Josephus

jo-see'fus (38-100 A. D.), a Hebrew historian. He was born at Jerusalem. He belonged on both sides to priestly families. He was educated a Pharisee. At the age of twenty-four he made a trip to Rome to secure the pardon of some priests, friends of his, who had been sent thither on trifling charges. He was successful, not only in the main object of his mission, but in making friends at court who stood him in good stead later. When the Jewish rebellion, which brought on the destruction of Jerusalem and the banishment of the Jews by Titus, broke out, Josephus, if we may believe his own account, first opposed the Jewish movement, then accepted the command of the Hebrew forces in the army of Galilee. After the conquest he was well received by the Roman commander, Vespasian, and accompanied him to Rome. When Vespasian became emperor, Josephus was received with no little favor. He was assigned a royal residence and a pension, to which was subsequently added an estate in Judea. His chief historical work is a History of Jerusalem in seven volumes, an account of the Jewish rebellion and the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. It appears to be trustworthy. Aside from certain exaggerations, easily detected, it seems to be a faithful picture drawn by an eyewitness. Another work, The Antiquities of the Jews, is little more than a paraphrase of the Old Testament narrative drawn up for popular reading. He wrote chiefly in the Greek language, then the tongue of the learned. He died at Rome. See Jews