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Simon son of Boethus

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Simon, son of Boethus (also known as Simon son of Boëthus,[1] Simeon ben Boethus[2] or Shimon ben Boethus[3]) (Hebrew: שמעון בן ביתוס) was a Jewish High priest (ca. 23 – 4 BCE) in the 1st century BCE and father-in-law of Herod the Great.[4] According to Josephus, he was also known by the name Cantheras (Hebrew: קתרוס).[5][6] His family is believed to have been connected to the school of the Boethusians,[7] and a family whose origins are from Alexandria in Egypt.[2]

He succeeded Jesus, son of Fabus and was removed by Herod when his daughter, Mariamne II was implicated in the plot of Antipater against her husband in 4 BCE. As a result, Herod divorced her and removed her father (Simon Boethus) as high priest.[8] Simon's grandson Herod II was removed from the line of succession in Herod's last will.[9]

Starting with Simon, the house of Boethus became very influential in Jerusalem. Even though Simon, himself, was removed from his high priestly position, his son Joazar was appointed to that post soon after. Two other sons also became high priests. According to Stern, "It would thus appear that the three sons of Simeon ben Boethus of Herod’s time, Joazar, Eleazar and Simeon, served at one time or another as high priests".[10]

The members of this family also continued to be influential in Jerusalem up to the time of the great revolt. A passage in the Talmud lists the house of Boethus first among the other families of the high priesthood during these times.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Frederick Fyvie Bruce (1 December 1990). The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text With Introduction and Commentary. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. pp. 94–. ISBN 978-0-8028-0966-7. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  2. ^ a b Shmuel Safrai; M. Stern (1 January 1988). The Jewish People in the First Century, Volume Two: Historical Geography, Political History, Social, Cultural and Religious Life and Institutions. Uitgeverij Van Gorcum. pp. 605–. ISBN 978-90-232-1436-6. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  3. ^ Emily Taitz; Sondra Henry; Cheryl Tallan (1 February 2003). The JPS Guide to Jewish Women: 600 B.C.E.to 1900 C.E. Jewish Publication Society. pp. 30–. ISBN 978-0-8276-0752-1. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  4. ^ James C. VanderKam (2001). Early Judaism. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. pp. 179–. ISBN 978-0-8028-4641-9. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  5. ^ Josephus, Antiquities xix.vi.§ 2
  6. ^ Babylonian Talmud, Pesahim 57a; Tosefta Menahot 13:21
  7. ^ The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion - Adele Berlin, Maxine L. Grossman - 2011 Page 148 Boethusians "The rabbis considered them primarily a religious sect, founded by Boethus, a heretical disciple of the Mishnaic authority ... Other scholars connect the Boethusians with Shimon ben Boethus, high priest in King Herod's time; the family is "
  8. ^ Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book XVII, Chapter 4:2
  9. ^ Geza Vermes (3 August 2006). Who's Who in the Age of Jesus. Penguin Books Limited. pp. 326–. ISBN 978-0-14-193755-7. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  10. ^ M. Stern 1988, The Jewish People in the First Century, Volume Two: Historical Geography, Political History, Social, Cultural and Religious Life and Institutions. p.604
  11. ^ M. Stern 1988, The Jewish People in the First Century, Volume Two: Historical Geography, Political History, Social, Cultural and Religious Life and Institutions. p.604
Jewish titles
Preceded by High Priest of Israel
23 BCE – 4 BCE
Succeeded by