Jaddua
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Jaddua is a biblical figure mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically within the context of the post-exilic period of Israel's history. He is recognized as one of the high priests who served during the time of the Persian Empire's influence over Jerusalem. His role and lineage are significant in understanding the continuity of the priestly line and the religious leadership of the Jewish people during this era.

Genealogy and High Priesthood

Jaddua is listed as a descendant of the high priestly line, being the son of Jonathan (also known as Johanan) and the grandson of Joiada. This lineage is documented in the genealogical records found in the Book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah 12:11 states, "Joiada was the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan was the father of Jaddua." This passage situates Jaddua within the succession of high priests who played a crucial role in maintaining the religious and social order of the Jewish community after their return from Babylonian exile.

Historical Context

Jaddua's tenure as high priest is believed to have occurred during the latter part of the Persian period, possibly extending into the early years of the Hellenistic period following Alexander the Great's conquests. Although the Bible does not provide extensive details about his actions or specific events during his high priesthood, his position would have involved significant responsibilities, including overseeing temple worship, maintaining the purity of religious practices, and serving as a mediator between the Jewish people and the ruling authorities.

Possible References in Historical Texts

While the Bible itself offers limited information about Jaddua's life and activities, some historical sources outside the biblical canon provide additional context. Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, mentions a high priest named Jaddua in his work "Antiquities of the Jews." According to Josephus, Jaddua was the high priest during the time of Alexander the Great's visit to Jerusalem. However, the historical accuracy of this account is debated among scholars, and it is not corroborated by the biblical text.

Significance in Jewish Tradition

Jaddua's inclusion in the genealogical records underscores the importance of the high priestly lineage in Jewish tradition. The high priests were seen as vital links in the chain of religious authority, ensuring the continuity of worship and adherence to the Mosaic Law. As such, Jaddua's role, though not extensively detailed in Scripture, would have been integral to the spiritual life of the Jewish community during a period of significant political and cultural change.

Conclusion

Jaddua remains a somewhat enigmatic figure within the biblical narrative, yet his position as high priest places him within a critical period of Jewish history. His mention in the genealogies of Nehemiah highlights the enduring legacy of the priestly line and its central role in the religious and communal life of post-exilic Israel.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Jaddua

known

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Jaddua

(known).

  1. Son and successor in the high priesthood of Jonathan or Johanan. He is the last of the high priests mentioned in the Old Testament, and probably altogether the latest name in the canon. (Nehemiah 12:11,22) (B.C. 406-332.)
  2. One of the chief of the people who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 10:21) (B.C. 410.)
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Known.

(1.) One of the chiefs who subscribed the covenant (Nehemiah 10:21).

(2.) The last high priest mentioned in the Old Testament (Nehemiah 12:11, 22), sons of Jonathan.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
JADDUA

jad'-u-a, ja-du'-a (yaddua`, "known"):

(1) One of the "chiefs of the people" who with Nehemiah sealed the covenant, thus signifying their voluntary acceptance of the law and their solemn promise to submit to its yoke (Nehemiah 10:21 (Hebrew 22)).

(2) Son of Jonathan or Johanan, and great-grandson of Eliashib, the high priest in Nehemiah's time (Nehemiah 12:11, 22). He is the last of the high priests mentioned in the Old Testament, and held office during the reign of Darius the Persian, i.e. Darius III Codomannus, the last king of Persia (336-332 B.C.), who was overthrown by Alexander the Great. It is doubtless to him that Josephus refers in his romantic account of Alexander's entrance into Jerusalem (Ant., XI, viii, 4; vii, 2; viii, 7).

James Crichton

Strong's Hebrew
3037. Yaddua -- two Israelites
... Yaddua. 3038 . two Israelites. Transliteration: Yaddua Phonetic Spelling:
(yad-doo'-ah) Short Definition: Jaddua. ... NASB Word Usage Jaddua (3). Jaddua. ...
/hebrew/3037.htm - 6k
Library

Alexander.
... His House, because of him that passeth by;" and in answer to the prayers and sacrifices
offered up by the Jews, God appeared to the High Priest, Jaddua, in a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xv alexander.htm

Appendix iv. An Abstract of Jewish History from the Reign of ...
... Joiakin, Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, [6328] Jonathan, and Jaddua, who was
the contemporary of Alexander the Great. After the death ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix iv an abstract of.htm

Concerning Sanballat and Manasseh, and the Temple which they Built ...
... 2. But the elders of Jerusalem being very uneasy that the brother of Jaddua the
high priest, though married to a foreigner, should be a partner with him in the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 concerning sanballat and.htm

Ezra-Nehemiah
... xiii. [Footnote 1: According to Josephus, Jaddua (Nehemiah 12:22) was high
priest in the time of Alexander (about 330 BC?).]. The ...
/.../mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/ezra-nehemiah.htm

Antipatris. Caphar Salama.
... procession? Josephus, relating this story, only the name of Jaddua changed,
saith this meeting was "at a certain place called Sapha. ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 58 antipatris caphar salama.htm

How, after the Death of Antiochus, Hyrcanus Made an Expedition ...
... was at Jerusalem, and which Alexander permitted Sanballat, the general of his army,
to build for the sake of Manasseh, who was son-in-law to Jaddua the high ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 how after the.htm

How John Slew his Brother Jesus in the Temple; and How Bagoses ...
... 2. Now when John had departed this life, his son Jaddua succeeded in the
high priesthood. He had a brother, whose name was Manasseh. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 how john slew.htm

The Later Hebrew Histories.
... somewhat by later hands; additions were undoubtedly made after the death of Nehemiah;
for one, at least, of the genealogies shows us a certain Jaddua as high ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter vi the later hebrew.htm

In Jud??a and through Samaria - a Sketch of Samaritan History and ...
... at a date which cannot be precisely fixed [1891] ) the Samaritans built a rival
temple on Mount Gerizim, and Manasseh, [1892] the brother of Jaddua, the Jewish ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii in judaea and.htm

That Upon the Conquest and Slaughter of vitellius Vespasian ...
... the case of Joseph in Egypt. and of Jaddua the high priest, in the days
of Alexander the Great, etc. [25] This is well observed ...
/.../chapter 11 that upon the.htm

Thesaurus
Jaddua (3 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. JADDUA. ...Jaddua (3 Occurrences). Nehemiah 10:21
Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). ...
/j/jaddua.htm - 8k

Jad'du-a (3 Occurrences)
Jad'du-a. Jaddua, Jad'du-a. Jaddus . ... Nehemiah 10:21 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua;
(See RSV). Nehemiah 12:11 and Joiada begot Jonathan and Jonathan begot Jaddua...
/j/jad'du-a.htm - 7k

Ezranehemiah
... A much stronger reason against placing the final redaction of the books at so early
a time is the mention of a Jaddua among the high priests in Nehemiah 12:11 ...
/e/ezranehemiah.htm - 22k

Ezra-nehemiah
... A much stronger reason against placing the final redaction of the books at so early
a time is the mention of a Jaddua among the high priests in Nehemiah 12:11 ...
/e/ezra-nehemiah.htm - 22k

Darius (26 Occurrences)
... It is not necessary to suppose that Darius Codomannus who reigned from 336 to 330
BC, is meant by the author of Nehemiah 12, because he mentions Jaddua; for (a ...
/d/darius.htm - 24k

Joiada (5 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 12:11 and Joiada became the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan became the
father of Jaddua. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). ...
/j/joiada.htm - 8k

Joi'ada (4 Occurrences)
... Joiada, (See RSV). Nehemiah 12:11 and Joiada begot Jonathan and Jonathan
begot Jaddua. (See RSV). Nehemiah 12:22 The Levites in the ...
/j/joi'ada.htm - 7k

Priest (500 Occurrences)
... office by using a temple chamber in the interests of his family he was reprimanded
(Nehemiah 13:4-9). The list of high priests from Jeshua to Jaddua is given ...
/p/priest.htm - 88k

Onias
... (1) Onias I, according to Josephus (Ant., XI, viii, 7), the son of Jaddua and father
of Simon the Just (ibid., XII, ii, 5; Sirach 50), and, according to 1 ...
/o/onias.htm - 10k

Resources
Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Jaddua (3 Occurrences)

Nehemiah 10:21
Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Nehemiah 12:11
and Joiada became the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan became the father of Jaddua.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Nehemiah 12:22
As for the Levites, in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, there were recorded the heads of fathers' houses; also the priests, in the reign of Darius the Persian.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Jaddua

Related Terms

Jaddua (3 Occurrences)

Jaddus

Jaddai
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