Flavius Josephus wrote The Jewish War around 75 AD. He was a first-century historian born into the Jewish priesthood in Jerusalem. This work stands as perhaps the most influential non-biblical text of Western history according to biblical historian Steve Mason. Josephus originally composed the book in his paternal tongue, which was either Aramaic or Hebrew. That original version has not survived to modern times. Later translators rendered the text into Greek under the supervision of Josephus himself. Buth and Pierce note that the current Greek edition appears to be a new edition rather than a simple translation. They describe it as a complete re-working of the first writing with considerable expansion.
Seven Books Of Conflict
The narrative divides into seven books covering a vast historical span. Books one and two open with a summary of Jewish history from 168 BC. This starting point marks the capture of Jerusalem by Seleucid emperor Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The next five books detail the unfolding war under Roman generals Vespasian and Titus. These sections trace events all the way to the death of the last Sicarii fighters. Sources for this First Jewish-Roman War include the Babylonian Talmud tractate Gittin 57b. Lamentations Rabbah also provides context alongside Hebrew inscriptions on coinage from the revolt period. Book five of Tacitus' Histories serves as another key source for these events.Cannibalism In Siege
Josephus recounts the story of Mary of Bethezuba in Book six chapter three section four. She was originally from the village of Bethezuba in the district of Perea east of the Jordan River. Her family had fled to Jerusalem before the siege began but lost everything to plundering defenders. Famine ate her heart out while rage consumed her still faster. Maddened by hunger she took the infant at her breast and spoke words that shocked her listeners. Poor little mite she asked why keep you alive when Romans bring only slavery? She declared famine forestalls slavery and partisans are crueler than either. She killed her son then roasted him and ate one half hiding the rest. Rebels appeared sniffing the unholy smell and threatened to kill her immediately. They left her in horror after she offered them a share of the child.