The High Priests from Joshua's return from Babylon and 70 AD generationword.com

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 Transjordan governor, and gave him a large room in the temple courts (Neh. 13:4, also Neh. 12:10, 22; 3:1, 20-21; 13:28). His home was on the north side of Jerusalem between two groups of working groups on the wall. He had a large house and helped build the wall.

433-410 - Joiada - One of his sons, Manasseh, married Nicaso, the daughter of Sanballat, governor of Samaria (Neh. 13:28). Nehemiah drove his son, Manasseh, from the temple (Neh. 13:28) Manasseh went over to Samaria and built a temple on Mt. Gerizim and was supported by Sanballat's money. Jesus spoke to the woman at the well in John 4 concerning this place of worship. (John 4:19)

410-371 - Jonathan - (Johanan) - a wicked man. He murdered his brother, Jesus, in the temple precincts to secure his position as high priest. Artaxerxes II's general, Bagoses, had promised the high priesthood to Jesus who fought Jonathan in the temple but was killed. General Bagoses forbid Johanan to enter the temple and commanded the Jews be charged a tribute and the temple dismantled. Another brother, Manasseh, built the Samaritan temple.

371-320 - Jaddua - Neh. 12:11, 22, the last high priest mentioned in the Old Testament. Served the Persians during their declining years. When Alexander had defeated Tyre and drove Darius Codomanus back east, Jaddua was convinced Alexander the Great was the goat prophecied by Daniel. When Alexander approached Jerusalem, Jaddua went out to meet him, not with an army, but dressed as a priest and carrying the scrolls of prophecy concerning Alexander's coming.

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. Also described as covetous with limited intelligence. Did not pay 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 BC.

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. Murdered by Antiochus Ephiphanes while he was held in prison.

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 Jerusalem into a Greek-styled polis (city) and call it Antioch. Jason sent Menelaus to deliver money to Antiochus, but Menelaus outbid Jason's offer for the priesthood. Jason's tomb has been found in a neighborhood of Jerusalem. It sits in a courtyard with a single Doric column at the entrance and is topped with a pyramid-shaped roof. There are drawings and inscriptions on the walls of the tomb.

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 Temple in Jerusalem.

162-159 - Alcimus - Secured the high priest position when he went to Antioch to speak with Demetrius I Soter. Alcimus was a Hellenizers and opposed the Maccabees. Alcimus arrived in Jerusalem with an Seleucid army to secure his position as high priest. Judas Maccabeus drove Alcimus from Jerusalem but he returned with another army led by Nicanor which was defeated.

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 Jerusalem to live in the wilderness. Having abandoned the temple the priestly work and rituals would have been adapted and continued in the wilderness.

*****************

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 -