Study note

Luke 1:5

  • Herod king of Judea: See the profile on "Herod the Great."

  • a priest named Zechariah: He was a descendant of Aaron, the brother of Moses (Exodus 28:1).

  • who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah: See the study note on Luke 1:8–9 and also 1 Chronicles 24:10.

  • Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron: Jews considered it especially spiritual for a priest to marry a woman from a priestly family.