eleazar Summary and Overview

God has helped. (1.) The third son of Aaron (Ex. 6:23). His wife, a daughter of Putiel, bore him Phinehas (Ex. 6:25). After the death of Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:12; Num. 3:4) he was appointed to the charge of the sanctuary (Num. 3:32). On Mount Hor he was clothed with the sacred vestments, which Moses took from off his brother Aaron and put upon him as successor to his father in the high priest's office, which he held for more than twenty years (Num. 20:25-29). He took part with Moses in numbering the people (26:3, 4), and assisted at the inauguration of Joshua. He assisted in the distribution of the land after the conquest (Josh. 14:1). The high-priesthood remained in his family till the time of Eli, into whose family it passed, till it was restored to the family of Eleazar in the person of Zadok (1 Sam. 2:35; compare 1 Kings 2:27). "And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son" (Josh. 24:33). The word here rendered "hill" is Gibeah, the name of several towns in Israel which were generally on or near a hill. The words may be more suitably rendered, "They buried him in Gibeah of Phinehas", i.e., in the city of Phinehas, which has been identified, in accordance with Jewish and Samaritan traditions, with Kefr Ghuweirah='Awertah, about 7 miles north of Shiloh, and a few miles south-east of Nablus. "His tomb is still shown there, overshadowed by venerable terebinths." Others, however, have identified it with the village of Gaba or Gebena of Eusebius, the modern Khurbet Jibia, 5 miles north of Guphna towards Nablus. (2.) An inhabitant of Kirjath-jearim who was "sanctified" to take charge of the ark, although not allowed to touch it, while it remained in the house of his father Abinadab (1 Sam. 7:1, 2; compare Num. 3:31; 4:15). (3.) The son of Dodo the Ahohite, of the tribe of Benjamin, one of the three most eminent of David's thirty-seven heroes (1 Chr. 11:12) who broke through the Philistine host and brought him water from the well of Bethlehem (2 Sam. 23:9, 16). (4.) A son of Phinehas associated with the priests in taking charge of the sacred vessels brought back to Jerusalem after the Exile (Ezra 8:33). (5.) A Levite of the family of Merari (1 Chr. 23:21, 22).

(help of God). 1. Third son of Aaron. After the death of Nadab and Abihu without children, #Le 10:6; Nu 3:4| Eleazar was appointed chief over the principal Levites. #Nu 3:32| With his brother Ithamar he ministered as a priest during their father's lifetime, and immediately before his death was invested on Mount Hor with the sacred garments, as the successor of Aaron in the office of high priest. #Nu 20:28| (B.C. 1452.) One of his first duties was in conjunction with Moses to superintend the census of the people. #Nu 26:3| After the conquest of Canaan by Joshua he took part in the distribution of the land. #Jos 14:1| The time of his death is not mentioned in Scripture. 2. The son of Abinadab, of the hill of Kirjath-jearim. #1Sa 7:1| (B.C. 1134.) 3. One of the three principal mighty men of David's army. #2Sa 23:9; 1Ch 11:12| (B.C. 1046.) 4. A Merarite Levite, son of Mahli and grandson of Merari. #1Ch 23:21,22; 24:28| 5. A priest who took part in the feast of dedication under Nehemiah. #Ne 12:42| (B.C. 446.) 6. One of the sons of Parosh, an Israelite (i.e. a layman) who had married a foreign wife. #Ezr 10:25| 7. Son of Phinehas, a Levite. #Ezr 8:33| 8. The son of Eliud, in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. #Mt 1:15|

ELEA'ZAR (God's help). 1. The third son of Aaron, Ex 6:23, and his successor in the office of high priest, which he held for upward of 20 years, and his family after him till the time of Eli. Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, together with their father, Aaron, were consecrated to the sacerdotal office. The first two were struck dead for offering strange fire. See Abihu. Eleazar, being the eldest surviving son, succeeded his father, and was himself succeeded by his eldest son, Phinehas, according to the covenant. Num 25:10, 2 Kgs 11:13. The time of Eleazar's death is not given, but Josephus, probably representing Jewish tradition, says it was at the same time as Joshua's, or 25 years after Moses. The office continued in Eleazar's line through seven successions, and then passed into the line of Ithamar in the person of Eli, who was both high priest and judge, but was restored to the family of Eleazar in the person of Zadok. Comp. 1 Sam 2:35; 1 Kgs 2:27. 2. The son of Abinadab, to whose care the ark was committed when it was sent back by the Philistines. 1 Sam 7:1. 3. A warrior of distinguished courage, two of whose exploits are recorded in 1 Chr 11:11-18 and 2 Sam 23:9. 4. A Levite, son of Merari, who is mentioned as having no sons; but his daughters were married by their "brethren" -- i.e. cousins. 1 Chr 23:21. 5. A priest who took part in Nehemiah's dedicatory feast. Neh 12:42. 6. One with a foreign wife.Ezr 10:25. 7. A Levite.Ezr 8:33. 8. An ancestor of Joseph. Matt 1:15.

1. Aaron's third son by Elisheba, Amininadab's daughter, descended from Judah through Pharez (Exodus 6:23; Exodus 6:25; Exodus 28:1; Genesis 38:29; Genesis 46:12; Rth 4:18; Rth 4:20). On the death of Nadab and Abihu without children (Leviticus 10:1; Numbers 3:4) Eleazar had the oversight of the chief Levites, who kept the charge of the sanctuary (Numbers 3:32). With Ithamar his brother he ministered as a priest in his father's lifetime, and was invested in Aaron's high-priestly garments as his successor, on mount Her, just before his death (Numbers 20:25-28). With Moses he superintended the census (Numbers 26:3), inaugurated Joshua whom Moses set before him (for Joshua was in this inferior to Moses, who had direct intercourse with God; Joshua must ask divine counsel through the high priest), and divided the Midianite spoil (Numbers 27:22; Numbers 31:21). He took part in dividing Canaan (Joshua 14:1). He was buried in "the hill of Phinehas his son, ... mount Ephraim" (Joshua 24:33). The high priesthood passed to Ithamar's line in the person of Eli, but for the sin of Eli's sons reverted to Eleazar's line in the person of Zadok (1 Samuel 2:27; 1 Chronicles 6:8; 1 Chronicles 24:3; 1 Kings 2:27). 2. Abinadab's son, of the "hill" of Kirjath Jearim; appointed by its inhabitants to take care of the ark on its return from the Philistines (1 Samuel 7:1). 3. Dodo the Ahohite's son, one of the three chief strongmen of David; perhaps descended from Ahoah of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8:4; 2 Samuel 23:9; 1 Chronicles 11:12). 4. A Merarite Levite, son of Mahli, having daughters married to their "brethren" (cousins) (1 Chronicles 23:21-22; 1 Chronicles 24:28). 5. A priest at Nehemiah's feast of dedication (Nehemiah 12:42). 6. Son of Parosh, who married arid put away an alien wife (Ezra 10:25). 7. Phinehas' son, a Levite (Ezra 8:33). 8. Eliud's son, three generations above Joseph, husband of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:15). The name means "helped by God," and is the same as Lazarus (Luke 16:19-25).