The Jewish War Audiobook (Unabridged)

" This book is so boring...it reads like the old testament but set in the first century AD...it is an interesting read if you are into the history of christianity or judaism. "

" I bought this book to read before a trip to Israel in 1999. It's a very readable English translation. This gives Josephus' account of the war between the Romans and the Jews in the 1st century. Most fascinating (and horrible) are the accounts of the destruction of Gamla and Jerusalem and the final siege of Masada. Scholars are critical of Josephus because he puts too much of himself into the story and because it is probably biased in favor of his Roman benefactors. (Josephus began fighting against the Romans, but then came over to their side when he was captured and convinced of the hopelessness of the rebellion. He tried to convince the Jews not to fight, but to accept Roman rule. He wrote this history for the Romans' benefit after the war.) Nevertheless, there are very few good historical accounts of this place and time. Reading it gives you a taste of what life would have been like in that ancient land during this terrible period. It's well worth the time spent reading it, especially if you plan to visit the places described. "

" It's about the destruction of Jerusalem around AD 70. If you want to know what the abomination of desolation is all about, read it. But beware... "

" The first part was hard to get into but I enjoyed the last part. Interesting how the Jews were the toughest nation to conquer of the whole Roman empire and also how the corruption and internal fighting of the Jews was alot of their downfall. "

" Dry as the desert. You were expecting something different? "

" It's for work... don't plan to read more than I need to for fact-checking an article about Herod the Great...but it's pretty interesting! "

" Amazing primary source from the Roman Age. "

" Too bad we have to depend upon a traitor to his country for much of our insight into this war. I guess everyone else was too busy dying. "

" It is interesting to see the 'New Testament' history is missing from real 1st century reports.... "

" I've listened the first half of this book. Josephus is an excellent historian of the inter-Testamentary period and the early Roman period of the Jewish people and lands. If you're interested in what led up to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, this is the book to read. "

" this is a wonder history; i believe that this men is one of the better writter in the history "

" I really need a new translation in contemporary lenguages "

" It was a hard read, I must admit it, but it was a fascinating read, too. I don't like Josephus' personal history but when he's the only one to have recorded the falling of the Second Temple, you have to read it. I highly recommend this book to buffs of the era. "

" great book of how again another country got sick of the jews and kicked thier ass in a war, but at least Rome was one of the first to do it... "

" if you want to see how nasty war can be, read this book. extremism now and then. "

" read in college - need to re-read "

" A history that makes sense of eschatology. "