Eleazar

(help of God ).

1. Third son of Aaron. After the death of Nadab and Abihu without children, ( Leviticus 10:6 ; Numbers 3:4 ) Eleazar was appointed chief over the principal Levites. ( Numbers 3:32 ) With his brother Ithamar he ministered as a priest during their fathers lifetime, and immediately before his death was invested on Mount Hor with the sacred garments, as the successor of Aaron in the office of high priest. ( Numbers 20:28 ) (B.C. 1452.) One of his first duties was in conjunction with Moses to superintend the census of the people. ( Numbers 26:3 ) After the conquest of Canaan by Joshua he took part in the distribution of the land. ( Joshua 14:1 ) The time of his death is not mentioned in Scripture.
2. The son of Abinadab, of the hill of Kirjath-jearim. ( 1 Samuel 7:1 ) (B.C. 1134.)
3. One of the three principal mighty men of Davids army. ( 2 Samuel 23:9 ; 1 Chronicles 11:12 ) (B.C. 1046.)
4. A Merarite Levite, son of Mahli and grandson of Merari. ( 1 Chronicles 23:21 1 Chronicles 23:22 ; 24:28 )
5. A priest who took part in the feast of dedication under Nehemiah. ( Nehemiah 12:42 ) (B.C. 446.)
6. One of the sons of Parosh, an Israelite (i.e. a layman) who had married a foreign wife. ( Ezra 10:25 )
7. Son of Phinehas, a Levite. ( Ezra 8:33 )
8. The son of Eliud, in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. ( Matthew 1:15 )