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{{Kehuna and Kohanim}}
This article gives a list of the [[High Priest of Israel|high priests]] (''Kohen Gadol'') of [[History of ancient Israel and Judah|ancient Israel]] up to the [[destruction of the Second Temple]] in 70 AD. Because of a lack of historical data, this list is incomplete and there may be gaps.

[[File:Kohanim.jpg|right|thumb|200px|A traditional list of the Jewish High Priests]]
The High Priests, like all Jewish priests, belonged to the [[Kohen|Aaronic line]]. The Bible mentions the majority of high priests before the [[Babylonian captivity]], but does not give a complete list of office holders. Lists would be based on various historical sources. In several periods of [[gentile|non-Jewish]] rule, high priests were appointed and removed by kings, but still most high priests came from the Aaronic line. One exception is [[Menelaus (High Priest)|Menelaus]], who may not have been from the [[Tribe of Levi]] at all, but from the [[Tribe of Benjamin]].

==List==
===From the Exodus to Solomon's Temple===
The following lineage appears in {{bibleverse|1 Chronicles|5:29-31|HE}}:
* [[Aaron]]
* [[Eleazar]], son of Aaron<ref>{{bibleverse|Numbers|20:28|HE}}</ref>
* [[Phinehas]], son of Eleazar
* [[Abishua]], son of Phinehas
** The [[Samaritan]]s insert [[Samaritan High Priest#List of Samaritan High Priests|Sashai]] as the son of Abishua and father of Bukki.<ref>Reinhard Pummer: ''An Update of Moses Gaster’s "Chain of Samaritan High Priests"'', Berlin / Boston 2018, S. 154–172.</ref>
* [[Bukki]], son of Abishua
* [[Uzzi]], son of Bukki
Although Abishua, Bukki and Uzzi are not directly attested as high priests, this portion of the genealogy is assumed by other sources to give the succession of the high priesthood from father to son.

At some time, the office was transferred from descendants of Eleazar to those of his brother Itamar.<ref>According to [[Abu l-Fath]], a Samaritan chronicler writing in the 14th century CE, this transfer was the result of a civil war between the followers of Uzzi and Eli. Samaritans claim descent from the followers of Uzzi, who in this account stayed at [[Mount Gerizim]] while Eli's followers moved to [[Shiloh (biblical city)|Shiloh]]. (Robert T. Anderson and Terry Giles, ''The Keepers, An Introduction to the History and Culture of the Samaritans'', Hendrickson Publishing, 2002, p. 11–12.)</ref> The first known and most notable high priest of Itamar's line was Eli, a contemporary of [[Samuel]].

* [[Eli (biblical figure)|Eli]], descendant of [[Ithamar]], son of Aaron 
* [[Ahitub (High Priest)|Ahitub]], son of Phinehas and grandson of Eli
* [[Ahijah]], son of Ahitub
* [[Ahimelech]], son of Ahijah (or brother of Ahijah and son of Ahitub)
* [[Abiathar]], son of Ahimelech

Abiathar was removed from the high priesthood for conspiring against King [[Solomon]], and was replaced by [[Zadok]], who oversaw the construction of the First Temple. According to the genealogies given in {{bibleverse|1|Chronicles|5:30-34|HE}}, Zadok was a descendant of Uzzi (through Zerahiah, Meraioth, [[Amariah]] and Ahitub) and thus belonged to the line of Eleazar.

===First Temple period===
{{See|Solomon's Temple}}
Priestly lists for this period appear in the Bible, [[Josephus]] and the ''[[Seder Olam Zutta]]'', but with differences. While Josephus and ''Seder 'Olam Zuta'' each mention 18 high priests,<ref>The list in [[Antiquities of the Jews]] 10:151–153 (10.8.6) contains 17 high priests, but Josephus also mentioned the High Priests [[Seraiah]] in 10:149 and [[Jehoiada]] in 9.7.</ref> the genealogy given in {{bibleverse|1|Chronicles|6:3-15|NIV}} gives 12 names, culminating in the last high priest Seriah, father of [[Jehozadak]]. However, it is unclear whether all those mentioned in the genealogy between Zadok and Jehozadak were high priests, and whether high priests mentioned elsewhere (such as Jehoiada and Jehoiarib) are simply omitted or did not belong to the male line in this genealogy.
{| class="wikitable"
!width=25%|'''{{bibleverse|1|Chronicles|6:3-15|HE}} '''<br /><small>(* Also mentioned in [[Book of Ezra|Ezra]] {{Bibleverse-nb||Ezra|7:1–5|NIV}})</small>
!width=13%|'''Josephus'''<ref>[[Antiquities of the Jews]] [https://archive.org/details/L490JosephusVIJewishAntiquities46/page/n255 10:151–153] (10.8.6, in the order: book, chapter and verse.)</ref>
!width=18%|'''Seder Olam Zutta'''
!width=44%|'''Other biblical information'''
 |-
 |-
 | [[Zadok]] || [[Zadok]] || [[Zadok]] – contemporary of [[Solomon|King Solomon]]|| [[Zadok]] was High Priest during the construction of the First Temple.
 |-
 | [[Ahimaaz]] || [[Ahimaaz]] || [[Ahimaaz]] – contemporary of [[Rehoboam|King Rehoboam]]||
 |-
 | [[Azariah (high priest)|Azariah]] || [[Azariah (high priest)|Azariah]] || [[Azariah (high priest)|Azariah]] – contemporary of [[Abijah of Judah|King Abijah]]|| Among the "princes/officials" of King Solomon listed in {{bibleverse|1|Kings|4:2|HE}} "Azariah, son of Zadok, the priest" appears in first place.
 |-
 | Johanan || Joram || - ||
 |-
 | - || Isus (''Yehoshua'') || [[Joash (high priest)|Joash]] – contemporary of [[Jehoshaphat|King Jehoshaphat]]||An Amariah is mentioned in {{bibleverse-lb|2|Chronicles|19:11|HE}} as "the chief priest" under King [[Jehoshaphat]].
 |-
 | - || - || [[Jehoiarib]] – contemporary of [[Jehoram of Judah|King Jehoram]]||
 |-
 | - || - || [[Jehoshaphat (high priest)|Jehoshaphat]] – contemporary of [[Ahaziah of Judah|King Ahaziah]]|| -
 |-
 | - || ''[[Jehoiada]]''<ref>Josephus mentions Jehoiada as high priest in his account of Athaliah's reign (''[[Antiquities of the Jews]]'' 9.7) but not in list of High Priests (''[[Antiquities of the Jews]]'' 10:151–153)</ref> || [[Jehoiada]] – contemporary of [[Jehoash of Judah|King Jehoash]]|| [[Jehoiada]], brother-in-law of King Ahaziah, is mentioned in {{bibleverse|2|Kings|11:4-17|HE}} as a priest leading the coup against Queen-mother [[Athaliah]] and installing [[Jehoash of Judah]] as king of Judah.
 |-
 | - || Axioramos (''Ahiram'') || - || -
 |-
 | - || [[Pediah|Phideas]] || [[Pediah]] – contemporary of [[Jehoash of Judah|King Jehoash]]|| -
 |-
 | - || [[Zedekiah (High Priest)|Sudeas]] || [[Zedekiah (High Priest)|Zedekiah]] – contemporary of [[Amaziah of Judah|King Amaziah]]|| -
 |-
 | Azariah* || Juelus || Joel – contemporary of [[Uzziah|King Uzziah]]|| [[Azariah II]] is mentioned in {{bibleverse-lb|2|Chronicles|26:14-18|HE}} as a "chief priest" opposing King [[Uzziah]]. In {{bibleverse-lb|1|Chronicles|5:36|HE}} Azariah, son of Johanan is singled out as "he it is that executed the priest's office in the house that Solomon built in Jerusalem".
 |-
 | Amariah* || [[Jotham (high priest)|Jotham]] || [[Jotham (high priest)|Jotham]] – contemporary of [[Jotham|King Jotham]]|| -
 |-
 | Ahitub II* || [[Uriah (Book of Kings)|Urias]] || [[Uriah (Book of Kings)|Urijah]] – contemporary of [[Ahaz|King Ahaz]]|| '''Uriah''' is mentioned in {{bibleverse-lb|2|Kings|16:10-16|HE}} as a priest who, on orders of King Ahaz, replaces the altar in the temple with a new, Assyrian-style altar. He is also mentioned as a witness in {{bibleverse-lb||Isaiah|8:2|HE}}.
 |-
 | - || Nerias || Neria – contemporary of [[Hezekiah|King Hezekiah]]|| An '''Azariah''' is mentioned in {{bibleverse-lb|2|Chronicles|31:10|HE}} as "the chief priest, of the house of Zadok" under King [[Hezekiah]].
 |-
 | Zadok II* || [[Hoshaiah (high priest)|Odeas]] || [[Hoshaiah (high priest)|Hoshaiah]] – contemporary of [[Manasseh of Judah|King Manasseh]]|| -
 |-
 | [[Shallum (High Priest)|Shallum]]* || [[Shallum (High Priest)|Shallum]] || [[Shallum (High Priest)|Shallum]] – contemporary of [[Amon of Judah|King Amon]]|| [[Shallum (High Priest)|Shallum]], son of Zadok II.
 |-
 | [[Hilkiah]]* || [[Hilkiah|Elcias]] || [[Hilkiah]] – contemporary of [[Josiah|King Josiah]] and of [[Jehoahaz of Judah|King Jehoahaz]]|| [[Hilkiah]], priest at the time of King Josiah and the discovery of the lost Book of the Law.
 |-
 | [[Azariah IV]]* || [[Azariah IV|Azaros]] || [[Azariah IV]] – contemporary of [[Jehoiakim|King Jehoiakim]]|| [[Azariah IV]], son of Hilkiah ({{Bibleverse|1|Chronicles |6:13|NIV}})
 |-
 | [[Seraiah (high priest)|Seraiah]]* || [[Seraiah (high priest)|Sareas]] || [[Seraiah (high priest)|Seraiah]] – contemporary of [[Jeconiah|King Jeconiah]] and of [[Zedekiah|King Zedekiah]]|| [[Seraiah (high priest)|Seraiah]], son of Azariah IV [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+25%3A18&version=NIVUK (2 Ki 25:18)]
|}

Some name [[Jehozadak]], son of Seriah, as a high priest prior to being sent to captivity in [[Babylonia]], based on the biblical references to "Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest". According to the commentary attributed to [[Rashi]], this is a misreading of the phrase, as "the high priest" does not refer to Jehozadak (who was exiled without having served as high priest), but to his son [[Joshua the High Priest|Joshua]].<ref>{{Alhatorah|1 Chronicles|5:41|Rashi}}</ref>

===After the Babylonian captivity===
{{See|Second Temple}}
The high priests following the exile were:<ref>{{Bibleverse|Nehemiah|12:10-11|HE}}</ref><ref>Dates and contemporaries are taken from [https://books.google.com/books?id=qEhSNN_x8HUC&q=intitle:From+intitle:Joshua+intitle:To+intitle:Caiaphas James C. VanderKam, ''From Joshua to Caiaphas: High Priests After the Exile'', 2004, page 491]</ref>
* [[Joshua (High Priest)|Joshua]], son of Jehozadak, after the building of the Second Temple. Contemporary of [[Cyrus the Great]] (reigned 538–530 BCE) and [[Darius I]] (reigned 522–486 BCE).
* [[Joiakim (High Priest)|Joiakim]], son of Joshua ({{Bibleverse|Nehemiah|12:10|HE}}).
* [[Eliashib (High Priest)|Eliashib]], son of Joiakim (Nehemiah 12:10). Mentioned in the time of [[Nehemiah]] in 444 BCE.
* [[Joiada]], son of Eliashib (Nehemiah 12:10). (A son married a daughter of [[Sanballat the Horonite]], for which he was driven out of the Temple by Nehemiah<ref>{{Bibleverse|Nehemiah|13:28|HE}}</ref>)
* [[Johanan (High Priest)|Johanan]], son of Joiada (Nehemiah 12:11). Mentioned in the [[Elephantine papyri]] in 410 BCE.
* [[Jaddua]], son of Johanan (Nehemiah 12:11). Contemporary of [[Alexander the Great]] (reigned 336–323 BCE). Some have identified him as [[Simeon the Just]].

Moreover, there are some sources in [[Rabbinical Judaism|Rabbinic tradition]] that supports the notion that [[Ezra]] may have served as Kohen Gadol.<ref>{{Cite journal|title = Was Ezra a High Priest?|last1 = Klein|first1 = Reuven Chaim |journal = Jewish Bible Quarterly |year = 2013|volume = 41|issue = 3|pages = 181–187|url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/147829065.pdf | doi=10.17613/M6BJ95}}</ref> 

The chronology given above, based on Josephus, however is not undisputed, with some alternatively placing Jaddua during the time of [[Darius II]] (423–405/4 BC) and some supposing one more Johanan and one more Jaddua in the following time, the latter Jaddua being contemporary of Alexander the Great.

* [[Onias I]], son of Jaddua. Contemporary of [[Areus I]] of Sparta (reigned 309–265 BCE).
* [[Simon I (High Priest)|Simon I]], son of Onias. Josephus identified him as [[Simeon the Just]]<ref>Josephus, ''Antiquities'' 12:2 (43)</ref>
* [[Eleazar (High Priest)|Eleazar]], son of Onias and brother of Simon I. Contemporary of [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus]] of Egypt (reigned 283–246 BCE).
* [[Manasseh (High Priest)|Manasseh]], son of Jaddua, brother of Onias I and uncle of Simon I and Eleazar.
* [[Onias II]], son of Simon I. Contemporary of [[Ptolemy III Euergetes]] of Egypt (reigned 246–221 BCE).
* [[Simon II (High Priest)|Simon II]], son of Onias II. Contemporary of [[Ptolemy IV Philopator]] of Egypt (221–204 BCE).
* [[Onias III]], son of Simon II (?–175 BC), murdered 170 BCE
** [[Onias IV]], son of Onias III, fled to Egypt and in c. 150 BCE built a [[Temple of Onias|Jewish Temple]] at [[Leontopolis]] (closed between 66–73 CE).
* [[Jason (High Priest)|Jason]], son of Simon II, 175–172 BCE (the last of the [[Zadok#The Zadokite dynasty|Zadokite dynasty]]).
* [[Menelaus (High Priest)|Menelaus]], 172–162 BCE
* [[Alcimus]], 162–159 BCE

===Inter-sacerdotium===
It is unknown who held the position of High Priest of Jerusalem between Alcimus' death and the accession of [[Jonathan Apphus]]. Josephus relates that the office was vacant for seven years.<ref>''Antiquities'', [[s:The Antiquities of the Jews/Book XX#Chapter 10|20:10]]</ref> As the [[Yom Kippur Temple service]] requires the high priest, Josephus' account would suggest a seven-year gap in service soon after the restoration of the Temple.

Elsewhere, Josephus suggests that [[Judas Maccabeus]], the brother of Jonathan, held the office for three years, succeeding Alcimus.<ref>[[s:The Antiquities of the Jews/Book XII#Chapter 10|XII.10 §6]], [[s:The Antiquities of the Jews/Book XII#Chapter 11|XII.11 §2]]</ref> However, Judas actually predeceased Alcimus by one year. The nature of Jonathan's accession to the high priesthood makes it unlikely that Judas held that office during the inter-sacerdotium. The ''[[Jewish Encyclopedia]]'' tries to harmonise the contradictions found in Josephus by supposing that Judas held the office "immediately after the consecration of the Temple (165–162), that is, before the election of Alcimus".<ref>[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=672&letter=J&search=Judas%20Maccabaeus#2343 Jewish Encyclopedia: Judas Maccabeus]</ref>

It has been argued that the founder of the [[Qumran]] community, the [[Teacher of Righteousness]], was High Priest (but not necessarily the sole occupant) during the inter-sacerdotium and was driven off by Jonathan.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

===Hasmonean dynasty===
* [[Jonathan Apphus]], 152–143 BCE
* [[Simon Thassi]], brother of Jonathan Apphus, 143–134 BCE
* [[John Hyrcanus I]], son of Simeon Tassi, 134–104 BCE
* [[Aristobulus I]], son of John Hyrcanus, 104–103 BCE
* [[Alexander Jannaeus]], son of John Hyrcanus, 103–76 BCE
* [[John Hyrcanus II]], son of Alexander Jannaeus, 76–66 BCE
* [[Aristobulus II]], son of Alexander Jannaeus, 66–63 BCE
* [[Hyrcanus II]] (restored), 63–40 BCE
* [[Antigonus II Mattathias|Antigonus]], son of Aristobulus II, 40–37 BCE

===Herodian-Roman period===
* [[Ananelus]], 37–36 BCE
* [[Aristobulus III of Judea|Aristobulus III]], grandson of Aristobulus II and Hyrcanus II, 36 BCE (He was the last of the Hasmoneans; brother of Herod's second wife [[Mariamne I]])
* [[Ananelus]] (restored), 36–30 BCE
* [[Jesus, son of Fabus|Joshua ben Fabus]], 30–23 BCE
* [[Simon son of Boethus|Simon ben Boethus]], 23–4 BCE (his daughter [[Mariamne (third wife of Herod)|Mariamne II]] was the third wife of [[Herod the Great]])
* [[Matthias ben Theophilus]], 4 BCE<ref>[https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10488-matthias-ben-theophilus MATTHIAS BEN THEOPHILUS]</ref>
* [[Joazar ben Boethus]], 4 BCE
* [[Eleazar ben Boethus]], 4–3 BCE
* [[Joshua ben Sie]], 3 BCE – ?
* [[Joazar ben Boethus]] (restored), ? – 6 CE
* [[Annas|Ananus ben Seth]], 6–15
* [[Ishmael ben Fabus]] (Phiabi), 15–16
* [[Eleazar ben Ananus]], 16–17
* [[Simon ben Camithus]], 17–18
* [[Caiaphas|Joseph ben Caiaphas]], 18–36 (son-in-law of the high priest Ananus ben Seth)
* [[Jonathan ben Ananus]], 36–37
* [[Theophilus ben Ananus]], 37–41
* [[Simon Cantatheras ben Boethus]], 41–43
* [[Matthias ben Ananus]], 43
* [[Elioneus ben Simon Cantatheras]], 43–44
* [[Jonathan ben Ananus]], 44 (restored)
* [[Josephus ben Camydus]], 44–46
* [[Ananias son of Nedebeus]], 46–58<ref>[[Antiquities of the Jews]] [https://archive.org/details/completeworksofj03jose/page/250 20.5.2]</ref>
* [[Jonathan (High Priest)|Jonathan]], 58<ref>[[Antiquities of the Jews]] [https://archive.org/details/completeworksofj03jose/page/262 20.8.5]</ref>
* [[Ishmael II ben Fabus]], 58–62 (relation to priest of same name from 15–16 CE?)
* [[Joseph Cabi ben Simon]], 62–63
* [[Ananus ben Ananus]], 63
* [[Jesus son of Damneus]], 63
* [[Joshua ben Gamla]], 63–64 (his wife [[Martha daughter of Boethus|Martha]] belonged to family of [[Boethusians|Boethus]])
* [[Mattathias ben Theophilus]], 65–66
* [[Phannias ben Samuel]], 67–70

==See also==
* [[Traditional Jewish chronology#Josephus' enumeration of High Priests during the Second Temple period|Josephus' chain of high priests (from the Second Temple)]]
* [[Samaritan High Priest]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/7689-high-priest Article in the Jewish Encyclopedia]
* {{cite book |last=Génébrard |first=Gilbert |date=1599 |title=Chronographiæ libri quatuor. Priores duo sunt de rebus veteris |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_XggeA7_O46kC |location=Lyon |publisher=Jean Pillehotte |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_XggeA7_O46kC/page/n646 35] |author-link=Gilbert Génébrard |language=Latin}} Seder Olam Zutta chronology 
* {{cite book |last=Meyer |first=John |date=1699 |title=Seder 'Olam sive Chronicon Hebræorum majus et minus |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GSMBai6VC28C&q=Achimaaz+Pontificatu&pg=PP8 |location=Amsterdam |publisher=John Wolters |page=102 |language=Latin}} Seder Olam Zutta chronology

{{High Priests of Judaism}}

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