Prefatory Note

The text of this volume, as of the previous volumes of this version of Josephus, is substantially that of Niese in his editio maior, but with a number of changes suggested by other scholars. The manuscript tradition for the last ten books of the Antiquities is discussed at length by Niese in the third volume of his edition, pp. iii-lvii, and summarized briefly by Ralph Marcus in the prefatory note to the sixth volume of this series. In translating these books I have, in a number of places, adopted felicitous renderings found in the rough draft left by Dr. Thackeray. Whiston’s version may contain many inaccuracies, but it often is hard to improve upon for sheer verve of style, and I have not hesitated in several places to adopt his phraseology. In composing the commentary, I have learned much, especially as to bibliography, from the notes of the late Prof. Ralph Marcus in his personal copy of Josephus, which Mrs. Marcus has been kind enough to place at my disposal.

The text, translation, and commentary of this edition were submitted to the printer in September, 1960. Scholarship after this date has elucidated several points in the commentary; for references see my critical bibliography, Scholarship on Philo and Josephus (1937–1962), published this year under the auspices of Yeshiva University.