Joseph of Ituraea
He is one of the Sanhedrin guards at the Temple on the day Jesus is expelled: Alexander, a Roman soldier, had entered there to heal the child that his horse had just knocked down. What Jesus does, causing indignation and scandal: a pagan, because of Him, had entered the sacred precinct![1]
Joseph is part of the Sanhedrin members secretly gathered by Caiphas (Joseph), the High Priest to organize the final betrayal of Judas.[2]
He is present at Bethany at the funeral of Lazarus.[3] He is mentioned there with the hostile group of Galileans who came complaining about the absence of miracles. That he is with them can suggest either an agreement of opinion or a convenience of travel: Iturea is indeed a region north of Galilee, in the Tetrarchy of Philip, and the journey is long to come to Judea.
His name
Joseph means "May God add!". Historical reference: the eleventh son of Jacob from Rachel. This favored son was sold by his brothers and became Pharaoh's steward.
Where is he mentioned in the work?
EMV 115 EMV 535 EMV 546
Learn more about this character
History mentions a Joseph ben Camith, a historical member of the Sanhedrin, who became High Priest in 44/45 (Flavius Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, XX, 6, 2).
He was appointed to this position by Herod of Chalcis, king of Iturea, shortly after his accession following Herod Agrippa I.