Josephus - Historian Of Life At The Time Of Christ
Jewish General Turned Historian
The Politics, power struggles, wars, insurrections, and daily life at the time Jesus walked the Earth, are all recorded in the writing of Josephus. He writes it as it was from the point of view of an observer and sometimes as a participant. It is a brutal record, often disturbing to read. Law enforcement did not exist. Power and control went to those who had the weapons and Mercenaries to enforce it. It was a time of Roman brutality, constant insurrections, and great loss of life. To survive you kept a low profile or allied yourself with the most powerful, and hoped for the best.
Born Joseph Ben Matthias to a Priestly family, he was a gifted boy who studied the tenets of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Essenes (From whom the Dead sea scrolls came) He spent three years as a disciple of Bannus, an ascetic living alone in the wilderness. At 19 yrs he left the wilderness, went to Jerusalem, and attached himself to the Pharisees. Because of the disruption to life from the Romans the country was divided among six Jewish Generals. The 29 year old Priest, Joseph Ben Matthias was given the two Galilees which included the city of Gamala.
The Generals were backed by whatever brigands, mercenaries, and no goods, they could assemble and afford to pay. Joseph Ben Matthias recognized the…
