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Eleazar's speech at Masada, in Josephus

set in c. 73–74 CE, Masada. Eleazar speaking, as Josephus writes it.

Where and when

set in c. 73–74 CEMasada

about 1,952.5 years ago

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Josephus

, MasadaEleazar speaking, as Josephus writes it

In plain words, ours

Friends, long ago we resolved to serve no one, not the Romans, only God, the one true Lord. Now the time has come to live up to that.

Since we, long ago, my generous friends, resolved never to be servants to the Romans, nor to any other than to God himself, who alone is the true and just Lord of mankind, the time is now come that obliges us to make that resolution true in practice.

Josephus, The Jewish War 7.320Translated by William Whiston (1737)Read the full passage (Josephus, The Jewish War 7.320, opens scaife.perseus.org)

What was going on, our summary

Masada, around 73–74 CE; its fall ended the revolt. Josephus writes that the defenders' wall had burned down, and that Eleazar gathered his bravest companions and urged that all of them be slain rather than be taken. This opens his speech.

Checked claim by claim against: Masada falls, ending the Jewish revolt, the passage around the quote.

Why it matters

In modern Israel, the defenders' choice of death over slavery came to symbolize the courage of the warriors of Masada.

Based on Wikipedia: Siege of Masada

To Israel, it symbolized the courage of the warriors of Masada, the strength they showed when they were able to keep hold of Masada for almost three years, and their choice of death over slavery in their struggle against an aggressive empire.

Wikipedia, Siege of Masada (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2026-09-25. Text CC BY-SA 4.0. Our line is checked against these sentences only.

Related moments

In time order, with this one in its place. Each says why it is here.

  1. 69 CEabout 4.5 years earlier Four emperors in one year Same years
  2. 70 CEabout 3.5 years earlier Titus takes Jerusalem and the Temple burns Same years
  3. c. 73–74 CEDuring it Masada falls, ending the Jewish revolt The event behind itAlso in Masada
  4. c. 71–75 CEDuring it Josephus on the Temple spoils in Rome More from Josephus
  5. set in c. 73–74 CEThis momentEleazar's speech at Masada, in Josephus
  6. set in c. 73–74 CEDuring it Eleazar's speech at Masada, per Josephus Same passageMore from Josephus
  7. set in c. 73–74 CEDuring it Josephus on the Romans entering Masada More from Josephus

Just before and after

The text around the quote, word for word from the same translation.

Show the passageHide the passage

However, neither did Eleazar once think of flying away, nor would he permit any one else to do so; but when he saw their wall burned down by the fire, and could devise no other way of escaping, or room for their further courage, and setting before their eyes what the Romans would do to them, their children, and their wives, if they got them into their power, he consulted about having them all slain. Now as he judged this to be the best thing they could do in their present circumstances, he gathered the most courageous of his companions together, and encouraged them to take that course by a speech which he made to them in the manner following:

The quote: Since we, long ago, my generous friends, resolved never to be servants to the Romans, nor to any other than to God himself, who alone is the true and just Lord of mankind, the time is now come that obliges us to make that resolution true in practice.

And let us not at this time bring a reproach upon ourselves for self-contradiction, while we formerly would not undergo slavery, though it were then without danger, but must now, together with slavery, choose such punishments also as are intolerable; I mean this, upon the supposition that the Romans once reduce us under their power while we are alive.

Josephus, The Jewish War 7.320Translated by William Whiston (1737)Read the full passage (opens scaife.perseus.org)

When, and whose words

Date
set in c. 73–74 CE. Set at the fall of Masada, usually dated 73 or 74 CE; Josephus wrote it in the 70s CE.
Whose words
Eleazar speaking, as Josephus writes it.
How this post was checked
  • The plain-words line was read against the quote alone by a second, independent pass, which found it adds no claim the quote does not make (2026-10-03).
  • Each claim in the summary was checked by an independent pass against only the material it cites.
  • The quote itself is checked by the build: word for word, once, at the cited section of the stored translation.

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