They first obtained the office of the High Priest from the Seleucids, but then simply took the office upon ascending the throne. The Hasmoneans were priests, but not of the line from Zadok. Until that time, the office had a life-long tenure but afterward the high priests were appointed and deposed at the will of the ruler, whether Seleucid, Roman, or Herodian. The line of the High Priests was in the Zadokite family until the time of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, when Onias III had to flee for his life. The priesthood traced its lineage from Aaron through his son Eleazar to Zadok the other son was Ithamar. The Hasmonean leaders attempted to unite the two offices, but since they were neither Davidic nor Zadokite 2 they met great opposition. 3 and 6) but these visions did not give an explanation of how one holding the high office in the line of Judah could also occupy the office of High Priest, which was in the line of Levi. The prophet Zechariah of the restored community had already foreseen in his vision of Joshua the High Priest the union of the offices of King and Priest (Zech. 1 In fact, many of the trappings of the monarchy were transferred to the High Priest, not merely the clothing but also the duties of government. In the Old Testament period the High Priest did not have much power, but during and after the exile he apparently attained greater importance. At the top of the social and political scale was the High Priest.

Who are the priests in the bible