JOSUE. - High priest in the time of Zerubbabel. Probably born in exile (Josedech, his father, was deported to Babylon in 587: 1 Chron. 6:15 [Hebr. 5:41]), he is in second place after Zerubbabel among the 12 (Neh. 7:7) leaders of the first caravan (year 537) of repatriates (Ezra 1:2). After some months, he raised up the altar again, re-established the daily sacrifice and the various solemnities (Ezra 3:2-6).

With Zerubbabel he prepared the labor force and the materials for the rebuilding of the Temple, which he began, amid great demonstrations of faith, in May 536 (Ezra 3:7-13). For the purity of Yahwism he rejected the collaboration of the Samaritans (Ezra 4:1-3). After the rebuilding, forcibly suspended, was resumed at the urging of Haggai and Zechariah (year 520), J. solemnly consecrated the new Temple in 516 (Ezra 5:1 ff.; 6:14-17). J., with Zerubbabel, had been the animator of everything (Hag. 1:1-12, 14; Zech. 1-8). His zeal is praised by Sir. 49:14.

Bibliography3 works

BIBL.: D. Buzy, Les symboles de l'Ancien Testament, Paris 1923, pp. 354-76; A. Alt, Die Rolle Samaritas bei der Entstehung des Judentums, in Festschrift O. Prucksch, Leipzig 1924, pp. 5-28; G. Ricciotti, Storia d'Israele, II, Turin 1934, pp. 106-12, 115-18.

Francesco Spadafora

@incollection{ec6_giosue_2, author = {Spadafora, Francesco}, title = {Giosuè}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {VI}, pages = {474}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1951}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/giosue-2} }

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Josue

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