The Life of Flavius Josephus.

by Flavius Josephus




Translated by William Whiston




1. 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 first 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
first 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 office 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 first of all the
high priests was named Hyrcanus. This Simon Psellus had nine
sons, one of whom was Matthias, called Ephlias: he married the
daughter of Jonathan the high priest, which Jonathan was the