JOSEPHUS (born AD 37 — died AD 100) was the son of Matthias, a Jewish Priest. JOSEPHUS also was a Jewish Priest from Jerusalem. He was not a Christian. He fought in the Roman war of AD 66-70. He was a Jewish military leader in Galilee. When the Romans invaded and killed thousands, the remaining Jewish soldiers in Galilee who had managed to elude the Romans all agreed to commit suicide rather than be taken prisoners. JOSEPHUS was the last man standing and instead of killing himself, he surrendered to the Roman army led by Vespasian and his son Titus, in July AD 67.
JOSEPHUS predicted that Vespasian would later become Caesar. When Nero committed suicide in AD 68, Vespasian was eventually named Caesar. Titus then took command of the Roman armies in the war. Vespasian subsequently gave JOSEPHUS his freedom in AD 69 and commissioned him to write an accurate history of the war without prejudice for either side.
In AD 71 JOSEPHUS arrived in Rome with Titus and his victory party. He became a Roman citizen and a client of the Flavian family. He is often referred to as JOSEPHUS FLAVIUS. It was while in Rome, under Flavian support, that JOSEPHUS wrote his works. JOSEPHUS was an important apologist in Rome for the Jewish people and culture. He remained a loyal and law-observing Jew.
In his book “The War of The Jews,” JOSEPHUS provided a detailed history of the total destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by September AD 70 at the hands of the Romans and Jewish Zealots. He explained in great detail the actions of both sides that led to mass killings of men, women, and children. He also depicted the abominations in the temple and the wicked conduct by the Jewish Zealots, who often fought among themselves for power during the years of the war. After the war, mop-up operations by the Romans continued until AD 73.