Introduction

Aaron, the brother of Moses, was appointed by God as the first high priest of Israel. His descendants, known as the Aaronic priesthood, played a crucial role in the religious life of the Israelites. The lineage of Aaron is significant in the biblical narrative, as it established the hereditary priesthood that served in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple in Jerusalem.

Aaron's Sons

Aaron had four sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These sons were consecrated as priests alongside their father. However, Nadab and Abihu met an untimely death due to their disobedience to God's commands. Leviticus 10:1-2 recounts, "Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them, and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD."

Eleazar and Ithamar

Following the death of Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar continued the priestly line. Eleazar, the third son, succeeded Aaron as high priest. Numbers 20:25-28 describes the transfer of the high priesthood: "Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up Mount Hor. Remove Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron will be gathered to his people and will die there." Eleazar's role was pivotal in the leadership of the Israelites, especially during the conquest of Canaan.

Ithamar, Aaron's youngest son, also served as a priest. He was responsible for the oversight of the Tabernacle's construction and maintenance, as noted in Exodus 38:21 : "This is the inventory of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle of the Testimony, as recorded at Moses’ command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest."

The Lineage of Eleazar

Eleazar's descendants continued the high priestly line. His son Phinehas is particularly noted for his zeal in upholding God's covenant, as seen in Numbers 25:11-13 : "Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned My wrath away from the Israelites, for he was zealous for My sake among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in My zeal. Therefore declare that I grant him My covenant of peace. It will be a covenant of perpetual priesthood for him and his descendants, because he was zealous for his God and made atonement for the Israelites."

The Lineage of Ithamar

The line of Ithamar also produced notable priests, including Eli, who served as a judge and priest in Israel. However, the priesthood under Eli's lineage faced challenges due to the misconduct of his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, as recorded in 1 Samuel 2:12-17 . This led to a shift in the high priestly line back to the descendants of Eleazar.

The Aaronic Priesthood in the Temple Era

During the era of the First and Second Temples, the descendants of Aaron continued to serve as priests. The division of the priestly duties among the descendants of Eleazar and Ithamar is detailed in 1 Chronicles 24, where King David organized the priests into 24 divisions. This structure ensured the orderly conduct of worship and sacrifices in the Temple.

Conclusion

The descendants of Aaron, through the lines of Eleazar and Ithamar, maintained the priestly functions as ordained by God. Their role was integral to the spiritual and communal life of Israel, serving as mediators between God and His people. The Aaronic priesthood, with its rich heritage and divine mandate, remains a significant aspect of biblical history and theology.