Footnote

a First-century Jewish historian Joseph ben Matthias (Flavius Josephus) records that by this era, Israel’s high priests were appointed and deposed by the agents of Rome as often as once a year. In this climate, the high priesthood degenerated into a mercenary office that attracted the worst elements of society. The Babylonian Talmud documents the moral excesses of some of these high priests. (Pesaḥim 57a) The Talmud likewise notes the tendency of the Pharisees toward hypocrisy. (Soṭah 22b)