Eleazar (High Priest)


Eleazar was a Jewish High Priest during the time of the Second Temple. He was the son of Onias I and brother of Simon I.
Eleazar was the high priest involved in communication with Ptolemy II Philadelphus discussed in the Letter of Aristeas. According to the letter, Eleazar sent seventy two scholars, six from each of the tribes of Israel to the island of Pharos, in order to provide the Library of Alexandria with a Greek translation of the Hebrew Law, also called the Septuagint.
He was succeeded by his uncle Manasseh.