John the Baptist

Priest and Prophet — The Forerunner of Christ

Trace the complete priestly lineage from Jacob and Levi through Aaron, Zadok, and Abijah to Zacharias and Elisabeth — and follow John\'s life from miraculous birth to martyrdom.

"There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth."

Luke 1:5

Jacob (Israel)

Father of the Twelve Tribes

c. 1836–1689 BC

Levi

Third Son of Jacob — Father of the Priestly Tribe

c. 1754–1617 BC (lived 137 years)

Kohath

Son of Levi — Ancestor of Moses, Aaron, and the Priests

Lived 133 years (Exodus 6:18)

Amram

Father of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam

Lived 137 years (Exodus 6:20)

AARON

First High Priest of Israel

Died at age 123 on Mount Hor (Numbers 33:38-39)

Eleazar

Second High Priest of Israel

Served as High Priest from c. 1407 BC

Phinehas

Third High Priest — Zealous for God's Honor

Zadok

High Priest under David and Solomon

The 24 Priestly Divisions

David's Organization of the Priesthood

King David organized the descendants of Aaron into 24 divisions (courses) for Temple service. Each division served for one week at a time, twice a year, plus the three annual festivals. The 8th division was the "course of ABIJAH."

1 Chronicles 24:1-19

ABIJAH

Head of the Eighth Priestly Division

••• Many Generations •••

c. 1000 BC — c. 50 BC

For approximately 1,000 years, the descendants of Abijah continued serving in the 8th division. They ministered through the reigns of the kings of Judah, survived the Babylonian exile, returned with Zerubbabel and Ezra, served in the Second Temple, and continued under Hasmonean and Roman rule.

Ezra 2:36-39; Nehemiah 12:1-7

ZACHARIAS

Priest of the Course of Abijah — Father of John the Baptist

Active c. 6–5 BC

ELISABETH

Daughter of Aaron — Mother of John the Baptist

JOHN THE BAPTIST

The Forerunner — Voice Crying in the Wilderness

c. 5 BC — c. AD 29

Topic #41: Priest and King Topic #42: Voice in the Wilderness

Read the full commentaries on John the Baptist