Eliashib אֶלְיָשִׁיב

Who is Eliashib in the Bible?

Eliashib was a high priest of Israel during the post-exilic period, serving as the father of Joiada and ancestor of Jaddua, who later became high priest during the time of Alexander the Great (Nehemiah 12:10, 22-23). He occupies an important place in the genealogical record of the high priesthood, appearing in the succession line from Jeshua through to Jaddua. Notably, one of Eliashib's grandsons married a daughter of Sanballat the Horonite, a significant opponent of Nehemiah's reforms, which complicated the religious and political dynamics of the community (Nehemiah 13:28). Eliashib's significance lies in his role as a link in the chain of legitimate high priestly authority that maintained continuity in Jewish worship and leadership during the critical period of post-exilic Jewish restoration.