Category:Phannias ben Samuel (subject)
Phannias ben Samuel (Phanasus, Phanni) was the last Jewish High Priest in 68?-70 during the Jewish War.
Overview
Phannias ben Samuel was appointed High Priest by lot by the Zealots who had taken control of the Temple, succeeding Mattathias ben Theophilus.
The appointment of a new high priest intended to signal the complete independence of the Temple from any external authority, in particular from Herod Agrippa II who had sided with the Romans. The decision to choose the high priest by lot, however, represented a dramatic tear also with the moderate leadership of the revolt, led by the former high priests Ananus ben Ananus of the House of Annas and Joshua ben Gamaliel of the House of Boethus. According to Josephus, who voiced the traditional priestly point of view, Phannias was not from high-priestly stock and was completely unqualified and unprepared for the office. Phannias was indeed an Aaronite and then formally eligible for the office; the problem was that his election "disannulled the succession, according to those families out of which the high priests used to be made."
Phannias was removed from office and probably perished when Jerusalem fell and the Temple was destroyed in 70 CE.
Phannias ben Samuel in ancient sources
Phannias ben Samuel in scholarship
References
- From Joshua to Caiaphas (2004 VanderKam), book / pp.487-490
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External links
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