Audiobooks by Flavius Josephus

"The Jewish War is an extraordinary historical document in that it details a calamitous period of four years during which the Jews pitted themselves against the might of the Roman empire. It is partly a remarkable account in that its author, Flavius Josephus (c.37–c.100 CE) was himself a Jew and yet, during the course of the conflict, found himself playing a prominent role for both sides. It is further underpinned by the fact that Josephus himself was not only a participant, but also an historian and a scholar of standing. Few such accounts from the Classical period have survived to this degree, and it makes the whole story intensely vivid and powerful. The Jewish War actually ran from 66 CE to 70 CE, culminating in the fall of the Jerusalem. But Josephus begins his account decades back, with the purpose of setting the background. Book I (of seven) opens with the taking of Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes in 167 BCE, before devoting the major part of Book I to the life and influence of Herod the Great who died in 4 CE. It was his complicated legacy that laid the ground for the uprising of the Jews. In Book II, Josephus tells how the Jews rose up against violent treatment by the Roman procurator, Florus; how early success against Cestius encouraged the Jews in the hope of ultimate success against the Roman Empire. The succeeding books tell of the gradual dominance by the Romans, under Vespasian and then his son Titus. Torture, starvation, banishment and slaughter became commonplace across the theatre of war. The gradual weakening of the Jews was not helped by internecine strife of a horrendous nature – even within Jerusalem itself when it was being besieged by the Roman army. There could be only one conclusion – the utter destruction of Jerusalem, with the final scene of the war being the infamous mass suicide at Masada. Josephus records his own role, leading the defence in the early days, notably building strong walls around various cities. But as months and years passed, he realised that the Jewish cause would never win against the might of Rome. This powerful account was written in 75 CE probably either in Aramaic or Hebrew, but it has survived in a Greek version. This recording uses the classic translation by William Whiston. PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available along with the audio."

Flavius Josephus (Author), Jonathan Booth (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Antiquities of the Jews

"Among the many important historical documents from the Classical world of Greece and Rome The Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus is one of the most distinctive and characterful. Josephus (37-c100 CE) set out with the clear purpose of telling the history of the Jews from the creation in Genesis to the Jewish revolt against the Romans in 66 CE. Born in Jerusalem as Yosef ben Matityahu, he rose to become a leading participant in the First Jewish Revolt (66-73 CE). Surviving the aftermath, Josephus was initially enslaved and became an interpreter to Vespasian, but he increasingly accepted Roman ways and ultimately adopted Roman citizenship. It was this combination of a broad education, first-hand experience in conflict and politics and a genuine admiration for Roman life (without undermining his profound respect for his Jewish heritage) that made him an ideal figure to undertake his various chronicles. The most widely read remains The Jewish War written around 75 CE, but his magnum opus proved to be the most ambitious project, The Antiquities of the Jews. A considerable enterprise in size as well as scope, the 20 books of The Antiquities (written in Greek) falls more or less into two sections. The first 10 books present Jewish history based on the Hebrew bible starting with the creation of Adam and Eve. The remaining books soon leave the biblical tradition behind, as Josephus draws on the Greco-Roman historical sources available to him as a scholar alive and active during the times of Vespasian Titus and Domitian. Though drawing on many other historians, the importance of The Antiquities is the considerable amount of information it contains, which has not otherwise survived in such detail. These include dissension within the Jewish community when encountering Greek and other civilisations and, of course, the immense impact of Rome. Josephus mentions events concerning the careers of major Roman figures, including Pompey, Crassus, Mark Antony, Julius Caesar, Augustus and others of which we would not otherwise know. And the account of Herod’s reign in Judea, which spans four books in Josephus’s narrative, provides detail unique in the ancient annals. Famously, The Antiquities also contains two references to Jesus and one to John the Baptist, though this is questioned by some historians who point out that all the extant sources for The Antiquities date from Christian times. Nevertheless the importance commanded by The Antiquities of the Jews in the historical record remains undisputed. The translation used here by William Whiston (1667-1752), appearing in 1737, is also a classic and remains eminently enjoyable for a modern audience. It is authoritatively read by Allan Corduner."

Flavius Josephus (Author), Allan Corduner (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Antiquities of the Jews, Volume 1

"Antiquities of the Jews was a work published by the important Jewish historian Flavius Josephus about the year 93 or 94. It is a history of the Jewish people, written in Greek for Josephus' gentile patrons. Beginning with the creation of Adam and Eve, it follows the events of the historical books of the Hebrew Bible, but sometimes omits or adds information. (Summary by Wikipedia) Volume 1 contains Books 1-5 and ends with the dedication of Samuel and death of Eli the priest."

Flavius Josephus (Author), LibriVox Volunteers (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Antiquities of the Jews, Volume 2

"Antiquities of the Jews was a work published by the important Jewish historian Flavius Josephus about the year 93 or 94. Antiquities of the Jews is a history of the Jewish people, written in Greek for Josephus' gentile patrons. Beginning with the creation of Adam and Eve, it follows the events of the historical books of the Hebrew Bible, but sometimes omits or adds information. (Summary by Wikipedia) Volume 2 contains Books 6-10; it begins right after the death of Eli the priest and the capture of the Ark and ends with the prophecies of Daniel in Persia."

Flavius Josephus (Author), LibriVox Volunteers (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Antiquities of the Jews, Volume 3

"Antiquities of the Jews was a work published by the important Jewish historian Flavius Josephus about the year 93 or 94. Antiquities of the Jews is a history of the Jewish people, written in Greek for Josephus' gentile patrons. Beginning with the creation of Adam and Eve, it follows the events of the historical books of the Hebrew Bible, but sometimes omits or adds information. (Summary by Wikipedia) Volume 3 contains Books 11-15; it begins with the return of the Babylonian exiles under Cyrus, king of Persia and ends with King Herod rebuilding the temple (c. 559 BC - 20 BC)."

Flavius Josephus (Author), LibriVox Volunteers (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Antiquities of the Jews, Volume 4

"Antiquities of the Jews was a work published by the important Jewish historian Flavius Josephus about the year 93 or 94. Antiquities of the Jews is a history of the Jewish people, written in Greek for Josephus' gentile patrons. Beginning with the creation of Adam and Eve, it follows the events of the historical books of the Hebrew Bible, but sometimes omits or adds information. (Summary by Wikipedia) Volume 4 contains Books 16-20; it begins with King Herod finishing the temple and ends with the beginning of the Jewish revolt against Nero (c. 20 BC - 66 AD)."

Flavius Josephus (Author), LibriVox Volunteers (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Wars of the Jews

"The Wars of the Jews (or The History of the Destruction of Jerusalem, or as it usually appears in modern English translations, The Jewish War - original title: Phlauiou Iôsêpou historia Ioudaïkou polemou pros Rhômaious bibliona) is a book written by the 1st century Jewish historian Josephus. It is a description of Jewish history from the capture of Jerusalem by the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 164 BC to the fall and destruction of Jerusalem in the First Jewish-Roman War in AD 70. The book was written about 75, originally in Josephus's "paternal tongue", probably Aramaic, though this Version has not survived. It was later translated into Greek, probably under the supervision of Josephus himself. The sources of knowledge that we have of this war are Josephus's account and from the Talmud (gittin 57b) and in midrash Eichah. (Summary by Wikipedia)"

Flavius Josephus (Author), LibriVox Volunteers (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Wars of the Jews

"The Wars of the Jews (or The History of the Destruction of Jerusalem, or as it usually appears in modern English translations, The Jewish War - original title: Phlauiou Iôsêpou historia Ioudaïkou polemou pros Rhômaious bibliona) is a book written by the 1st century Jewish historian Josephus. It is a description of Jewish history from the capture of Jerusalem by the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 164 BC to the fall and destruction of Jerusalem in the First Jewish-Roman War in AD 70. The book was written about 75, originally in Josephus's "paternal tongue", probably Aramaic, though this version has not survived. It was later translated into Greek, probably under the supervision of Josephus himself. The sources of knowledge that we have of this war are Josephus's account and from the Talmud (gittin 57b) and in midrash Eichah. (Summary by Wikipedia)"

Flavius Josephus (Author), Various Readers (Narrator)

Audiobook