The “course of Abia” refers to the one of the 24 divisions responsible for worship in the Temple. Zechariah was of the priesthood division of “Abia” or “Abijah”.
Full Answer
Luke tells us in Luke 1:5 that the officiating priest, Zacharias was of the course of Abia.
When the priests had become numerous, David divided the whole body into twenty-four classes or "courses," which were appointed to do service in weekly rotation, so that each of the courses had to attend at the temple twice in the year for a week each time. Of the twenty-four courses that of Abijah was the eighth.
Notice that the course of Abijah was the eighth of the priestly divisions (1Chronicles 24:10). Abijah in 1Chronicles 24:10 is the same course as Abia of Luke 1:5. Zacharias was officiating in the Temple according to the time when the eighth division served out its responsibility.
Abia is a Greek and Latin variant of the name Abijah. Abijah originates in Hebrew language and means "God is my father". In the Bible, it is used as both feminine and masculine given names.
God remembersZechariah, with many variant forms and spellings such as Zachariah and Zacharias, is a theophoric masculine given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God remembers". It comes from the Hebrew word zakhar, meaning to remember, and yah, one of the names of the God of Israel.
Role in the TempleDivisionNameScriptural ReferenceFirstJehoiarib1 Chronicles 24:7SecondJedaiah1 Chronicles 24:7ThirdHarim1 Chronicles 24:8FourthSeorim1 Chronicles 24:820 more rows
A descendant of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, a chief of the eighth of the twenty-four orders into which the priesthood was divided by David and an ancestor of Zechariah, the priest who was the father of John the Baptist.
Zechariah, also spelled Zacharias, (flourished 6th century bc), Jewish prophet whose preachings are recorded in one of the shorter prophetical books in the Old Testament, the Book of Zechariah (q.v.).
Zechariah (New Testament figure), the father of John the Baptist. In the King James version of the Bible his name was written Zacharias. He is recognized as a saint in both the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.
MelchizedekThe first priest mentioned in the Bible is Melchizedek, who was a priest of the Most High. The first priest mentioned of another god is Potipherah priest of On, whose daughter Asenath married Joseph in Egypt. The third priest to be mentioned is Jethro, priest of Midian, and Moses' father in law.
seven priestsSo Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant of the LORD and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it."
The Hebrew Bible distinguishes among three groups: the kohanim, the top priestly class; the levites, who assisted the priests in the temple; and the general population, the Israelites.
Abijah is a person named in the Old Testament. She was the daughter of a Zechariah, possibly Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah (2 Chronicles 29:1; compare Book of Isaiah 8:2), and afterwards the wife of King Ahaz (reigned c. 732 - 716 BCE) and mother of King Hezekiah (reigned c. 715-686 BCE).
Abijah Origin and Meaning The name Abijah is both a boy's name and a girl's name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my father". Abijah, which you might think of as Abigail with rhythm, is the name of both female and male personages in the Bible.
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us, ...
pure, innocentZacchaeus (sometimes spelled Zaccheus; Ancient Greek: Ζακχαῖος, Zakkhaîos; Hebrew: זכי, "pure, innocent") was a chief tax-collector at Jericho in the Bible. He is known primarily for his faith in climbing a sycamore tree to see Jesus, and also his generosity in giving half of all he possessed.
Through a series of dream visions, Zechariah offers the hope of a new Jerusalem to the Israelites and reminds them to stay faithful and they wait. Through a series of dream visions, Zechariah offers the hope of a new Jerusalem to the Israelites and reminds them to stay faithful and they wait.
of John the BaptistThe birth of John the Baptist was a miracle. Here's why. With the help of an angel, Zechariah and Elizabeth conceived a child despite their advanced age.
Biblical narrative. According to the Gospel of Luke chapter 1, Elizabeth was "of the daughters of Aaron". She and her husband Zechariah/Zachariah were "righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless" (1:5–7), but childless.