Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller

Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller

The Works of Flavius Josephus, the Learned and Authentic Jewish Historian and Celebrated Warrior. With three Dissertations Concerning Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, James the Just, God's Command to Abraham, &c. and explanatory Notes and Observations. Complete in one volume: With Portrait and Engravings.

Baltimore: Armstrong and Plaskitt, 1833. Stereotype Edition. Hardcover. 8vo. 648pp. Full leather binding with gilt ornamental illustration and lettering to spine. Printed on high qualilty cotton rag. Collected works of Flavius Josephus with Christian texts. Frontispiece, a copper plate engraving, depicting Josephus. Beneath is a handwritten owner's dedication of the time (dated 1864).

Contains:
1) Life of Flavius Josephus
2) Antiquities of the Jews.
3) Wars of the Jews [vol. 3, 4]
4) Against Apion
5) Three Dissertations

Text is in English. Ex-libris to inside of front board. Serious age wear and staining, with front board almost completely detached, but still attached on top. Water marks to frontispiece, title and first few pages. Serious browning throughout, with foxing. Overall in fair condition. fair. Item #20341

Flavius Josephus a.k.a. Joseph b. Matityahu was a 1st century Jewish historian and soldier. During the 66-70 C.E. Jewish revolt against Rome, he was made commander of Galilee. He surrendered to the Romans rather then commit suicide. After the war, Josephus spent the last three decades of his life living in a villa outside of Rome under imperial patronage and writing his histories. He authored The Jewish War, The Antiquities of the Jews, Against Apion and an autobiography.
Josephus' historical works are among the most valuable sources for the study of 1st century Judaism and the context for early Christianity. This is due, among other things to the fact that they are products of his firsthand experience and his peculiar position as a defender of Judaism and a supporter of Rome. While Josephus was ignored by Jewish tradition (the Talmud makes no mention of him), he was embraced by the Church. This was mainly because of the Testimonium Flavianum passage from the Antiquities Book 18, which refers to Jesus and even calls him the Messiah. (Whether or not this passage was all or in part added in by a Christian scribe is a matter of some debate among scholars.) Such Church Fathers as Origin, Jerome and Ambrose, as well as the early ecclesiastical historian Eusebius quote him in their work.


For more information:

1) On Josephus:
The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-05.
The Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th edition (1911)
Encyclopedia Judaica (1972)

2) On the different editions:
Graesse: Tresor de Livres Rares et Precieux ou Nouveau Dictionnaire Bibliographique. (Martino: Cambridge, MA.)
Heinz Schreckenberg: Bibliographie zu Flavius Josephus (Leiden: Brill. 1968)
Heinz Schreckenberg: Bibliographie zu Flavius Josephus. Supplementband mit Gesamtregister (Leiden: Brill. 1979)
Louis H. Feldmann: Josepus. A Supplementary Bibliography. (Garland: New York/London. 1986).

Price: $175.00

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