Joshua ben-Hananiah

(1–2nd century AD)

   Tanna. Joshua, a pupil of JOCHANAN BEN-ZAKKAI, was a member of the Sanhedrin at the time of the destruction of the Temple. During the siege of Jerusalem, Joshua and ELIEZER BEN-HYRCANUS carried Jochanan ben-Zakkai out of the city in a coffin. Joshua, well aware of the military supremacy of the Romans, strove for peace with them. He went on several missions to Rome and had discussions with Emperor HADRIAN. These are noted in the Babylonian Talmud and Palestinian Midrashim. When Hadrian refused to allow the Jews to rebuild the Temple, Joshua persuaded them not to revolt, telling them the parable of the crane who pulled a thorn out of the lion’s throat. When the bird asked for a reward the lion replied, ‘Boast that you put your head in the lion’s jaws and survived!’ Joshua explained that it was enough to survive in the Roman Empire. (The BAR- KOCHBA revolt did not break out until after his death.)

   Joshua took an independent stand on halachic matters. He disagreed with the patriarch Gamaliel over the date for the Day of Atonement and other matters. Gamaliel treated him in a humiliating fashion, but the other sages resented this and forced the patriarch to resign. Joshua bore him no grudge, and when he was reinstated continued to serve under him. Joshua seems to have known mathematics and astronomy, and as he was a member of the Sanhedrin this was important for the fixing and intercalation of the calendar. Living, as he did, at a time when Judaism and Christianity were finally separating, he was strongly opposed to the Jewish Christians, and showed great skill in arguing with them.