Joazar ben Boethus

Joazar ben Boethus is attested in genealogical and chronological lists of Jewish high priests as a scion of the Boethus family who attained the office of High Priest in the late Herodian / early Roman period. Sources place him as the son of Simon (Simeon) ben Boethus and record that he served as High Priest around 4 BCE and into the early first century CE; at least one source states he was High Priest twice. He is also reported to have married into priestly families (one source says he married the sister of the High Priest Matthias), consistent with elite family strategies that influenced high-priestly appointments.

No physical description of Joazar ben Boethus is provided in the supplied sources. He is identified only by name, patronymic, and office.

The sources attribute civic and religious capacities to Joazar as High Priest: performing the duties of the high-priestly office and acting as a leader within the priestly caste. He is described in at least one source as unpopular and as an advocate of compliance with the Census of Quirinius, indicating political positions and administrative alignment in Roman-era matters. The sources do not enumerate liturgical acts or extraordinary powers beyond those inherent to the high-priestly office.