roman Empire, and in this he became fluent. He wanted to make an apologia for the Jewish rebellion that was fermenting in the Judaean Provinces at that time. He also desired to make for the Jewish people a history that excelled that of the Romans, and explained Jewish law to the Romans, all without arousing their jealousy or continuing their wrath. Knowing his audience, he carefully sculpted the history making it more likely to be read in Roman circles than Jewish ones.

His ages and dates do not resonate neatly with the Torah (though most of his references seem to be taken therefrom, and in light of modern scholarship, some of his assertions are incorrect (i.e. s.264). However, as a grand historical gesture, Josephus' Jewish Antiquities is an eye-opening look at the Jewish people as a classical race.

This being said, I highly prize the Loeb Classic edition for allowing me to skim the text in its original language, with which, alas, I have lost some use. Exceptionally rarely is the translated copy better than the original - and in Koiné Greek, there are nuances and subtleties of language that lose themselves in modern English.

[David Caruthers]

Josephus had access to texts that no longer exist, and folklore. Details about Moses you never read in the Bible: long winded speeches, descriptions of him in childhood. Expanded discussions of the genocide advocated in the Bible.
IF you suspected David was a creep and a usurper, there is more evidence here, although Josephus himself follows the conventional view that David was wonderful and devout.
An astute historian, keenly and openly aware of his own motives, Josephus is underappreciated, perhaps because he was a Roman officer at the time of the Jewish rebellion.
Although he offers no insight into such mysteries as the Easu/Jacob hairy man, smooth man thing, there is a lot more detail. Why did Jacob (farmer, favorite of his mother) who did so many sneaky things to his brother Esau (hunter, favorite of his father), turn out to be the chosen one?
I must explain that I mine the Bible for traces of stone age roots, along the lines pointed out by Robert Graves and James Frasier.