Menelaus, non-Aaronite priest in pre-Maccabean Jerusalem

This article explores the possibility that Menelaus, the Jewish high priest, was not of Aaronic descent. While in 2 Macc. 3:4–6 Simon, Menelaus’ brother, is described as being ‘from the tribe of Benjamin’, most scholars, relying on a few versions of the Old Latin, argue that it should instead be translated as ‘from the priestly clan of Bilgah’. And yet a careful examination of the surviving versions of the Old Latin reveals that ‘Bilgah’ appears to be an interpretive modification aimed at justifying how a non-Aaronite could become high priest. Moreover, the Greek term phylê cannot denote a priestly division. Furthermore, the assumption that Simon was appointed as an overseer of the Temple does not necessarily indicate that he was a priest. Additional passages from I Maccabees and the Testament of Moses may also be interpreted as supporting the argument that Menelaus was not of Aaronic descent.