Yehoshua ben Gamla

High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Yehoshua ben Gamla (or Jesus son of Gamalas) was a Jewish high priest who officiated in about 64 C.E. He married the rich widow Martha of the high-priestly family Boethos (Yeb. vi. 4), and she by bribing Jannai secured for him the office of high priest (Yeb. 61a; Yoma 18a; comp. "Ant." xx. 9,
4). Although Yehoshua himself was not a scholar, he was solicitous for the instruction of the young, and provided schools in every town for children over five years of age, earning thereby the praises of posterity (B. B. 21a). The two lots used on the Day of Atonement, hitherto of boxwood, he made of gold (Yoma iii. 9). Yehoshua did not remain long in office, being forced, after a year, to give way to Matthias ben Theophil ("Ant." xx. 9,
7). Although no longer High Priest, Yehoshua remained one of the leaders of Jerusalem.