Yehoyada Hakohen

{{Infobox
|title = Yehoyada Hakohen
|image        = [[File:00000250 kever yehoyadah rosh sanhedrin.jpg|215px|alt=Yehoyada Hakohen]]
|header3 = Hebrew:
|data4  =  יהוידע הכהן  
|header5 = Spelling:
|data6  = Yehoyadah Hacohen
|header7 = Other Names:
|data8  = Jehoiada the Priest, The Living Man
|header9 = Kever:
|data10  = Wadi Sechvi, under Tzfat
|header11 = Description:
|data12   = Grandfather and grandson who served as leaders of the Kohanim in pre Temple Eretz Yisroel.
}}

There are three Tzadikim in Tanach named '''Yehoyada Hakohen'''. Yehoyada Hakohen the First served as leader of the Kohanim and possibly as Kohen Gadol after the Nov massacre until Dovid gained full Kingship over Yisroel. He was the father of Binayahu, one of King Dovid's early warriors and a leading Kabbalist. Binayahu ben Yehoyada had a son Yehoyada the Second who headed the Sanhedrin and was appointed as King Dovid's personal military adviser after the suicide of Achitofel. He in-turn had a son [[Benayahu ben Yehoyada|Binayahu the Second]] who served as head general of King Shlomo. During the reign of King Yoash, a descendent of theirs, Yehoyada the Third served as Kohen Gadol and leader of the Jewish Nation.

==Yehoyada Hakohen the First==

After the Nov massacre, Evyasar the last remaining son of Achimelech the Kohen Gadoal and the priestly house of Ali, fled and joined the the outlaw Dovid ben Yeshi. Although Tzadok Hakohen was the most suitable via linage to replace Achimelech as Kohen Gadol, as eventually happened, at that time he was too young. In the interim Yehoyada the First was appointed as head of the Kohanim. According to some opinions Yehoyada even temporarily served as Kohen Gadol after the Mishkan moved to Givon, during the end of Shaul's reign and the reign of his son Ish Boshes.

=== Crowning King Dovid ===
After the assassination of Ish Boshes, a number Jewish leaders went to Chevron to crown Dovid as King over the remaining tribes of the Jewish Nation. Yehoyada led one of the inauguration groups and brought with him 3,700 Kohanim. His son Binayahu became one of King Dovid's leading warriors.

=== The Live Man ===
Binayahu is called the 'son of a living man', a reference to his father Yehoyada who was considered alive, even after he passed away since he was a complete Tzadik.

==Yehoyada Hakohen the Second==
Yehoyada the Second was son of Binayahu the First, a leading warrior of King Dovid. He served as Rosh Sanhedrin and when Evyasar, the practicing Kohen Gadol was unable to question the Urim Vitumim, Yehoyada was the Kohen who would substitute him. After the suicide of Achitofel, Yehoyada Hakohen was appointed as head military adviser to King Dovid. Yehoyada had a son [[Benayahu ben Yehoyada|Binayaho the Second]] who served as head general for King Shlomo.

==Yehoyada Hakohen the Third==
Yehoyada the Third served as Kohen Gadol during the reigns of Achaziah, Athalya, and Yoash. He hid Yoash for six years in the Kodesh Hakodashim and then led the revolt against the evil Queen Athalya, anointing Yoash in her place. Yehoyada Hakohen then guided Yoash for 35 years and he remained righteous until his mentor passed away at age 130. Yehoyada the Third was buried in the City of Dovid in the royal tomb along with the righteous Kings of Yehuda.

== Kever Yehoyada Hakohen ==

Yehoyada Hakohen is buried under [[Safed]] right above Wadi Sechi before it meets [[Wadi-Amud-Safed|Wadi Amud]]. It is unknown if this is the tomb of Yehoyada Hakohen the First or his grandson Yehoyada the Second. It is clear that this is not the Kever of Yehoyada the Third father of Zecharia Hanavi since he was buried along with the Kings of the House of Dovid. 

Under the top of the Kever one can see signatures from early visitors to the tomb. Kever Yehoyada Hakohen is in the vicinity of the kevarim of Adino Hatzoni and Chutzpis Hameturgamon.

== More Pictures ==

<gallery widths=180px heights=120px perrow=4 caption="Kever Yehoyada Hakohen Gallery">

File:00000249 grave of yehoyadah the priest.jpg
File:00000248 yehoyada hakohen above wadi amud.jpg

File:00000256 front kever yehoyada hakohen.jpg
File:00000257 yehoyada hakohen slope nachal amud.jpg
File:00000258 yehoyada hakohen nahal amud.jpg
File:00000259 kever yehoyada the kohen.jpg
File:00000260 tzion yehoyadah the kohen.jpg
File:00000261 gravesite yehoyadah the kohen.jpg
File:00000253 under kever yehoyadah hakohen.jpg
File:00000254 lower section kever yehoyada hakohen.jpg
File:00000255 under tzion yehoyada hakohen.jpg
File:00000251 sign for tzion yehoyadah hakohen.jpg
File:00000252 plaque tzion yehoyada hakohen.jpg
File:00000997 tomb of jehoiada the priest.jpg
File:00001329 yehoyada hakohen wadi secvi.jpg

</gallery>

{{Kivrei Tzadikim}}

[[Category:Kivray Tzadikim]]
[[Category:Tzadikim]]
[[Category:Safed]]
[[Category:Biblical-Personalities]]