The Hidden Years

The story of the Jews from the return under Cyrus to the appearance of Jesus based on the writings of Flavius Josephus.

Most Christians know the basic stories from the Bible, but have no idea what happened between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament. Fortunately, Flavius Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, recorded a full history of the Jews from the Creation to the destruction of the Jewish nation in Antiquities of the Jews and The Wars of the Jews, the latter of which he was an eyewitness to. In his writings, extra information to the Bible stories is often added which enriches our understanding of the Bible.

While it is possible to read Josephus' writings from cover to cover, most translations of his work are very cumbersome and difficult to understand due to the outdated language used, much like the King James Version of the Bible can be difficult to understand in today's language. In this book, the history of Josephus has been condensed and paraphrased to make it easy to understand. Interspersed among his stories are Biblical passages that provide necessary context, correction, or clarity to the stories. Also included are some excerpts from ancient authors that provide a more continuous narrative.

Within The Hidden Years you will read the familiar stories of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther, herein set as contemporaries. You will read the thrilling account of the Maccabean Revolt and the persecutions under Antiochus Epiphanes IV, leading to Jewish independence under the Hasmonean family. You will learn how the Septuagint was created and how the different sects of Judaism (the Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots, and Essenes) began. And you will read the incredible story of Herod the Great, a most complex individual who could be both magnanimous and cruel.

Enjoy the adventure!