Silas of Babylon

Also known as: Silas · Family: Jewish · Role: former soldier in Agrippa's army · First appears: Book II, Chapter 19

In Book II, Chapter 19, Silas of Babylon had deserted from Agrippa, having formerly served in his army, and joined the Jews. By Book III, Chapter 2, he was one of three leaders of a Jewish excursion, alongside Niger and John the Essene, noted for their strength and sagacity.

At Ascalon, Silas led the Jewish force against Antonius, whose cavalry defeated them. The battle lasted until evening, when Silas and John the Essene were killed among the Jewish dead, while Niger was wounded and fled with the surviving forces.

Relationship record

Life events

• Antonius defeated the Jewish force, killing Silas of Babylon and John the Essene and wounding Niger.(Book III, Chapter 2 · 📍 Ascalon)
  • With: Antonius John the Essene Niger
  • “the fight lasted till the evening, till ten thousand men of the Jews' side lay dead, with two of their generals, John and Silas, and the greater part of the remainder were wounded, with Niger, their remaining general, who fled away together to a small city of Idumea, called Sallis.”

Book II, Chapter 19

• employer: Agrippa (the present king) (Silas had formerly served in Agrippa's army.) “Silas of Babylon, who had deserted from king Agrippa to the Jews; for he had formerly served in his army.”
• with Agrippa (the present king) (Silas had formerly served in Agrippa's army and later deserted to the Jews.) “Niger of Perea, and Silas of Babylon, who had deserted from king Agrippa to the Jews; for he had formerly served in his army”

Book III, Chapter 2

• with Niger (Co-leaders of the Jewish expedition) “This excursion was led on by three men, who were the chief of them all, both for strength and sagacity; Niger, called the Persite, Silas of Babylon, and besides them John the Essene.”
• with John the Essene (Co-leaders of the Jewish expedition) “This excursion was led on by three men, who were the chief of them all, both for strength and sagacity; Niger, called the Persite, Silas of Babylon, and besides them John the Essene.”
• enemies with Antonius (Antonius commanded the Roman forces that defeated the Jewish generals.) “Antonius, who was not unapprized of the attack they were going to make upon the city, drew out his horsemen beforehand, and being neither daunted at the multitude, nor at the courage of the enemy, received their first attacks with great bravery; and when they crowded to the very walls, he beat them off. Now the Jews were unskillful in war, but were to fight with those who were skillful therein; they were footmen to fight with horsemen; they were in disorder, to fight those that were united together; they were poorly armed, to fight those that were completely so; they were to fight more by their rage than by sober counsel, and were exposed to soldiers that were exactly obedient; and did every thing they were bidden upon the least intimation. So they were easily beaten; for as soon as ever their first ranks were once in disorder, they were put to flight by the enemy's cavalry, and those of them that came behind such as crowded to the wall fell upon their own party's weapons, and became one another's enemies; and this so long till they were all forced to give way to the attacks of the horsemen, and were dispersed all the plain over, which plain was wide, and all fit for the horsemen; which circumstance was very commodious for the Romans, and occasioned the slaughter of the greatest number of the Jews; for such as ran away, they could overrun them, and make them turn back; and when they had brought them back after their flight, and driven them together, they ran them through, and slew a vast number of them, insomuch that others encompassed others of them, and drove them before them whithersoever they turned themselves, and slew them easily with their arrows; and the great number there were of the Jews seemed a solitude to themselves, by reason of the distress they were in, while the Romans had such good success with their small number, that they seemed to themselves to be the greater multitude. And as the former strove zealously under their misfortunes, out of the shame of a sudden flight, and hopes of the change in their success, so did the latter feel no weariness by reason of their good fortune; insomuch that the fight lasted till the evening, till ten thousand men of the Jews' side lay dead, with two of their generals, John and Silas, and the greater part of the remainder were wounded, with Niger, their remaining general, who fled away together to a small city of Idumea, called Sallis.”

⭐ Constellation map → · 📖 Read the original → · 🗂 Character index → · 🕰 Chronicle → · 📍 Places →

Extracted from the original text of The Wars of the Jews; Or, The History of the Destruction of Jerusalem. Made with Rho MD.