"What confidence is it that elevates you to oppose the Romans? Perhaps it will be said,
it is hard to endure slavery." (Ref. Jose. Pg. 488; Book II, Chap. XVI, Verse IV)

"As to the war with the Romans, if they preserve our lives, we must be slaves! This
famine also will destroy us, even before that slavery comes to us." (Ref. Jose. Pg. 579;
"Wars of the Jews," Book VI, Chap. IV, Verse IV)

"... or prove a conspiracy of our equals (peers), or the corruption of servants (slaves)..."
and, "for a royal family (house) that is at variance with (divided against) itself is a terrible
thing..." (i.e., here he was saying the same thing that is said in Luke; "A house [a
ROYAL house] divided against itself cannot stand."). (Ref. "Ant. Of the Jews," Book
XVI, Chap. IV, Verse III, i.e., page 342. See "A house divided" in Luke 11:17)

"They (the Pharisees) do not take away the freedom from men..." (Ref. Jose. Pg. 376)

"... nor are (the Essenes) desirous to keep servants (slaves)..." (Ref. Jose. Pg. 377)

Josephus quotes King Agrippa's speech to the Pharisees... AGRIPPA: "Had I perceived
that you were all zealously disposed to go to war with the Romans..." "... But because
some are earnest to go to war because they are young, and without experience of the
miseries it brings; and because some are for it, out of an unreasonable expectation of
regaining their liberty, and because others hope to get by it (read "avoid it", meaning
avoid slavery)." This King Agrippa spoke this while Gessius Florus was Procurator in
Judea, in other words circa 64-66 CE. (Ref. Jose. Page 487; Book II, Chap. XVI, Verse
IV)

Benjamin the Egyptian was used as a composite for Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (of
Olives). Note that Antonius Felix was the Roman Procurator at this time (52-60 CE),
which matches perfectly. (Ref. Jose. Page 483; Book II, Chap. XIII, Verse V)

In this instance, it was Benjamin the Egyptian who was the real-life good guy; not
"Jesus". Benjamin the Egyptian was a Pharisee who lived at Alexandria, Egypt - in
other words, an Alexandrian Jew. The reason Josephus calls him a "false prophet" is
because he (Benjamin) told the poor masses that one day they would not have to
endure slavery and that one day they would not have to live under an oppressive
government. But, because the Romans won the war... these things did not come to
pass. (Ref. Jose. Page 422; "Ant. Of the Jews," Book XX, Chap. IX, Verse VI. You
may find this in Acts 21:38)

A statement about Slavery during the war. (Ref. Jose. Pg. 579)

On Slavery as the main issue of the war. (Ref. Jose. Pg. 515) Regarding this, ask
yourself these things; (1) Why doesn't Josephus just say outright who was related
to whom as far as the Pharisees go? And, (2) Why is he so hateful (in his writings)
towards the Jews (Pharisees) if he was supposed to BE one?

Pharisees a) follow "reason" (i.e., are practical, and ethical... not prone to belief in
superstition, etc.), b) they respect their elders, c) they do not take away the freedom
from men (and do not own slaves). (Ref. Jose. Pg. 376)

Essenes were communal and also did not own slaves. (Ref. Jose. Pg. 377)

The "Fourth Sect" of the Jews, but which we know of as the 'Zakaii' and who Josephus
sometimes refers to as the "Sicarii" (and as 'zealots'). They were not murderous
barbarians and 'robbers', but were very much like the Pharisees. The only thing that
they wanted to 'rob' was to 'rob' the Roman empire of slavery. They fought to the
death, sacrificing themselves over the issue of slavery. That is, the leaders themselves.
Whereas, the Pharisees thought more logically about leadership and rallied the masses
under the leadership of generals, whom would also die in battle for the cause. (pg. 377)

The Pharisees were against the institution of slavery. (Ref. Jose. Pg. 487)
Also, pages 488, 600, and 601.

In the opening page of "The Vita" Josephus says that the rulers of the Pharisees were
akin to that of the Stoics. (Ref. Jose. Page 14)

"The Pharisees were in a capacity of greatly opposing Kings." (Ref. Jose. Pg. 358)

"He (Tiberius Caesar) abolished foreign cults at Rome, particularly the Egyptian and
Jewish." (Which, were both one in the same as the Egyptian 'religion'/philosophy at
that time was Judaism at Alexandria in the form of the Pharisees that were there). And,
"Jews of military age were removed (from Rome) to unhealthy regions, on (or 'under')
the pretext of drafting them into the Army; those (Jews) too old or too young to serve -
including non-Jews who had adopted similar beliefs - were expelled from the City (of
Rome) and threatened with slavery (themselves) if they defied the order."* (Ref. Suetonius,
"The Twelve Caesars," under 'Tiberius', pg. 128, Penguin Classics, paperback edition)
*Their sympathies were obviously towards the abolishment of slavery

"Because the Jews at Rome caused continuous disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus,
he (Claudius Caesar)* expelled them from the City (of Rome)." (Ref. Suetonius, "The
Twelve Caesars," under 'Claudius', pg. 197, Penguin Classics, Paperback edition)
*During Claudius' rule, so circa 41-45 CE. Suetonius knew well what the truth was;
however, he was a part of the Roman effort to disguise the truth - otherwise he would
not have been allowed to write his histories for the public.

What Suetonius is really saying here is; a) the basic story for the Gospel of Mark (Ur
Marcus) was already written, and b) the messiah had not yet been named 'Jesus', but
only 'Christ' - after their ancestor Mitheridates Chrestas. And, c) the person who was
playing "Chrestus" or Christ in that original version was instigating trouble with the
Jews on purpose. Additionally, d) Abelard Reuchlin says that this person was Arrius
Piso's grandfather. Also at this time, e) we start seeing several of the members of the
Piso family being executed by Claudius Caesar. Perhaps one of those that he had
killed was the one who was instigating that trouble at Rome. Suetonius' writing about
this f) could be his way of 'honoring' that person who was playing 'Chrestus' in the
original version of the Gospel of Mark back then (circa 41-45 CE).

It was for the reasons stated that the war was being fought, that the New Testament was
brought into being - mainly that all of the sects of the Jews other than the Sadducees were
at odds with the Romans over the issue of slavery. For which, these remaining Jews were
resolved and most determined to put an end to the practice of that institution which
enslaved fellow humans within the Roman empire. But in as much as the Romans needed
to put down the potential for revolt among the slaves themselves, they soon realized that
they had to give them (the slaves) reasons and strength to endure that hardship and
situation of being slaves; even in the face of the prospect of obtaining their freedom
should that ever be offered to them. So, the slaves were given a "philosophy" that they
could not resist, one that would 'raise them up' in their own minds, and promised them
rewards in an afterlife that was eternal. Under the condition that they be subject in all
ways to their masters.

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