Lectionary Calendar

Friday, March 21st, 2025
the Second Week of Lent

There are 30 days til Easter!

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Historical Writings

B.C. (Before Christ)

Writings of Flavius Josephus

The History of the Jewish War

Book 2 — From the Death of Herod till Vespasian was sent to subdue the Jews by Nero

Chapter 1 — Archelaus makes a funeral feast for the people, on the account of Herod. After which a great tumult is raised by the multitude and he sends the soldiers out upon them, who destroy about three thousand of them

Chapter 2 — Archelaus goes to Rome with a great number of his kindred. He is there accused before Caesar by Antipater; but is superior to his accusers in judgment by the means of that defense which Nicolaus made for him

Chapter 3 — The Jews fight a great battle with Sabinus#34;s soldiers, and a great destruction is made at Jerusalem

Chapter 4 — Herod#34;s veteran soldiers become tumultuous. the robberies of Judas. Simon and Athronoeus take the name of king upon them

Chapter 5 — Varus composes the tumults in Judea and crucifies about two thousand of the seditious

Chapter 6 — The Jews greatly complain of Archelaus and desire that they may be made subject to Roman governors. But when Caesar had heard what they had to say, he distributed Herod#34;s dominions among his sons according to his own pleasure

Chapter 7 — The history of the spurious Alexander. Archelaus is banished and Glaphyra dies, after what was to happen to both of them had been showed them in dreams

Chapter 8 — Archelaus#34;s ethnarchy is reduced into a [roman] province. The sedition of Judas oF Galilee. The three sects

Chapter 9 — The death of Salome. The cities which Herod and Philip built. Pilate occasions disturbances. Tiberius puts Agrippa into bonds but Caius frees him from them, and makes him king. Herod Antipas is banished

Chapter 10 — Caius commands that his statue should be set up in the temple itself; and what Petronius did thereupon

Chapter 11 — Concerning the government of Claudius, and the reign of Agrippa. Concerning the deaths of Agrippa and of Herod and what children they both left behind them

Chapter 12 — Many tumults under Cumanus, which were composed by Quadratus. Felix is procurator of Judea. Agrippa is advanced from Chalcis to a greater kingdom

Chapter 13 — Nero adds four cities to Agrippas kingdom; but the other parts of Judea were under Felix. The disturbances which were raised by the Sicarii the Magicians and an Egyptian false prophet. The Jews and Syrians have a contest at Cesarea

Chapter 14 — Festus succeeds Felix who is succeeded by Albinus as he is by Florus; who by the barbarity of his government forces the Jews into the war

Chapter 15 — Concerning Bernice#34;s petition to Florus, to spare the Jews, but in vain; as also how, after the seditious flame was quenched, it was kindled again by Florus

Chapter 16 — Cestius sends Neopolitanus the Tribune to see in what condition the affairs of the Jews were. Agrippa makes a speech to the people of the Jews that he may divert them from their intentions of making war with the Romans

Chapter 17 — How the war of the Jews with the Romans began, and concerning Manahem

Chapter 18 — The calamities and slaughters that came upon the Jews

Chapter 19 — What Cestius did against the Jews; and how, upon his besieging Jerusalem, he retreated from the city without any just occasion in the world. As also what severe calamities he under went from the Jews in his retreat

Chapter 20 — Cestius sends ambassadors to Nero. The people of Damascus slay those Jews that lived with them. The people of Jerusalem after they had [left off] pursuing Cestius, return to the city and get things ready for its defense and make a great many generals for, their armies and particularly Josephus the writer of these books. Some account of his administration

Chapter 21 — Concerning John of Gichala. Josephus uses stratagems against the plots John laid against him and recovers certain cities which had revolted from him

Chapter 22 — The Jews make all ready for the war; and Simon, the son of Gioras, falls to plundering