Eliashib ben Joiakim
- ANCIENT SOURCES: see Eliashib (sources)
- SCHOLARLY AND FICTIONAL WORKS: see Category:Eliashib (subject)
Eliashib was the Jewish High Priest, from 470 BCE to 433 BCE.
Overview
Eliashib was a member of the House of Zadok. He ruled as High Priest, from 470 BCE (after his father Joiakim), to 433 BCE (followed by his son JoiadaJoiada). Both the Memoirs of Nehemiah and Josephus located his priesthood at the time of Nehemiah (who according to Ezra-Nehemiah was a contemporaneous of Ezra, while according to Josephus, came after the death of Ezra).
The Memoirs of Nehemiah associated the name of Eliashib to three important events, (a) the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem (Eliashib and his House rebuilt the Sheep Gate); (b) the struggle with the Tobiads (Eliashib had given Tobiah access to the treasure of the Temple); and (c) the Samaritan schism (one the grandchildren of Eliashib was the son-in-law of Shanballat and refused to separate from his wife).