He was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Both parents were of the priestly line of Aaron. Zechariah was a priest of the division of Abijah.
Abijah was a priestly descendant of Aaron who in King David's day was recognized as Head of one of the paternal houses of Israel. David diveded the priesthood into 24 divisions, each to serve at the sanctuary for one-week period every 6 months. The paternal House of Abijah was chosen by lot to head the 8th division and thereafter it was known as the "division of Abijah."
A special place for the sons of Aaron began at Mount Sinai and it was at that time that special duties were given to each of the 3 lines of priests, through the 3 sons of Levi: the Gershonites, the Kohathites and the Merarites; but only the sons of Aaron (Aaronic Priests) were permitted to offer animal sacrifices in the Tabernacle or offer incense. Also, only they had access to the Holy and Most Holy place.
Aaron and Moses were sons of Kohath, the 2nd son of Levi, but had special pre-eminence over all others. The sons of Aaron and Moses camped on the East side of the Tabernacle that was the entrance and the most important area. They had front and center prominence.
Numbers 3: "These are the generations of Aaron and Moses at the time when the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar; these are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he ordained to minister in the priest's office. But Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord when they offered unholy fire before the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai; and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the lifetime of Aaron their father. ... And those to encamp before the Tabernacle on the East, before the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise, were Moses and Aaron and his sons, having charge of the rites within the sanctuary, whatever had to be done for the people of Israel; and ant one else who came near was to be put to death..."
The rebellion of Korah at Sinai was a challenge of the other 2 priests lines against this exclusive right that Aaronites had over them and it cost the their lives: "So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers which the men who were burned had offered, and they hammered them out as a plating for the altar, as a reminder to the sons of Israel that no layman who is not of the descendants of Aaron should come near to burn incense before the Lord; so that he will not become like Korah and his company.."Num16.
Moses is called a priest in Psalms 99: "The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!... Mighty King, lover of Justice, You have establish equity; You have executed Justice and Righteousness in Jacob... Moses and Aaron were among His Priests, ... Samuel also was among those who called on His Name. They cried to the Lord, and He answered them. He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept His Testimonies, and the Statutes that He gave them. ... You showed them that You are a Forgiving God, but and Avenger of their wrongdoings..."
High Priests were appointed for life by Moses, but at the time of Jesus, they were appointed annually by the Romans. This is why we have multiple High Priests at the trial of Jesus (Annas and Caiaphas). The priesthood continued down to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD when it became physically extinct.
Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God's eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord's commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old. One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his Order was on duty that week. As was the custom of the Priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.
While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside praying.
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