“The Course Of Abia“
(or “the priestly division of Abijah” in some translations) mentioned in Luke 1:5 – regarding the birth of John the Baptist refers to a specific group or division of priests in the Temple of Jerusalem during the time of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist.
In 1 Chronicles 24:10, King David organized the priests into 24 divisions, each responsible for serving in the temple for a set period. One of these divisions was called Abijah (or Abia in some translations).
Historical context:
- Abijah was one of the descendants of Aaron, the brother of Moses, who was the first high priest of Israel.
- The priestly divisions were responsible for various tasks in the Temple, such as offering sacrifices and maintaining rituals. Each division served in the temple for one week at a time, twice a year.
- The division of Abijah was the 8th division, and priests from this division would serve during specific periods, with their rotation being essential to the functioning of the Temple.
So, in Luke 1:5, when it says Zechariah “belonged to the priestly division of Abijah,” it tells us that Zechariah was a descendant of Aaron and served as a priest in the 8th priestly division. This connection is important because it shows the role Zechariah played in Jewish religious life and gives us a sense of the precise time and order of events related to the birth of John the Baptist.
In 1 Chronicles 24:7-18, King David assigned the priestly duties among 24 divisions, each with a specific time to serve in the Temple. Here are the names of the 24 courses of priests that David established:
- Jehoiarib
- Jedaiah
- Harim
- Seorim
- Malchijah
- Mijamin
- Hakkoz
- Abijah (Abia)
- Jeshua
- Shecaniah
- Elieashib
- Jakim
- Huppah
- Jeshbeab
- Bilgah
- Immer
- Hezir
- Happizzez
- Pethahiah
- Jehezkel
- Jachin
- Gamul
- Delaiah
- Maaziah
Each course served for one week, twice a year, and these divisions helped ensure the proper functioning of temple rituals and duties.