The High Priests from Joshua's
return from
A list of the High Priest's
Genealogy is found in First Chronicles 6.
From Solomon to the exile
there were 17 high priests according to Josephus
(or, 19 according to another
source.
521-490 - Joshua - the high priest while Zerrubbabel was governor. Zechariah spoke of him in his visions. Discussed in the book of Ezra
490-470 - Joiakim - the
high priest when Ezra read the law and signs the covenant with God in Nehemiah
470-433 - Eliashib - was
closely associated with Tobiah, the
433-410 - Joiada - One of
his sons, Manasseh, married Nicaso, the daughter of Sanballat, governor of
410-371 - Jonathan - (Johanan)
- a wicked man. He murdered his brother in the temple precincts to secure his
position as high priest. Another brother, Manasseh, built the Samaritan temple.
371-320 - Jaddua - Neh.
12:10, 22, the last high priest mentioned in the Old Testament. Served the Persians during their declining years. When
Alexander had defeated
320-280 - Onias I - (son of Jaddua)
280-260 - Simon I "the Just" - (son of Onias I) - described as "the sun shining upon the
temple". President of Sanhedrin, first great rabbi. His teaching
are in the Mishna. Turned people away from Greek culture.
260-245 - Eleazar (son of Onias I) - requested that the Hebrew scriptures
be translated into Greek which produced the Septuagint (LXX)
245-240 - Manasseh (son of Jaddua)
240-218 - Onias II (son of Simon I) - called "a
man of little soul" by Josephus. Did not pat Ptolemy III
the yearly tribute for years which resulted in Ptolemy sending an official to
collect the money. Onias' nephew, Joseph son of Tobias, became the first tax
collector in 227.
218-185 - Simon II - Two parties developed in his
time. Pharisees who held to the traditions of the Jews and
the Hellenizers who embraced Greek culture.
185-175 - Onias III (son of Simon II) - A very good
high priest. Arrested by
Antiochus IV Epiphanes and replaced with Onias III's brother Joshua, who
took the Greek name Jason.
175-172 - Jason (son of Simon II) - Jason offered
to pay Antiochus Ephiphanes for the high priestly
position. Jason promised to build a gymnasium and turn
172-162 - Menelaus - from the tribe of Benjamin.
He purchased the high priesthood from Antiochus IV Ephiphanes.
He was the brother of Simeon the Benjamanite who had
turned in Onias
III to Antiochus Ephiphanes and revealed to him the
existence of the treasure in the
162-159 - Alcimus -
Secured the high priest position when he went to
159-153 -
???? - Some scholars believe
this high priest was the person known among the Essenes
as The Teacher of Righteousness. He would have then left
153-143 - Jonathan Maccabeus Apphus
-
142-134 - Simeon Maccabeus Tassi
-
134-104 - John Hyrcanus I (son
of Simeon Maccabeus) -
104-103 - Aristobulus I (son of John, grandson of the Maccabees) -
103 - 76 - Alexander Jannaeus
(son of John, granson of the Maccabees)
-
76 - 66 - John
Hyrcanus II (son of Alexander, great-grandson of Maccabees) -
66 - 63 - Aristobulus II (son of Alexander, great-grandson of Maccabees)
-
63 - 40 - John
Hyrcanus II - restored to high priest position
40 - 37 - Antigonus (son of Aristobulus, great-great-grandson of Maccabees,
5th generation from Maccabean brothers)
36 - Aristobulus III (6th generation, son of Aristobulus II) -
The last of the Hasmoneans; the brother of Mariamme who was one of Herod's wives.
36 - 30 - Ananelus -
30 - 23 - Joshua
Ben Fabus -
23 - 4 -
Simon Ben Boethus
-
4 - Joazar Ben Boethus -
4 - 3 - Eleazar Ben Boethus -
3 BC-6AD - Joshua Ben Sie -
6 - 15 - Ananus Ben Seth -
15 - 16 - Ishmael Ben Fabus
-
16 - 17 - Eleazer Ben Ananus -
17 - 18 - Simon Ben Camithus
-
18 - 36 - Joseph Caiaphus
-