Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews

The history of the Jewish people by Flavius Josephus, translated by William Whiston. 20 books.

Pick a book, then a chapter.

An Ancient Reference Book, not part of the Bible. Josephus was a Jewish priest and historian of the first century. The text is Whiston’s translation as Project Gutenberg gives it; Whiston’s own notes are not shown. It is free to use.

Part I

What it is

What the book holds and when it was written.

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Part II

Where it meets the Bible

Places where the history touches the people and words of Scripture. Verses are quoted from the ASV.

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Part III

The twenty books

Tap a book to open its chapters. Under each book is the span of time Whiston gives for it.

PrefaceJosephus’s own opening
Book 1Containing The Interval Of Three Thousand Eight Hundred And Thirty-Three Years. — From The Creation To The Death Of Isaac.
Book 2Containing The Interval Of Two Hundred And Twenty Years.—From The Death Of Isaac To The Exodus Out Of Egypt.
Book 3Containing The Interval Of Two Years.—From The Exodus Out Of Egypt, To The Rejection Of That Generation.
Book 4Containing The Interval Of Thirty-Eight Years.—From The Rejection Of That Generation To The Death Of Moses.
Book 5Containing The Interval Of Four Hundred And Seventy-Six Years.—From The Death Of Moses To The Death Of Eli.
Book 6Containing The Interval Of Thirty-Two Years.—From The Death Of Eli To The Death Of Saul.
Book 7Containing The Interval Of Forty Years.—From The Death Of Saul To The Death Of David.
Book 8Containing The Interval Of One Hundred And Sixty-Three Years.—From The Death Of David To The Death Of Ahab.
Book 9Containing The Interval Of One Hundred And Fifty-Seven Years.—From The Death Of Ahab To The Captivity Of The Ten Tribes.
Book 10Containing The Interval Of One Hundred And Eighty-Two Years And A Half.—From The Captivity Of The Ten Tribes To The First Year Of Cyrus.
Book 11Containing The Interval Of Two Hundred And Fifty-Three Years And Five Months.—From The First Of Cyrus To The Death Of Alexander The Great.
Book 12Containing The Interval Of A Hundred And Seventy Years.—From The Death Of Alexander The Great To The Death Of Judas Maccabeus.
Book 13Containing The Interval Of Eighty-Two Years.—From The Death Of Judas Maccabeus To The Death Of Queen Alexandra.
Book 14Containing The Interval Of Thirty-Two Years.—From The Death Of Queen Alexandra To The Death Of Antigonus.
Book 15Containing The Interval Of Eighteen Years.—From The Death Of Antigonus To The Finishing Of The Temple By Herod.
Book 16Containing The Interval Of Twelve Years.—From The Finishing Of The Temple By Herod To The Death Of Alexander And Aristobulus.
Book 17Containing The Interval Of Fourteen Years.—From The Death Of Alexander And Aristobulus To The Banishment Of Archelaus.
Book 18Containing The Interval Of Thirty-Two Years.—From The Banishment Of Archelus To The Departure From Babylon.
Book 19Containing The Interval Of Three Years And A Half.—From The Departure Out Of Babylon To Fadus, The Roman Procurator.
Book 20Containing The Interval Of Twenty-Two Years.—From Fadus The Procurator To Florus.

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Sources

Where these facts come from

Encyclopaedia Britannica, “The Antiquities of the Jews” (date, language, span), checked 30 October 2026. Josephus’s own words: Whiston’s translation, Project Gutenberg ebook 2848. Bible verses: American Standard Version (1901), checked by machine.

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