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The Wars of the Jews

Josephus, in his “Wars of the Jews,” gives the only full and reliable account of the tragic siege and destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans under Titus.  Excepting in the opening, he writes throughout in the third person, although he was present in the Roman camp as a prisoner during the siege, and before then had been, as governor of Galilee, the brave and energetic antagonist of the Romans.  Becoming the friend of Titus, and despairing of the success of his compatriots, he was employed in efforts to conciliate the leaders of the rebellion during the siege, and he was for three years a privileged captive in the camp of the besiegers.  His recital is one of the most thrilling samples of romantic realism in the whole range of ancient literature, and its veracity and honesty have never been impugned.  In his autobiography, Josephus tells how, after the war, he was invited by Titus to sail with him to Rome, and how on his arrival there the Emperor Vespasian entertained him in his own palace, bestowed on him a pension, and conferred on him the honours of Roman citizenship.  The Emperors Titus and Domitian treated this remarkable Jew with continued favour.

I.—­Beginning of the Great Conflict

Whereas the war which the Jews made against the Romans hath been the greatest of all times, while some men who were not concerned themselves have written vain and contradictory stories by hearsay, and while those that were there have given false accounts, I, Joseph, the son of Matthias, by birth a Hebrew, and a priest also, and who at first fought against the Romans myself, and was forced to be present at what was done afterwards, am the author of this book.

Now, the affairs of the Romans were in great disorder after the death of Nero.  At the decease of Herod Agrippa, his son, who bore the same name, was seventeen years old.  He was considered too young to bear the burden of royalty, and Judea relapsed into a Roman province.  Cuspius Fadus was sent as governor, and administered his office with firmness, but found civil war disturbing the district beyond Jordan.  He cleared the country of the robber bands; and his successor, Tiberius Alexander, during a brief rule, put down disturbances which broke out in Judea.  The province was at peace till he was superseded by Cumanus, during whose government the people and the Roman soldiery began to show mutual animosity.  In a terrible riot 20,000 people perished, and Jerusalem was given up to wailing and lamentation.

It was in Caesarea that the events took place which led to the final war.  This magnificent city was inhabited by two races—­the Syrian Greeks, who were heathens, and the Jews.  The two parties violently contended for the pre-eminence.  The Jews were the more wealthy; but the Roman soldiery, levied chiefly in Syria, took part with their countrymen.  Tumults and bloodshed disturbed the streets.  At this time a procurator named Gessius Florus was appointed, and he, by his barbarities, forced the Jews to begin the war in the twelfth year of the reign of Nero and the seventeenth of the reign of Agrippa.