1 Chronicles 9:11 And Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God (KJV) See Nehemiah 11:11.

Aaron’s family from the Tribe of Levi are the main focus of this edition of Bible 911. In between King David’s family and the Trible of Benjamin, especially King Saul’s family, the journey of the Tribe of Levi is well documented in the Bible. Levi and Simeon led the “pillaging” of Shechem in Genesis 34 when their sister was defiled. Remember, these guys were in their teens when they took matters into their own hands. The history in 9:11 starts in the time of Samuel, goes through David’s rule, and is talking about family around the time of Jeremiah and beyond. (1 Samuel 14:3 and Ezra 7:2) This family and tribe played important roles throughout Israel’s history for both good and bad.

Priest not after the Order of Aaron

• Samuel was not a priest after Aaron. He was a servant to Eli that God elevated to prophet and judge. Any sacrifice he made was not in connection with the Tabernacle or Ark.
• David was a priest after the Order of Melchizedek. (Psalms 110)
• Jesus is our High Priest in the Order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 4 and 7)
• We are kings and priest because we are in Jesus; so, being like Melchizedek.

Cohen or Kohen – Aaron’s Family

A very important thing to remember when studying names, especially in the Levities, is that names are reused to honor family. So, a casual glance may not work well as there could be multiple Ahitub’s, or Zadok’s, or Ananias’. Family linage was/is important in the Jewish community, just look in Matthew 1 and Luke 3. Matthew 1 focuses on Joseph and Luke 3 is Mary’s. They have a common point after the exile in Babylon with Zerubbabel and Shealtiel. No, I do not know how that works, but Mary’s is through Nathan not Solomon.

(A side note.) I know there are other cultures that might be able to trace their families back many generations, but the recorded historical legacy of the Hebrew people is amazing.

Here are a few Cohens in the Bible.

• Hilkiah was an important priest; you will find his name mentioned many times in 2 Chronicles, 2 Kings, and Jeremiah. He is not the only Hilkiah mentioned in the Bible.
• Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Ezra were priests.
• Ezra may have been the “author” of Chronicles and Malachi. Jeremiah/Baruch may have complied Kings. Both probably used common source material, there are many “lost” writings mentioned in the Bible.
• Much of Jeremiah’s trouble came from family members (Sons of Hilkiah, the priest).
• Azariah or Seraiah was after the captivity of Babylon. (In 9:11)
• At the time of Eli, in 1 Samuel, there were two branches of the family of Aaron. (2 Samuel 8:17 and shows the name Seraiah) Eleazar and Ithamar were the branches, the other two sons died – Leviticus 10:1 and 6.
• See Samuel and the Priest, Priest, Priest 2
• Because of Eli, his side of the family was downgraded, but not removed from being priest; that extended into King Saul (1 Samuel 22:9), David, and Solomon reign’s.
• At the time of Luke 1 the High Priest office was “bought” from Herod. The selling of sacrifices and money exchanging in the Temple was a lucrative concession. (Josephus) 
• Zechariah (Luke 1) and his son John the Baptist were priest.
• There are good records from this time that can be found on the internet about the High Priest in Jerusalem before 70 AD.

1 Chronicles 9, for me, is a transition chapter. Chapters 1 – 8 are family lines and a wealth of information. Chapter 8 ends with the linage of King Saul past Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth or Meribbaal. This works into the Book of Esther. Chapter 9 begins with the return of exiles from Babylon and repeats King Saul’s family line. It connects with the work of David and Samuel, and lays the foundation for the positions of responsibility in the Second Temple. Chapter 11 begins David’s time as king.

9:3 adds an interesting historical footnote, Ephraim and Manasseh (Joseph’s sons) are included in those who returned. Their ancestral lands were in the Northern Kingdom, that was carried into exile by Assyria. In Kings and Chronicles there are verses that some returned to the South and the Temple before that exile. There is no indication that these families came from the Habor Valley, but they might have.

Zechariah and John

The role that these two Cohens play in life of Jesus should not be limited to His birth. Zechariah was behind the curtain offering incense. In Leviticus 23 this was done in the “seventh month” on the Day of Atonement (See Leviticus 16). His self-centered lack of faith got him nine months of silence. Contrast this to his very vocal son announcing the need to repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand. The father stood in an empty room, where the Mercy Seat should have been, confessing the sins of Israel. The son announced in the open, that the Lamb of God was here to take away the sins of the world. Now contemplate the symbolic transfer from the Law, that was about to be fulfilled, to Mercy and Grace when Jesus put His blood on the heavenly Mercy Seat.

The “name change” from Zechariah to John is another indicator of this shift. Zechariah means “God remembers” and John means “God is gracious”. Something should be noted here. The Law and the priest worked under the watchful eye of Herod. John lost his head to an entertainer at a party under the same watchful eye of Herod.

Jesus’ Family Line

As Christians we have a natural and a spiritual family line. Tribes and nations are important to the Father, He ordained them. So, research and learn about your natural family, it may be very long and have many fathers and mothers in it. Your spiritual family line is shorter. What would your family branch look like if it was in the Book of Luke Chapter 3? It may look like this – (Your name), the son or daughter of God. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 NASB – Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST – Bible Gateway    Galatians 3:26 NASB – For you are all sons and daughters of – Bible Gateway

Paul

Paul, who was from the Tribe of Benjamin, wrote about genealogies and sons.

1 Timothy 1:4 and Titus 3:9 advise each of his “sons in the faith” to avoid the trap of genealogies because they do not support the “plan of God”. I get the feeling that people were claiming importance because of their heritage and demanding certain Laws must be followed.

Our 9:11 verse made me think of long family lines to prove you are connected to God, He made a much shorter path.

1 Timothy 1:2, Titus 1:4, and Galatians 3:7 NASB – Therefore, recognize that it is those – Bible Gateway  talk about an intriguing father/child relationship that can happen because of faith.