Eleazar

The third of Aaron’s four sons (Exodus 6:23). His name means "God has helped." He was consecrated as a priest along with his brothers and Aaron in the Sinai desert (Exodus 28:1; Leviticus 8:2, 13). After his brothers Nadab and Abihu were killed by God for offering "unholy fire,"(Leviticus 10:1–7), Eleazar and Ithamar took leading roles as Aaron’s sons (Numbers 3:1–4).

Eleazar is described as “chief of the leaders of the Levites” (Numbers 3:32). He was responsible for overseeing the sanctuary and its vessels (Numbers 4:16; 16:37–39; 19:3–4). When Aaron died on Mount Hor, Moses installed Eleazar as the high priest (Numbers 20:25–28; Deuteronomy 10:6). From that point on, he became Moses’ assistant (Numbers 26:1–3, 63; 27:2, 21). Joshua was commissioned by Moses in the presence of Eleazar (Numbers 27:18–23). During the conquest of Canaan, Eleazar worked alongside Joshua as a leader. His role was to inquire of the Lord on Joshua's behalf, providing divine counsel (Numbers 27:21). Eleazar also participated in dividing the land among the tribes of Israel, both on the east and west banks of the Jordan River (Numbers 34:17; Joshua 14:1; 17:4; 19:51; 21:1).

Upon Eleazar's death, he was highly regarded and memorialized in the land of Ephraim (Joshua 24:33). His son Phinehas became high priest after his death.

Eleazar's descendants were given 16 divisions in the oversight of the priests, while Ithamar's descendants received eight (1 Chronicles 24). Notable priests like Zadok and Ezra traced their ancestry back to Eleazar (1 Chronicles 6:3–15, 50–53; 24:3; Ezra 7:1–5).

In later times, during King Solomon's reign, the priests descended from Zadok replaced Abiathar, who was from Ithamar's line (1 Kings 2:26–27, 35). According to Ezekiel's vision of an ideal temple, only the descendants of Eleazar would be permitted to serve as priests (Ezekiel 44:15).

Abinadab’s son. He was put in charge of caring for the ark by the people of Kiriath-jearim, when it was brought from Beth-shemesh and placed in the “house of Abinadab on the hill” (1 Samuel 7:1).

Dodo’s son, one of the three mighty men whose feats against the Philistines made him famous (2 Samuel 23:9; 1 Chronicles 11:12).

A Merarite Levite, son of Mahli. Eleazar died without sons, so his daughters were married to their first cousins (1 Chronicles 23:21–22; 24:28).

A priest who descended from Phinehas. This Eleazar helped record the items in the temple treasure after returning from the exile in Babylon with Ezra (Ezra 8:33).

Parosh’s son, listed with others who divorced their non-Jewish wives in the reform under Ezra (Ezra 10:25).

A priest who was present at the dedication of the rebuilt walls of Jerusalem following the exile in Babylon (Nehemiah 12:42).

A person in the family list of Joseph, husband of Mary (Matthew 1:15).