Simeon Son of Onias I

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SIMEON SON OF ONIAS I

SIMEON SON OF ONIAS I (first half of the third century b.c.e.), high priest. He was the grandson of *Jaddua, high priest in the time of Alexander the Great. According to the genealogical list given by Josephus, Simeon's son, *Onias ii, was a minor when his father died, and in consequence Eleazar, the brother of Simeon, and Manasseh, his uncle, filled the office after Simeon. Only subsequently did Onias ii become high priest. Josephus relates in two places that Simeon was called the Just because of his fear of heaven and love of his fellow-Jews (Ant. 12:43, 157). On the trustworthiness of this description see *Simeon the Just.

bibliography:

Schuerer, Gesch, 2 (19074), 419f.; 3 (19094), 217; Klausner, Bayit Sheni, 2 (19512), 163ff.

[Uriel Rappaport]