The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged, New Updated Edition Hardcover – Unabridged, September 1, 1980

If you want a first hand eye witness account of ancient Judea this the book for you. Written and set in first century Judea by Flavius Josephus. If you want to read up on actual historical figures like Pontius Pilate or Vespasian or his son Titus this is a good read. Especially interesting is the eye witness account of the siege and destruction of the second temple In Jerusalem by Titus . It gives you much better insight and understanding of the times in which Jesus and St. Paul and the apostles lived. Much more is in this book but if you read nothing else in this book read up on Pontius Pilate and the siege of Jerusalem and the second Herodian Temple.

This is a new, updated edition of the complete and unabridged works of Flavius Josephus. It uses the Loeb numerical system.While it can be intimidating to look at it with the intent of `reading' Josephus, it's actually quite accessible if you read it in pieces. This week I've been interested in Masada, for example, and most of the information known about the events at Masada came from the writings of Josephus.The translation is easy to understand. Certainly it isn't what most of us would consider light reading, and I don't let it intrude on my time with God's word, but it's an excellent addition to my library and a resource like no other.Here are some examples of what you'll find as you open the book for the first time.IntroductionThe Life of Flavius Josephus, The Antiquities of The Jews PrefaceBook 1. From the Creation to the Death of Isaac,2. From the Death of Isaac to the Exodus out of Egypt.Continuing on to20. From Fadus the Roman Procurator to Florus.The Wars Of The Jews PrefaceBook 1 starts with Antiochus Epiphanes Taking Jerusalem to the Death of Herod the Great.Continuing on to7 From the Taking of Jerusalem by Titus to the Sedition of the Jews at Cyrene.Flavius Josephus Against ApionBook 1 and 2.An extract out of Josephus' Discourse To The Greeks Concerning Hades.AppendixDissertation1. The Testimonies of Josephus concerning Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, and James the Just, Vindicated.2. Concerning God's Command to Abraham to Offer up Isaac, his Son, for a Sacrific.3. Tacitus' Account of the Origin of the Jewish Nation, and of the Particulars of the Last Jewish War.4. The Copy of the Books of the Old Testament Used by Josephus in his Antiquities.5. Upon the Chronology of Josephus6. The Fragment or Extract of an Homily Concerning Hades Belongs to Josephus, Preached or Written when he was Bishop of Jerusalem.7. Of the Learned Christopher Cellarius, wherein the History of the Family of Herod by Flavius Josephus is Vindicated, and that History is Shown to be Agreeable to Ancient Coins.Table of the Jewish weights and measuresA list of ancient testimonies and records cited by Josephus, and of coins referred to in the notes upon him.Texts of the Old Testament parallel to Josephus' histories.IndexMaps (4):A map of Palestine in the time of ChristPhysical MapDistance Map (showing the distance between certain locations such as Hebron to Nazareth, etc.)Map of the Roman Empire of the First Century A.D.

Flavious Josephus - The Jewish WarWe have here another famous book, often referred to, that has been hanging around my book shelves. I meant to read it. I did not. This year I did and it has taken some months.Josephus narrative history written in the first century by a participant in the events has a theme: how a fanatic element of the Jews in the Holy Land - self delusion by the history of the victory over Alexander's successors - came to tragedy and disaster unnecessarily and despite of efforts by the Romans to come to peaceful terms.Josephus was a Jewish military official who eventually joined the Roman side in an effort, in says, to mediate the dispute and persuade the Jewish rebels fighting the Romans that they should accept Roman government and security, including taxes, in return for peace and local non-interference with the religion and other mostly local concerns.Among the descriptions of the fighting is that during the battle in and around Jerusalem, the Temple was used as a fortress and fires were set by the defending Jewish forces that got out of control and led to its destruction. Josephus then writes that while it was the Jews themselves that caused the Temple to be destroyed, in the end it was the judgment of God that made it so.The Jewish War is not an easy book to read or digest. As I mentioned, the author brings his story and analysis back to the Maccabean war and the establishment of their dynasty. The difficulty I found is that in trying to follow even the mainstream of the history and thesis, is that Josephus story is filled with names, events, wars, fighting, betrayals, affairs, almost burying the agreement between the Hesmonian dynasty and the Roman government for assistance in the war with the Macedonians generals. While he deals with the governing changes and dynastic matters, so much is difficult to tease out of the other minutia that he provides in his detailed sentences and paragraphs.I understand that this work, and his Antiquities of the Jews, is one of the only sources for much of the period. I am sure there are specialists that find much of the detail important. I found that I had to read through it to follow the main current of the history and point of view.

The perspective Josephus delivers on Antiquities of the jewish traditions and beliefs, written for the understandig of Greeks/Romans, is interesting to compare with the 'official' story from the old testament. Much more 'down to earth' history, you can segregate better the reality from fantasy. Even the short comment on Jesus, that apparently was a later on insertion, gives the perspective of such 'unique' historical quote. The Wars (with the romans) is also fascinating, providing a better perspective albeit Josephus partiallity with the romans. A great reading if one is interested in the subject and how it impacts onlater history.Unfortunately in the kindle version is difficult to follow the notes, and the maps can of course not be expanded.

Every serious student of biblical histories has to have this read, the 1st century perspective is invaluable.

There’s a lot of historical information. I’d like very much. And was useful for my works about Jews and Jesus.

I've already found a gem concerning the Temple and Ft. Antonia and there physical location in relation to each other. Tons of information from a famous historian.

Completed collection of work of Josephus giving fine details of history of the times of our Savior. Though it has some chronological error, depicting the history as it happens.

Thanks for this book. Its great and it arrived on time!

This is a very readable summary of the most interesting books of Josephus, reproducing in full the critical passages. The translation is modern and accessible. This in a excellent place to start your study of Josephus, who was a witness and observer of such amazing events.