Josephus (37 – c. 100 C.E.) who became known in his capacity as
a Roman citizen as Flavius Josephus, was a first-century Jewish
historian and apologist who survived and recorded the
Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 C.E. His works give an important
insight into first-century Judaism, describing, for example, the
beliefs of some of the main schools, including the Pharisees,
Sadducees and the Essenes. Josephus works were some of the most
widely read among European scholars. He is also a significant
source of information on the period between the two testaments,
that is, on the Maccabean revolt, on the Hasmoneans and on the
rise of Herod the Great. While some accuse him of being a pro-
Roman propagandist, even a traitor to his nation (for
surrendering rather than committing suicide and then cooperating
with the Roman aggressors) Josephus nonetheless did much to help
to rehabilitate Jews in Roman eyes after the disastrous
rebellion of 70 C.E. Being himself a man of priestly and royal
ancestry, he earned the respect a