Josephus, Flavius [Yosef Ben Matityahu] / Whiston, William.

The Whole Genuine Works of Flavius Josephus – The Learned and Authentic Jewish Historian and celebrated Warrior : Translated from the original Greek according to Havercamp’s Accurate Edition. Containing: I. Twenty Books of the Jewish Antiquities, with the Life of Josephus, written by himself / II. Seven Books of the Jewish War / III. Two Books against Apion / IV. An Extract out of Josephus’ hortation to the Greeks, concerning Hades and the Resurrection of the Dead. Together with Large Notes, Proper Observations and an Index To Which are Added Three Dissertations concerning: I. The Testimonies of Josephus vindicated / II. God’s command to Abraham to offer up Isaac, his Son, for a Sacrifice / III. Tacitus’ Accounts of the Origin of the Jewish Nation and of the Particulars of the last Jewish War. With a complete Table of the Jewish Coins, Weights and Measures. By William Whiston, Professor of Mathematics in the University of Cambridge.

First Edition. In Four Volumes (complete set). Glasgow, Printed by Edward Khull & Co., 1814. Slim – Octavo. Pagination: Volume I: Frontispiece-Portrait of Josephus, VI, 469 pages including the large fold-out-map of Egypt (complete but with a tear), including the large fold-out-plan showing “Mount Tabor”, “Mount Horeb”, Mount Carmel and “The Hill of Moses”, including the large fold-out-map “Journies of the Israelites thro’ the Wilderness”, including the large fold-out-map of “The Holy Land”, including a large fold-out-plan of “An Exact Reoresentation of King Slolomon’s Temple” (with minor tear) / Volume II: 427 pages / Volume III: 440 pages including the large fold-out-plan of “Ancient Jerusalem” / Volume IV: 460 pages. Hardcover / Original half-leather of the early 19th century with all original spine-labels intact. Minor dampstain to a few pages and some minr foxing throughout only. Volume one starting at the spine but all Volumes still firm. Tear to endpaper of Volume one. Very good condition overall with only minor signs of wear. Names of different 19th century – pre-owners (″William S. Davis – Aug. 18, 1846” / “Henry Stuart”). Very rare set which seldom appears on the market !

Including the Table of the Jewish Weights and Measures on page 407 and 408 of Volume IV.

Flavius Josephus (c. AD 37 – c. 100; born Yosef Ben Matityahu) was a 1st-century Roman–Jewish historian and military leader. Best known for writing “The Jewish War”, he was born in Jerusalem—then part of the Roman province of Judea—to a father of priestly descent and a mother who claimed royal ancestry.

He initially fought against the Roman Empire during the First Jewish–Roman War as general of the Jewish forces in Galilee, until surrendering in AD 67 to the Roman army led by military commander Vespasian after the six-week siege of Yodfat. Josephus claimed the Jewish messianic prophecies that initiated the First Jewish–Roman War made reference to Vespasian becoming Emperor of Rome. In response, Vespasian decided to keep Josephus as a slave and presumably interpreter. After Vespasian became Roman Emperor in AD 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 in AD 70. Since the siege proved ineffective at stopping the Jewish revolt, the city’s pillaging and the looting and destruction of Herod’s Temple (Second Temple) soon followed.

Josephus recorded the Great Jewish Revolt (AD 66–70), including the siege of Masada. 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. Antiquities of the Jews recounts the history of the world from a Jewish perspective for an ostensibly Greek and Roman audience. These works provide valuable insight into first century Judaism and the background of Early Christianity. Josephus’s works are the chief source next to the Bible for the history and antiquity of ancient Israel, and provide a significant and independent extra-Biblical account of such figures as Pontius Pilate, Herod the Great, John the Baptist, James the Just, and possibly Jesus of Nazareth. (Wikipedia)

• Keywords: 19th Century – Rare · Catalogue No.8 – Judaica Collection · Jewish Culture · Jewish History – Rare · Jewish History & Culture – Library · Judaica · Judaica – Collection · Judaica – Rare · Judentum
• Language: English
• Inventory Number: 31344AB

EUR 1.280,--