Niger

Also known as: the Peraite / the Persite · Family: Jewish · Role: governor of Idumea · First appears: Book II, Chapter 20

Niger, the Peraite and Persite, was the Jewish governor of Idumea, from a family of Perea beyond the Jordan. In Book II, Chapter 20, rebel authorities appointed Jesus the son of Sapphias and Eleazar the son of Ananias as commanders over Idumea and required Niger, “the then governor of Idumea,” to obey them.

In Book III, Chapter 2, Niger led an excursion with Silas of Babylon and John the Essene, who were described as the chief leaders for strength and sagacity. At Ascalon, Antonius defeated them: Silas of Babylon and John the Essene were killed, while Niger was wounded and fled to Sallis. After Antonius ambushed a renewed Jewish assault, Niger fled with the survivors into a tower at Bezedeh, leaped into a subterranean cave, survived its burning, and on the third day spoke out from beneath the ground, restoring Jewish confidence.

Relationship record

Life events

• Rebel authorities appointed commanders over Idumea, Jericho, Perea, Gophnitica, Acrabattene, and Galilee.(Book II, Chapter 20)
  • With: Jesus the son of Sapphias Eleazar the son of Ananias Joseph the son of Simon John the son of Matthias Josephus
  • “They also chose other generals for Idumea; Jesus, the son of Sapphias, one of the high priests; and Eleazar, the son of Ananias, the high priest; they also enjoined Niger, the then governor of Idumea, 32 who was of a family that belonged to Perea, beyond Jordan, and was thence called the Peraite, that he should be obedient to those fore-named commanders. Nor did they neglect the care of other parts of the country; but Joseph the son of Simon was sent as general to Jericho, as was Manasseh to Perea, and John, the Esscue, to the toparchy of Thamna; Lydda was also added to his portion, and Joppa, and Emmaus. But John, the son of Matthias, was made governor of the toparchies of Gophnitica and Acrabattene; as was Josephus, the son of Matthias, of both the Galilees. Gamala also, which was the strongest city in those parts, was put under his command.”
• Antonius defeated the Jewish force, killing Silas of Babylon and John the Essene and wounding Niger.(Book III, Chapter 2 · 📍 Ascalon)
  • With: Antonius Silas of Babylon John the Essene
  • “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.”
• Antonius ambushed the renewed Jewish assault, killing over eight thousand and driving Niger into a tower at Bezedeh.(Book III, Chapter 2 · 📍 Ascalon)
  • With: Antonius
  • “for Antonius laid ambushes for them in the passages they were to go through, where they fell into snares unexpectedly, and where they were encompassed about with horsemen, before they could form themselves into a regular body for fighting, and were above eight thousand of them slain; so all the rest of them ran away, and with them Niger”
• Niger survived the burning tower and emerged from a subterranean cave, restoring Jewish confidence.(Book III, Chapter 2 · 📍 Bezedeh)
  • With: Antonius
  • “but he leaped out of the tower into a subterraneous cave, in the innermost part of it, and was preserved; and on the third day afterward he spake out of the ground”

Book II, Chapter 20

• employer: Jesus the son of Sapphias “they also enjoined Niger, the then governor of Idumea, 32 who was of a family that belonged to Perea, beyond Jordan, and was thence called the Peraite, that he should be obedient to those fore-named commanders.”
• employer: Eleazar the son of Ananias “they also enjoined Niger, the then governor of Idumea, 32 who was of a family that belonged to Perea, beyond Jordan, and was thence called the Peraite, that he should be obedient to those fore-named commanders.”

Book III, Chapter 2

• with Silas of Babylon (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.”

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