Key Events in the History of the Priesthood
In addition to their ceremonial role, priests played important political roles throughout the Second Temple period. While Judaea was under Seleucid and, later, Roman rule, struggles over the high priesthood often involved Greek and Roman rulers, who usually had the final say in who held the office. During the reign of the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175–164 BCE), the high priest Onias III was challenged by his brother Jason, who appealed to Antiochus with an offer of a large sum of money. Antiochus deposed Onias and installed Jason but later replaced him with Menelaus. Eventually, Antiochus’ decrees outlawing Jewish practice and his desecration of the Temple led to the Hasmonean revolt and the rise to power of the Hasmonean family, the only leaders to rule Judaea as both high priests and kings (see The Hasmonean Revolt and The Rise and Decline of the Hasmonean Dynasty).
The Hasmonean monarchy came to an end after conflict between the brothers Aristobulus II and Hyrcanus II led both parties to appeal to Pompey, precipitating the conquest of Judaea by Rome. Pompey ultimately deposed Aristobulus and appointed Hyrcanus high priest but not king, placing Judaea under direct control of a Roman governor (see Roman Conquest of Judaea). Hyrcanus’ family continued to hold the high priesthood until Herod the Great, appointed client king over Judaea by Julius Caesar, deposed Hyrcanus’ grandson Aristobulus III and began appointing high priests of his own choosing (see Herod the Great).
Although they no longer reigned as monarchs, priests continued to exercise power. Josephus writes often of the role of high-ranking priests in the politics leading up to the First Jewish Revolt. Priests interacted regularly with both the Roman procurator Gessius Florus and the Jewish client king Agrippa II. Some priests worked with other political leaders to try to quiet rebellious elements and forestall revolt. Yet a decision by Eleazar, son of the high priest Ananias, not to accept sacrifices by or on behalf of foreigners is cited by Josephus as one of the causes of the war with Rome that culminated in the Temple’s destruction (see The First Jewish Revolt, 66–73 CE).