ELEAZAR. —Eleazar, the son of Simon, was one of the principal leaders in the first revolt. He twist be distinguished from Eleazar, the son of Ananias, of whom little or nothing is known (Joseph. Bell. 5'hd. ii. 17. 2; 2o. 4). Coins were first published and attributed to Eleazar by M. de Vogiie (Rev. Num. 186o, p. 26o). They are of Laver and copper.
Rev. r6N III rov, ' First Year of the redemption of IsraeL' Cluster of grapes AR 4.
A silver coin somewhat resembling this one had already been published by De Saulcy (Nuns. ,dud., pl. xii. 7) ; but without the specimen of De Vogue it was impossible to decipher it with accuracy. The obverse has the same legend and type as the one above described, but on the reverse there is the name ovnty, Simon,' within a wreath. It is to be observed that both De Saulcy and De Vogiie; consider this coin to be forged, in imitation of a genuine specimen, and De Vogiie considers that the forger has copied the two sides from two different coins, one of Eleazar and one of Simon, but Levy MYinzen, p. 89, note 2) suggests that a coin may have existed with Eleazar's name on one side and Simon's on the other, and that genuine speci mens may have been struck when these two leaders were at peace. There are also copper coins which can be attributed to Eleazar. They had been pre viously published by Bayer (De Num. Hebr., p. 65, pl. i. 4, 5), and supposed by him to have been stamped with letters composing a secret alphabet. De Saulcy (Arum. yucl. pp. 167-168; c£ pl. xiii. 7), who does not read them, does not agree with this suggestion. The discovery of De Vogue, however, shows that the obverse legend of these coins is Eleazar the [high] priest' written retrograde in two lines on either side of a palm-tree. The reverse legend is the same as that on the silver coins. The Pau in the word inIn on the silver coins is re markable, and does not occur on the copper. The importance of these coins in adding the letter Zabs to the coin-alphabet has been already alluded to.
The statements respecting them by the Rev. H. J. Rose (art. SHEKEL, Dr. Smith's Diet. of Bible, vol. iii., p. 1247) are altogether incorrect.
Levy (7iid. Manzen, p. 91) also attributes to Eleazar the shekels of the first (and second year 9), Obv., Tinri `Eleazar the [high] priest.' Vase, in field to right a palm-branch.
which were given by De Saulcy (Num. 2ud., pp. 188-189, pl. xi. 1, 3) to Bar-cochab. He also suggests that they may have been issued by order of the Sanhedrim (ef. Joseph. Bell. 7sicl. ii. 2o. 5) [see below]. They have upon the obverse the word `Jerusalem,' and the type a tetrastyle temple. On the nrpg the ethrog and lulab. The similar coin of the second year is held to be doubtful (De Saulcy, Nion.
p. 159). The similarity of the reverse legends of these coins to those of Eleazar is rather in favour of their being of the time of the first revolt, for the word does not occur upon any coin attributed to Simon, son of Gioras, nor upon any of the re struck coins, which certainly belong to Bar-cochab. Moreover, the similar shekels, which, instead of on the obverse, have the name tlynty (Hist. of Yew. Coin., p. 170, 171), and a star over the temple, have the word Many of these latter are certainly restruck, and we consider them to be of Bar-cochab, especially on account of the star (see below). The word also occurs on the coins bearing the title L.VM (Nasi). De Vogite's suggestion (Rev. Nunz. 1S6o, p. 289), that the first named shekels must be restored to Simon Macca bxus, is altogether untenable.
StmoN, son of Gioras. —To Simon, son of Gioras, another powerful leader of the first revolt, coins have been assigned with types similar to those of Eleazar. Space does not permit us to enter fully into their description, and the coins which are assigned to this Simon by Levy are engraved in the Hist. of yew. Coin., p. 167-173. We select one as a specimen.
Obv. mmr, Simon.Cluster of grapes.