Eleazar (High Priest)

Eleazar (Hebrew: אֶלְעָזָר, ''ʾEleʿāzār'', meaning "God has helped") was a prominent figure in the Hebrew Bible, serving as the third High Priest of the Israelites. His tenure followed the death of his father, Aaron, and preceded that of his son, Phineas. The accounts of his life primarily come from the Book of Numbers and the Book of Joshua.

Lineage and Ascension: Eleazar was a son of Aaron, the first High Priest, and his wife Elisheba. He was thus a member of the Levitical tribe, specifically from the family of Kohath, which held hereditary rights to the priesthood. Following Aaron's death, Eleazar succeeded him as High Priest, a position of immense religious and political authority among the Israelites.

Key Roles and Events: Eleazar's role involved overseeing the Tabernacle and later the Temple, managing its ritualistic aspects, and offering sacrifices on behalf of the Israelites. Key events associated with Eleazar's priesthood include:

• The Census of the Israelites: Eleazar assisted Moses in conducting the census of the Israelites in the desert, ensuring the proper distribution of responsibilities and inheritances within the tribes.
• The Division of the Promised Land: After the conquest of Canaan, Eleazar, along with Joshua and the tribal leaders, played a role in the distribution of land amongst the Israelite tribes. This suggests a level of secular authority beyond purely religious duties.
• The Urim and Thummim: Eleazar, like his father before him, made use of the Urim and Thummim, a sacred device used for obtaining divine guidance or judgments. The precise nature of the Urim and Thummim remains a subject of scholarly debate.
• Incense and Offerings: Eleazar's responsibilities involved supervising the preparation and burning of incense within the Tabernacle, as well as overseeing the proper conduct of sacrifices.

Death and Legacy: Eleazar died during the period when the Israelites were settling in the Promised Land. He was succeeded as High Priest by his son, Phineas. Eleazar's legacy lies primarily in his crucial role in guiding the Israelites through a period of significant transition, from nomadic life to a settled agricultural society, and in maintaining religious order during a formative era. He is remembered as a key figure in the establishment of the Israelite priesthood and the development of their religious practices.