Bible Encyclopedias
Joseph (High Priest)

The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia

1. Son of Ellem () of Sepphoris; installed by Herod for one day (Yom Kippur) as a substitute for the high priest, who had become unclean (Tosef., Yoma 1:4; Yer. Yoma 1:1; Yer. Hor. 3:3; Hor. 12b; et al.). Josephus, who tells the same story ("Ant." 17:6, § 4), says that "Mattathias, son of Theophilus" (4 B.C.) was the name of the priest for whom he substituted. The Rabbis forbade him afterward to officiate, even as a common priest (Yoma 12b; Hor. 12b). 2. Son of Ḳimḥit (Ḳamḥit); he became a substitute for his brother Ishmael, or Simeon, when the latter had become unclean (Yoma 47a). Josephus ("Ant." 20:5, § 2), calling him "Joseph, son of Kamythus" (Kάμĩθος), speaks of him as having been removed from the high-priesthood by Herod II. 3. Son of Simeon Kabi (61-62 C.E.; Josephus, "Ant." 20:8, § 11); installed in the high-priesthood by Agrippa II. Grätz ("Gesch." 4th ed., 3:739) concludes that this Joseph was the son of Simeon Kamithus. See Ishmael ben Ḳimḥit.