IX. JONATHAN, or Johanan, or John, High Priest of the Jews, the son of Jehoiada and father of Jeddoa or Jaddus, celebrated in the time of Alexander the Great. See Neb. xii. 10, 11, 22. He lived under Ezra and Nehemiah. Josephus, Antiq. l. xi, c. 7.and after him Eusebius and S. Jerom, call him John instead of Jonathan, and say that he lived in the reign of Artaxerxes. Josephus relates a particular which casts a great blemish upon the memory of Jonathan. Joshua or Jesus his brother was so much in the favour of Bagoses, Governor of Syria and Phænicia under the king of Persia, that he obtained from him the office of High Priest, to the exclusion of his brother Jonathan, who was then possessed of it, and had injoyed it many years. Jesus came to Jerusalem, to take possession of his new dignity, and divest his brother of it. But he refusing to submit to the order of Bagoses, great contests arose, and they came to blows on both sides: the matter proceeded so far, that Jonathan killed his brother in the inner court of the Temple.
This action, in itself very criminal, was still more so on the score of the profanation of the holy place where it was committed. Bagoses being informed of it, came with great indignation to Jerusalem, designing to take cognizance of the murder. He attempted to go into the Temple, in order to observe there the spot where this fact was committed; but he was denied admission, as being a Gentile, and profane person. How! said he, am I then more polluted than the dead body which you have massacred there? And at the same time, being transported with anger, he went into the Temple notwithstanding the opposition of the Priests, examined into the fact, and fined the Temple; the fine he ordered to be paid by the Priests out of the money belonging to the treasury. It was fifty drachmas for every lamb of the continual Sacrifice which was offered every morning and evening; that is to say, two lambs a day. This fine was paid till the death of Artaxerxes; then revolutions happening in the state, and a new Governor being appointed, it was no longer exacted.
The High Priest Jonathan or John died after having exercised the High Priesthood thirty two years. Jeddoa his son succeeded him.