History of the Jewish Nation

First published in 1856, this work was thought valuable enough to be thoroughly revised and published posthumously in 1895. And this third edition remains a standard history of the Jewish nation for the period beginning with the destruction of Jerusalem and ending early in the fifth century with the extinction of the patriarchate and the final dispersion of the Jews. "It was particularly the object of this History," writes Edersheim, "not only to give an impartial account of facts, but especially to describe the state of society, of trades, commerce, agriculture, arts, sciences, theology etc., during the first centuries of our era."