Now that we have finished the study on Mary, let’s look at the life of Elizabeth.
Elizabeth and Zechariah are only mentioned in the Gospel of Luke. Since it is such a long passage of Scripture, I encourage you to read all of Luke chapter 1 to get a clear picture of them. We will pull out specific Scriptures as we go along with this study.
In the study on Mary, and the introduction to the Women of Christmas, I mentioned that under the Old Covenant, the Holy Spirit would come on the prophet, priest, and king. In Mary’s story, we saw the element of The King. In Elizabeth’s story, we are going to witness the life of the priest.
Just like Mary and Joseph’s lineage both extended back to King David, Elizabeth and Zechariah’s lineage both extended back to Aaron, the brother of Moses, who was the first High Priest.
Let’s look at some verses that describe their priestly lineage, and what the priests would do.
“In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.” (Luke 1:5-10 BSB)
Luke 1:5 tells us that Zechariah was a priest, and he was of the priestly division of Abijah. According to Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, there are eight people in the Old Testament named Abijah. One of them was a descendant of Aaron, who was a priest in the time of David.
We can find this Abijah in 1 Chronicles 24:10.
Luke also tells us that Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. Aaron was the first High Priest to the Hebrew people and the brother of Moses and Miriam. Aaron’s parents were Jochebed and Amram. Jochebed was a daughter of Levi. (See Numbers 26:59.)
Priests descended from Aaron who was a Levite. But not all Levites, who descended from Levi were priests. Priests came from the tribe of Levi, although the Levites didn’t have the same function as the priests. The Levites were assistants to the priests and served the priests in different ways.
So, Zechariah and Elizabeth both descended from the tribe of Levi and were both descendants of Aaron. The Israelites had the custom of marrying within their same tribe. That might be why we also see Mary and Joseph both being from the tribe of Judah. And I imagine if we could determine who Anna’s husband was, he would also be from the tribe of Asher, just like she was.
Another fun fact about Israel was the way the land was arranged. In the Old Testament they were given tribal allotments. All of Joseph’s sons, except two, were given portions of land throughout Israel. Those two were Joseph and Levi. Joseph’s portion went to Ephraim and Manasseh, his sons born to him in Egypt. And the Levites didn’t get a land assignment. They lived dispersed throughout the land of Israel, to serve God and meet the needs of the people.
What does all of this have to do with Jesus?
Under the New Covenant, Jesus is our Great High Priest. The book of Hebrews discusses the levitical priesthood and outlines Jesus as high priest in detail. Here are a few Scriptures that outline His service as High Priest.
“But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore, He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.” (Hebrews 7:24-28 BSB)
What does this have to do with you?
Jesus is our High Priest. Under the New Covenant, the Bible also refers to Believers in Jesus as priests.
“You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.” (Revelation 5:10 BSB)
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
Many blessings to you as you continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Him, and who you are in relationship to Him.
Beth
One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.” (Luke 1:5-10 BSB)
Luke 1:5 tells us that Zechariah was a priest, and he was of the priestly division of Abijah. According to Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, there are eight people in the Old Testament named Abijah. One of them was a descendant of Aaron, who was a priest in the time of David.
We can find this Abijah in 1 Chronicles 24:10.
Luke also tells us that Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. Aaron was the first High Priest to the Hebrew people and the brother of Moses and Miriam. Aaron’s parents were Jochebed and Amram. Jochebed was a daughter of Levi. (See Numbers 26:59.)
Priests descended from Aaron who was a Levite. But not all Levites, who descended from Levi were priests. Priests came from the tribe of Levi, although the Levites didn’t have the same function as the priests. The Levites were assistants to the priests and served the priests in different ways.
So, Zechariah and Elizabeth both descended from the tribe of Levi and were both descendants of Aaron. The Israelites had the custom of marrying within their same tribe. That might be why we also see Mary and Joseph both being from the tribe of Judah. And I imagine if we could determine who Anna’s husband was, he would also be from the tribe of Asher, just like she was.
Another fun fact about Israel was the way the land was arranged. In the Old Testament they were given tribal allotments. All of Joseph’s sons, except two, were given portions of land throughout Israel. Those two were Joseph and Levi. Joseph’s portion went to Ephraim and Manasseh, his sons born to him in Egypt. And the Levites didn’t get a land assignment. They lived dispersed throughout the land of Israel, to serve God and meet the needs of the people.
What does all of this have to do with Jesus?
Under the New Covenant, Jesus is our Great High Priest. The book of Hebrews discusses the levitical priesthood and outlines Jesus as high priest in detail. Here are a few Scriptures that outline His service as High Priest.
“But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore, He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.” (Hebrews 7:24-28 BSB)
What does this have to do with you?
Jesus is our High Priest. Under the New Covenant, the Bible also refers to Believers in Jesus as priests.
“You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.” (Revelation 5:10 BSB)
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
Many blessings to you as you continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Him, and who you are in relationship to Him.
Beth
To learn more about Jesus as our High Priest, please read Hebrews 3:1 and 5:1-10.
To read one of my previous posts about Elizabeth, you can find it here, in my Women in the Life of Jesus series.
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