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The Life of Flavius Josephus

By Flavius Josephus


Introduction

The family from which I am derived is not an ignoble one, but hath descended all along from
the priests; and as nobility among several people is of a different origin, so with us to be of the
sacerdotal dignity, is an indication of the splendor of a family. Now, I am not only sprung from a
sacerdotal family in general, but from the xrst of the twenty-four (1) courses; and as among us
there is not only a considerable difference between one family of each course and another, I am
of the chief family of that xrst course also; nay, further, by my mother I am of the royal blood;
for the children of Asamoneus, from whom that family was derived, had both the ofxce of the
high priesthood, and the dignity of a king, for a long time together. I will accordingly set down
my progenitors in order. My grandfather's father was named Simon, with the addition of Psellus:
he lived at the same time with that son of Simon the high priest, who xrst of all the high priests
was named Hyrcanus.