Eleazar אֶלְעָזָר
Son of Aaron, high priest after his father
Who is Eleazar in the Bible?
Eleazar was the son of Aaron and the third priest in Israel's lineage, serving as high priest after his father's death. He was consecrated as a priest alongside his brothers (Exodus 28:1), but after his older brothers Nadab and Abihu died, he became chief priest under Aaron (Numbers 3:32). Following Aaron's death at Mount Hor, Eleazar inherited the role of high priest and led Israel through the conquest of Canaan, assisting Moses in conducting the census and allocating tribal lands (Numbers 20:25-28, Joshua 14:1). His tenure as high priest was marked by significant responsibilities, including distributing Levitical cities among the tribes and serving as a spiritual leader until his own death during the time of Joshua (Joshua 24:33). Eleazar's significance lies in his role as a bridge between the wilderness generation and the settlement in Canaan, maintaining the priesthood and God's covenant with Israel during a critical transition in biblical history.
Biography
Eleazar, the son of Aaron, is prominently featured in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, and 1 Chronicles. He was the third son of Aaron and Elisheba (Exo.6.23,25) and was consecrated as a priest along with his brothers (Exo.28.1). After the deaths of his older brothers, Nadab and Abihu (Lev.10.1-2), Eleazar became the chief priest under his father (Num.3.32). He assisted Moses in the census (Num.26.1,3,63) and the allocation of lands to the tribes (Num.32.2,28; 34.17; Jos.14.1; 17.4; 19.51). Eleazar succeeded Aaron as high priest (Num.20.25-28; Deu.10.6) and served in that role during the conquest of Canaan (Jos.21.1; 22.13,31,32). He played a key role in the distribution of the Levitical cities (Jos.21.1) and died during the time of Joshua (Jos.24.33). His descendants continued to serve as priests (Jdg.20.28; 1Ch.6.3-4,50; 9.20; 24.1-6; Ezr.7.5).
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In Scripture
8 biblical books ; 5 with study contentExodus 3 verses
- Exodus 6:23
"And Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar."
Study Exodus → - Exodus 6:25
"Aaron’s son Eleazar married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These were the heads of the Levite families by their clans."
Study Exodus → - Exodus 28:1
"“Next, have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, to serve Me as priests."
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Leviticus 3 verses
- Leviticus 10:6
"Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not let your hair become disheveled and do not tear your garments, or else you will die, and the LORD will be angry with the whole congregation. But your brothers, the whole house of Israel, may mourn on account of..."
Study Leviticus → - Leviticus 10:12
"And Moses said to Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering that remains from the food offerings to the LORD and eat it without leaven beside the altar, because it is most holy."
Study Leviticus → - Leviticus 10:16
"Later, Moses searched carefully for the goat of the sin offering, and behold, it had been burned up. He was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s remaining sons, and asked,"
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Numbers 5 verses
- Numbers 3:2
"These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, then Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar."
- Numbers 3:4
"Nadab and Abihu, however, died in the presence of the LORD when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD in the Wilderness of Sinai. And since they had no sons, only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron."
- Numbers 3:32
"The chief of the leaders of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest; he oversaw those responsible for the duties of the sanctuary."
- Numbers 4:16
"Eleazar son of Aaron the priest shall oversee the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He has oversight of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including the holy objects and their utensils.”"
- Numbers 16:37
"“Tell Eleazar son of Aaron the priest to remove the censers from the flames and to scatter the coals far away, because the censers are holy."
Deuteronomy 1 verse
- Deuteronomy 10:6
"The Israelites traveled from Beeroth Bene-jaakan to Moserah, where Aaron died and was buried, and Eleazar his son succeeded him as priest."
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Joshua 5 verses
- Joshua 14:1
"Now these are the portions that the Israelites inherited in the land of Canaan, as distributed by Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the tribes of Israel."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 17:4
"They approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders, and said, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers, in keeping with the command of the LORD."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 19:51
"These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families distributed by lot to the tribes of Israel at Shiloh before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. So they finished dividing up the land."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 21:1
"Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribes of Israel"
Study Joshua → - Joshua 22:13
"The Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest to the land of Gilead, to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֶלְעָזָר | Elazar , the name of seven Israelites |