Flavius Josephus

This book traces the history of the Jews from creation to just before the outbreak of the revolt of AD 66-70. It was an attempt to favourably present Judaism to the world. This eBook is complete (All 20 books), with footnotes conveniently hyperlinked for easy referral.Please Note: This book is easy to read in true text, not scanned images that can sometimes be difficult to decipher. The Microsoft eBook has a contents page linked to the chapter headings for easy navigation. The Adobe eBook has bookmarks at chapter headings and is printable up to two full copies per year. Both versions are text searchable.

Refocusing our attention from the personal character and psychological motives of Josephus (which we cannot know) to the work itself (which is before us), Steve Mason brings this narrative to life in new historical and literary contexts. He shows that it is a carefully structured appendix to Josephus' magnum opus, the Judean Antiquities, and that Josephus uses it to unashamedly celebrate his character according to the values and standards of his time. In the process, Josephus explains much about the geography of Galilee and about the social and political world of Judea in crisis. He emerges as a Judean statesman trying to communicate with his peers from other Mediterranean centers. Thus The Life is a rich mine of information, not only about the specifics of the Galilean society and the Judean-Roman war, but also about Roman-provincial relations and elite culture in Judea. --from publisher description

The autobiographical text The Life of Josephus is a text written by Flavius Josephus around 94 to 99 BC. The commander of a Jewish insurgency who was captured by the Roman in 67 BC he won his liberty by ingratiating himself with the Roman victors. The Life of Josephus is both a retelling of the events of this War and a justification by Josephus of his part in it.His position with his Roman and Jewish contemporaries and even now with modern day scholars is ambiguous. Many question his decision to eschew suicide in favour of capture.The works of Josephus have been pivotal in gaining an understanding of the period of the First Jewish-Roman War, The Dead Sea Scrolls and other Archaeological discoveries.

Publish date (1850) has to be wrong. C.T. Brainard was a notorious publisher/book pirate operating in New York and Boston from approx. 1895 to 1909. President of Harper 1915-1924. Not even alive in 18o0. Correct date could be 1900.