Boethus (family)

The family of Boethos (or Boethus) produced many High Priests of Israel. They may have been related to the Boethusians.

• Simon, son of Boethus from Alexandria,^[1] was made a high priest about 25 BCE by Herod the Great, in order that his marriage with Boethus's daughter, Mariamne, might not be regarded as a mésalliance, a marriage with a person thought to be unsuitable or of a lower social position.^[2]
• Joazar, son of Simon Boethus^[3] (4 BCE and before 6 CE), unpopular and an advocate of compliance with the Census of Quirinius^[4]

Jewish titles
Preceded by Matthias ben Theophilus	High Priest of Israel 4 BCE	Succeeded by Eleazar ben Boethus
Preceded by Joshua ben Sie	High Priest of Israel ? - 6 CE	Succeeded by Annas

• Eleazar, son of Simon Boethus^[5] (4-3 BCE)^[6] independently attested in the Mandaean Book of John.

Jewish titles
Preceded by Joazar ben Boethus	High Priest of Israel 4-3 BCE	Succeeded by Joshua ben Sie

• Simon Cantheras, son of Simon Boethus^[7] (41-42 CE)^[8]

Jewish titles
Preceded by Theophilus ben Ananus	High Priest of Israel 41-43 CE	Succeeded by Matthias ben Ananus

• Elioneus, son of Simon Cantheras^[9][10]

Jewish titles
Preceded by Matthias ben Ananus	High Priest of Israel 43-44 CE	Succeeded by Jonathan ben Ananus

• Joshua ben Gamla (64 CE), whose wife Martha, daughter of Simon Boethus,^[11] belonged to the house^[12]

The hatred of the Pharisees toward this high-priestly family is shown by the words of the tanna Abba Saul ben Batnit, who lived about the year 40 CE at Jerusalem.^[13] "The house of Boethus" heads the list of the wicked and sinful priestly families enumerated by Abba.