Career
He was appointed by Herod to fill the office of high priest made vacant by the ignominious death of Antigonus (37 Bachelor of Civil Engineering). Hanameel was an Egyptian according to the Mishnah (Parah 3:5), and a Babylonian according to Josephus ("Ant" xv 2, 4). Though of priestly descent, he was not of the family of the high priests.
But Hanameel"s incumbency was of short duration.
Prudence compelled Herod to remove him, and to fill his place with the Hasmonean Aristobulus (35 Bachelor of Civil Engineering). The youthful Hasmonean, however, was too popular with the patriotic party.
Though he was a brother of Mariamne, Herod"s beloved wife, he was treacherously drowned at Herod"s instigation (35 Bachelor of Civil Engineering), and Hanameel was restored to the high position. Hanameel is credited with having prepared one of the total of seven "red heifers" (see Numbers 19) which were provided in all the centuries from Ezra"s restoration to the final dispersion of the Jews (Parah 3:5).
