The family of Boethos (or Boethus) produced many High Priests of Israel. They may have been related to the Boethusians.
- Simon, son of Boethus from Alexandria, was made a high priest about 25 BCE by Herod the Great, in order that his marriage with Boethus's daughter, Mariamne, might not be regarded as a mésalliance, a marriage with a person thought to be unsuitable or of a lower social position.
- Joazar, son of Boethus (4 BCE and before 6 CE), unpopular and an advocate of compliance with the Census of Quirinius
| Jewish titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byMatthias ben Theophilus | High Priest of Israel 4 BCE |
Succeeded byEleazar ben Boethus |
| Preceded byJoshua ben Sie | High Priest of Israel ? - 6 CE |
Succeeded byAnnas |
- Eleazar, son of Boethus (4-3 BCE) independently attested in the Mandaean Book of John.
| Jewish titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byJoazar ben Boethus | High Priest of Israel 4-3 BCE |
Succeeded byJoshua ben Sie |
- Simon Cantheras, son of Boethus (41-42 CE)
| Jewish titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byTheophilus ben Ananus | High Priest of Israel 41-43 CE |
Succeeded byMatthias ben Ananus |
- Elioneus, son of Simon Cantheras
| Jewish titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byMatthias ben Ananus | High Priest of Israel 43-44 CE |
Succeeded byJonathan ben Ananus |
- Joshua ben Gamla (64 CE), whose wife Martha belonged to the house
The hatred of the Pharisees toward this high-priestly family is shown by the words of the tanna Abba Saul ben Batnit, who lived about the year 40 CE at Jerusalem. "The house of Boethus" heads the list of the wicked and sinful priestly families enumerated by Abba.
References
- Josephus, "Antiquitates", 15:9§3; 19:6§2.
- Josephus, "Antiquitates", 18:1§1.
- Josephus, "Antiquitates", 17:13§1
- Josephus, "Antiquitates", 19:6§2.
- Josephus, "Antiquitates", xix. 8, § 1.
- Yevamot 6:4
- Pesachim 57a; Tosefta, Menachot 12:23