JOSHUA BEN DAMNAI

JOSHUA BEN DAMNAI, high priest in 62–63 C.E. Joshua was appointed to succeed Anan b. anan after the latter had been deposed by Agrippa II at the request of Albinus, because of the execution of James, brother of Jesus (cf. Jos., Ant., 20:200–3). These were the days immediately preceding the Roman War when the anarchy which prevailed in Jerusalem began to assume major proportions. The high priesthood ceased to be a purely religious office, becoming more and more a position of power contested among influential members of the priestly families, of whom Joshua b. Damnai was one. When the high priesthood was taken from him and given to joshua b. gamla , street fighting broke out between their followers (Jos., Ant., 20:213). -BIBLIOGRAPHY: Klausner, Bayit Sheni, 5 (19512), 22–23. (Abraham Schalit)