Simon, son of Boethus (also known as Simon son of Boëthus, Simeon ben Boethus or Shimon ben Boethus) () was a Jewish High priest (ca. 23 – 4 BCE) in the 1st century BCE and father-in-law of Herod the Great. According to Josephus, he was also known by the name Cantheras ().Josephus, Antiquities xix.vi.§ 2Babylonian Talmud, Pesahim 57a; Tosefta Menahot 13:21 His family is believed to have been connected to the school of the Boethusians,The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion - Adele Berlin, Maxine L. Grossman - 2011 Page 148 Boethusians "The rabbis considered them primarily a religious sect, founded by Boethus, a heretical disciple of the Mishnaic authority ... Other scholars connect the Boethusians with Shimon ben Boethus, high priest in King Herod's time; the family is " and a family whose origins are from Alexandria in Egypt.
He succeeded Jesus, son of Fabus and was removed by Herod when his daughter, Mariamne II was implicated in the plot of Antipater against her husband in 4 BCE. As a result, Herod divorced her and removed her father (Simon Boethus) as high priest.Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book XVII, Chapter 4:2 Simon's grandson Herod II was removed from the line of succession in Herod's last will.
Starting with Simon, the house of Boethus became very influential in Jerusalem. Even though Simon, himself, was removed from his high priestly position, his son Joazar was appointed to that post soon after. Three other sons and a son-in-law also became high priests. According to Stern, "It would thus appear that the three sons of Simeon ben Boethus of Herod’s time, Joazar, Eleazar and Simeon, served at one time or another as high priests".M. Stern 1988, The Jewish People in the First Century, Volume Two: Historical Geography, Political History, Social, Cultural and Religious Life and Institutions. p.604
The members of this family also continued to be influential in Jerusalem up to the time of the great revolt. A passage in the Talmud lists the house of Boethus first among the other families of the high priesthood during these times.
See also Boethus (family) Simon son of Joseph
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