|
HISTORICAL
SIGNIFICANCE
"During the Middle
Ages, Josephus was the most widely read ancient author in Europe..
Josephus' literary influence had no equals, with the sole exception of
the Bible." |
Flavius Josephus, a
Jewish priest and Pharisee, was put in command of the national
resistance in Galilee at the time of Israel's revolt against Rome.
When he was captured at Jotapata; his life was spared upon his
prediction to rival Vespasian, that the Roman general would soon
become emperor. Upon the fulfillment of this prophecy shortly
thereafter, he was commissioned to provide his captors with a history
of the Jewish people, although he initially wrote a history of the
Roman-Jewish war suited for both a Roman and a Jewish audience. His
works, disputed though they may be regard accuracy, are an
indispensable source on the life and history in Roman Judea. |
THEOLOGICAL
SIGNIFICANCE
"The destruction of Jerusalem was
more terrible than anything that the world has ever witnessed, either
before or since. Even Titus seemed to see in his cruel work the hand
of an avenging God." (C.H.
Spurgeon) |
