Simon II (High Priest)

Simon II (219–199 BCE) was a Jewish High Priest during the time of the Second Temple . He was the son of Onias II . Some identify him with Simeon the Just . He is also mentioned in 3 Maccabees , chapter 2. v t e

Simon II depicted from Hartmann Schedel 's Nuremberg Chronicles (1493) Simon II (219–199 or 196 BCE ) was a Jewish High Priest during the Second Temple period . He was the son of Onias II . Some writers identify him with Simeon the Just . Simon is praised at length by Jesus son of Eleazar, son of Sirach of Jerusalem , also known as Ben Sira , in chapter 50 of the Book of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) in a hymn of Hebrew parallel verse: The leader of his brothers and the pride of his people was the high priest, Simon son of Onias, who in his life repaired the house, and in his time fortified the temple. He laid the foundations for the high double walls, the high retaining walls for the temple enclosure. In his days a water cistern was dug, a reservoir like the sea in circumference. He considered how to save his people from ruin, and fortified the city against siege. How glorious he was, surrounded by the people, as he came out of the house of the curtain. Like the morning star upon the clouds, like the full moon at the festal season, like the sun shining on the temple of the Most High, like the rainbow gleaming in splendid clouds..." ( Ben Sira/Sirach 50:1-7, New Revised Standard Version ) The chapter goes on to describe a festival led by the High Priest Simon II and the celebrations of the people of Jerusalem. Ben Sira was a contemporary of Simon II, and this description of him comes after a long versified walk through the traditions and revered ancestors of the Jewish people (Sirach 44-49). He is the last leader or ancestor mentioned, and clearly was highly revered by Ben Sira. Simon is also mentioned in 3 Maccabees , chapter 2. The Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach , in Barton, J. and Muddiman, J.

High Priest of Israel Simon II depicted in Hartmann Schedel 's Nuremberg Chronicle (1493) Simon II was a High Priest of Israel during the Second Temple period . He was the son of Onias II , and was probably succeeded by Onias III . There are two main sources that discuss Simon II: the Book of Sirach (also known as Ecclesiasticus) and possibly 3 Maccabees . Based on the Book of Sirach, Simon II was active at some point in the 190s BCE. If the reference to a High Priest Simon in 3 Maccabees is to the same person, then he was also active as High Priest in the 210s BCE as well. Collins estimates his reign as 219–196 BCE for example, while Elias Bickerman suggests only that he served c. 190 BCE . He was possibly the same person as Simon the Just , although the historian Josephus thought this referred to Simon I instead. In Barton, John ; Muddiman, John (eds.). The Oxford Bible Commentary (Online ed.).