Page 57 - Bible Geography and Near East Studies

Though there must have been some members of the A partial list of people
Sanhedrin who were godly men, the highest echelon of
leadership had become very corrupt by the time Jesus lived. executed by Herod the Great
The office of high priest was no longer reserved for the most • His father’s assassin Malichus
• John Hyrcanus II, high priest and past king
pious man in Jewish life. Instead, it was a political reward for of Judea, grandfather of his wife Miriamne
the man who could best help Rome keep the peace and • Alexandra, mother of his wife Miriamne
continue Israel’s good standing inside the empire. In • Aristobulus IV, high priest, son of Alexandra
exchange, the high priest and his circle of leadership were and brother of Miriamne
extremely well paid. Archaeological discoveries of priestly • Antipater II, his first-born son
homes near the Temple show evidence that these men lived • Miriamne, his favorite wife
• Alexander, his oldest son by Miriamne
in extravagant wealth. • Aristobulus III, his son by Miriamne
• Joseph, his uncle and sister’s first husband
In such an environment of corruption, it was also terribly • Costobarus, his sister’s second husband
difficult to keep the top position.
Herod died shortly after Jesus was born, but
In the account of Jesus’ crucifixion, for instance, two high not before trying to kill Jesus also. According
to Matthew 2:16-18, Herod realized he’d been
priests are named. Annas served nine years (6-15 AD) before outwitted by the magi, who had intentionally
being relieved of his duties by the Romans. Nevertheless, he not told Herod whether or not the new “King of
held great influence for many years. Caiaphas, his son-in-law, the Jews” had been found in Bethlehem.
ruled 18 years (18-36). Five of Annas’ sons also served as high Herod ordered the death of every male child
priest, but only for 11 years in total. In the years after under 2 in Bethlehem and the surrounding
Caiaphas, the office was practically renewed on an annual villages.
basis. A few high priests ruled only for a few months. One
ruled only for one day! The information in the Gospels dealing with “two” high priests, therefore, is far
from unusual. It simply means that one of the former high priests still wielded a lot of power and
influence.

Before Jesus was born, Herod the Great arranged for the murder of two high priests. The most famous
case deals with the death of the popular brother-in-law of his wife, Miriam. Josephus the historian tells
us that Aristobulus III “accidentally” drowned while “playing” in one of Herod’s swimming pools at
Jericho. Few around Herod were fooled. Herod promptly named a new high priest who wasn’t a threat
to his rule. John the Baptist was particularly infuriated with the corruption of the priesthood. Preaching
at a relatively safe distance from Jerusalem, he referred to the Pharisees and Sadducees as a “brood of
vipers” and warned them of coming judgment (Matthew 3:7-10). When John was preaching near
Jericho, as he was when Jesus was baptized, he was very near the Qumran community. Famous for
giving us the Dead Sea Scrolls, many of the men at Qumran were former priests who had walked away
from the corruption in Jerusalem. They were living between the Dead Sea and the Judean Wilderness,
hoping their commitment to a life of poverty and holiness would hasten the coming of the Messiah. One
of their favorite passages was from the prophet Isaiah:

“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.” (Isaiah 40:3)

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