Eleazar אֶלְעָזָר
Son of Mahli, had no sons, only daughters
Who is Eleazar in the Bible?
Eleazar in the Bible refers to multiple biblical figures, most notably the son of Aaron the high priest. This Eleazar was consecrated to the priesthood along with his father and brothers (Exodus 28:1) and became increasingly prominent after his brothers Nadab and Abihu were destroyed for offering unauthorized fire before the Lord (Leviticus 10:6). He served as high priest and was given oversight of the Levites, playing a central role in Israel's religious life and the administration of the priesthood (Numbers 3:4, 1 Chronicles 24:2). A less prominent Eleazar was the son of Mahli, a descendant of Levi through Merari, who had only daughters rather than sons, and his lineage continued through his daughters' marriages (1 Chronicles 23:21-22). The name Eleazar, meaning "God has helped," appears in several genealogies throughout Scripture as a reminder of the priestly line's importance in Israel's covenant history.
Biography
Eleazar, mentioned in 1Ch.23.21-22 and 1Ch.24.28, was the son of Mahli, who was a descendant of Levi through Merari. Eleazar had no sons, only daughters. As a result, his daughters married their cousins on their father's side, the sons of Kish. This arrangement allowed Eleazar's lineage to continue through his daughters.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book1 Chronicles 3 verses
- 1 Chronicles 23:21
"The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish."
- 1 Chronicles 23:22
"Eleazar died without having any sons; he had only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them."
- 1 Chronicles 24:28
"From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֶלְעָזָר | Elazar , the name of seven Israelites |
Eleazar
e of the daughters of Putiel, who bore him Phinehas (Ex 6:25). With his father and 3 brothers he was consecrated to the priest's office (Ex 28:1). After the destruction of Nadab and Abihu, he occupied a more important position, and he and Ithamar "ministered in the priest's office in the presence of Aaron their father" (Le 10:6 f; Nu 3:4; 1Ch 24:2 ff). He was given the oversight of the Levites and had charge of the tabernacle and all within it (Nu 3:32; 4:16). To Eleazar fell the duty of beating out for an altar covering the censers of Korah and his fellow-conspirators who had attempted to seize the priesthood (Nu 16:37,39). On the death of Aaron, Eleazar succeeded him (Nu 20:25 ff). He assisted Moses with the census after the plague in the plains of Moab (Nu 26:1 ff), and with Moses and the elders heard the petition of the daughters of Zelophehad who wished to be served as heirs to their father (Nu 27:1 ff). After the entrance into Canaan, Eleazar and Joshua gave effect to the decision arrived at by giving the daughters of Zelophehad a share in the land of Manasseh (Jos 17:4). He was priest and adviser to Joshua, the successor of Moses (Nu 27:19; 31:12 ff), whom he also assisted in partitioning Canaan among the tribes (Nu 34:17; Jos 14:1; 19:51; 21:1). He was buried in the hill (the Revised Version, margin "Gibeah") of Phinehas his son in the hill country of Ephraim (Jos 24:33). For some reason unknown the descendants of Ithamar seem to have held the chief position among the priests from Eli till the accession of Solomon, when Abiathar was sent into retirement, and Zadok, the descendant of Eleazar, was appointed in his place (1Ki 2:26 ff). Ezra was a descendant of Zadok (Ezr 7:1 ff); and the high priest's office was in the family of Zadok till the time of the Maccabees.
(2) The son of Abinadab, sanctified to keep the ark of Yahweh, when it was brought from Beth-shemesh to Kiriath-jearim after being sent back by the Philistines (1Sa 7:1).
(3) The son of Dodai, one of David's three mighty men. A famous feat of arms with David at Ephes-dammim is recorded (2Sa 23:9 f; 1Ch 11:12 f where he is named the son of Dodo).
(4) A Levite, a son of Mahli, a Merarite. It is recorded that he had no sons, but daughters only, who were married to their cousins (1Ch 23:21,22; 24:28).
(5) A priest who accompanied Ezra from Babylon (Ezr 8:33); the son of Phinehas. (5) and (6) may be identical.
(6) A priest who took part in the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem (Ne 12:42).
(7) A son of Mattathias and brother of Judas Maccabeus (/APC 1Macc 2:5; 6:43 f; 2Macc 8:23).
See ASMONEANS; MACCABEES.
(8, 9) Two others are mentioned in /APC 1Macc 8:17; 2Macc 6:18 ff.
(10) An ancestor of Jesus, 3 generations before Joseph (Mt 1:15).
S. F. Hunter