IEDDOA (Heb. Jaddūa, “knower” or “renowned”). - Jewish high priest, son of Ionathan (Neh. 12:11, 22).
The Bible hands down to us only the name, without reporting anything concerning his activity. Flavius Josephus (Antiq. Iud., XI, 326-39) relates how, as the invasion of Alexander the Great approached, I. awaited the future with apprehension. Comforted by a revelatory dream, he went out to meet the conqueror north of Jerusalem, to receive him with a solemn procession. Alexander prostrated himself to worship the divine name and to greet the priest, who called his attention to Daniel’s prophecy concerning the future supremacy of the Greek kingdom. After this encounter, Alexander granted broad rights and privileges to the Jews, some of whom enlisted in the Macedonian army with the assurance that they would enjoy great freedom and protection for their particular customs. Today the episode is commonly judged legendary, but the synchronism between Alexander and the high priest I. is accepted. Angelo Penna