Jonathan ben Ananus

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Jonathan ben Ananus was the Jewish High Priest from 37 to 36 CE.

Biography

Jonathan was one of the five sons of Annas to take the office of High Priest. In 36 CE the Roman Governor of Syria, Vitellius, removed the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate, who was accused of misconduct, and sent him back to Rome. Vitellius appointed his friend Marcellus to take care of affairs in Judea. He also deposed the powerful High Priest Caiaphas and replaced him with his brother-in-law Jonathan. One year later, while visiting Jerusalem, Vitellius replaced Jonathan with his brother Theophilus.

Jonathan in ancient sources

Josephus, Jewish Antiquites

Ant XVIII 4:3 -- [[[Vitellius]]] deprived Joseph, who was also called Caiaphas, of the high priesthood, and appointed Jonathan the son of Ananus, the former high priest, to succeed him.

Ant XVIII 5:3 -- [[[Vitellius]]] with Herod the tetrarch and his friends, went up to Jerusalem to offer sacrifice to God, an ancient festival of the Jews being then just approaching... he made a stay there for three days, within which time he deprived Jonathan of the high priesthood, and gave it to his brother Theophilus. But when on the fourth day letters came to him, which informed him of the death of Tiberius...

Jonathan in Scholarship

Jonathan in Fiction

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