JOSEPHUS, FLAVIUS (-se'fus), a famous Jewish historian; born in Jeru salem in A. D. 37. On his mother's side he. was descended from the Asmonman prin.ces, while from his father, Matthias, h. e inherited the priestly office. He en joyed an excellent education, and at the age of 26 he went to Rome to plead the cause of some Jewish priests whom Felix, the procurator of Judwa, had sent thither as prisoners. He obtained their release and received valuable gifts from the empress. On his return to Jeru salem he found his countrymen eagerly bent on a revolt from Rome, from which he used his best endeavors to dissuade them; but failing, he professed to enter into the popular designs. He was chosen one of the generals of the Jews, and sent to Galilee. When Vespasian and his army entered Galilee, Josephus threw himself into Iotapata, which he defended for 47 days. When the place was taken, the life of Josephus was spared by Ves pasian through the intercession of Titus. Josephus thereupon assumed the charac ter of a prophet, and predicted to Ves pasian that the empire should one day be his and his son's. Vespasian did not release him from captivity till he was proclaimed emperor (A. D. 70). Joseph us was present with Titus at the siege of Jerusalem, and afterward accom panied him to Rome, receiving the free dom of the city. He assumed the name of Flavius, as a dependant of the Fla vian family. His works are written in Greek, and are: "History of the Jewish War" (about A. D. 75) ; "Jewish Antiqui ties" (about A. D. 93) ; His own "Life" (not earlier than A. D. 97) ; "A Treatise on the Antiquity of the Jews," or "Against Apion." He died about A. D. 100.
jOSHUA, the name of four persons mentioned in the Old Testament (Josh. i: 1; I Sam. vi: 14-18; II Kings xxiiii: 8; Hag. i: 1). The last-named Joshua
is the Jeshua of Ezra v: 2. The earliest and most celebrated of the four, after whom the other three were named, was the son of Nun, an Ephrahnite (I Chron. yii: 27), who first appears as command ing the Israelites by appointment of Moses during the fight with Amalek. Before the death of Moses Joshua was divinely named his successor, and for mally invested with authority (xxvii: 18). He afterward led the Israelitish host in the conquest of Canaan. He died at the age of 110, and was buried at Timnath-serah, in Mount Ephraim (Joshua xxiv: 30).
The Book of Joshuct.—The 6th book of the Old Testament, immediately succeed. ing the Pentateuch in the Hebrew. The events recorded are considered to have occupied about 25 years, from 1451 to 1426 B. c. The expression "to this day" occurs 14 times in the book, once of Rahab's dwelling among the people (vi: 25), and apparently of the life of Caleb (xiv: 14). Hence, all but the concluding verses have been attributed to Joshua, or one of the elders who outlived him.
JOS/Alf, King of Judah. He suc ceeded his father, Amon, 641 B. c., at the age of eight years. He destroyed the idols and restored the worship of the true God, established virtuous magistrates for the administration of justice, and re paired the temple. He also caused the law of Moses to be sought for and pre served. He was wounded in a battle fought at Megiddo, against Necho, King of Egypt, and died in 610 E. C.
jOTHAM, King of Judah, 758 B. C., son and successor of Uzziah, or Azariah. He succeeded his leprous father at the age of 25 years, and reigned 16 years.