Josephus

According to our Blue Lodge Textbook: Josephus informs us of several particulars in the building of the Holy Temple during the reign of King Solomon, but who was Josephus? How much do we know about him? Is his information reliable? Where did he come from? Why is he so important that he would render mentioning in our text?

Titus Flavius Josephus was a Jewish priest, scholar, and historian whose works provide us with close-to-eye-witness and valuable details that do not survive in any other records. Josephus was born, Yosef ben Matthias, circa 37-38 A.D., roughly four years after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. His father was descendant of an ancient sect of Jewish priest and his mother was descendant of the royal and formerly ruling family of Judea. Both families were wealthy, which provided Josephus with many opportunities for exploration and education.

At the age of 16, Josephus spent three years in the dessert with Bannus, the Jewish hermit. By the age of 19, he had studied the three principal Jewish religious sects- Pharisees, Essenes, and Sadducees. It is known that during his early 20’s, Josephus also served as an ambassador to negotiate the release of 12 Jewish priests in captivity from Emperor Nero, whose favored he gained through Nero’s wife.

On his return, Josephus was appointed as the military governor of Galilee during the First Jewish-Roman War, a series of major rebellions by the Jews of Judea against the Roman Empire. He successfully fought the Roman Army until another hero from the resistance seized control and ordered him to be killed. Josephus fled for his life into the hills and caves with other loyal soldiers. After a time, he suggested that they draw lots to commit suicide to keep from being captured by the Roman Army. Josephus is said to have fixed the lots so that he would remain alive, which was later came to be known in mathematics as “The Josephus Problem.” When the Roman Army finally drew near, Josephus declared that he had had a vision that Vespasian Augustus would be the next emperor of Rome. Two years later, Caesar Vespasian Augustus was declared the 9th Emperor of Rome, founder of the Flavian Dynasty.

In 69 A.D., Josephus was released from captivity and in 70 A.D. he acted as a negotiator for the defenders during the Siege of Jerusalem. Although the Jewish rebellion refused to surrender the city and was ultimately defeated, Josephus was allowed to bring some of his fellow priest and friends, as well as some sacred and historical writings, back to Rome. It is at this time that he adopted the title of “Flavius,” as a Roman embellishment. For his duty, serving as an aid to the Roman Empire, he was granted Roman citizenship, a pension, and an estate in Judea.

Josephus dedicated himself to the preservation and writings of Jewish culture. His most famous works include: Jewish Wars, which details the disastrous revolt against Rome, Antiquities of The Jews, a 21 volume collection which expounds upon the history, laws and customs of Jewish history, and Against Apion, a 2 volume collection defending the classical religion, philosophy and antiquity of Jewish culture against the Greek commentator, Apion. Josephus died as a citizen of Rome in 100 A.D. He has been noted as one of the most influential and historical writers of his time.