Who were Zechariah (Zachariah, Zacharias) and Elizabeth
First, Luke wrote in Greek so Zechariah’s name is a transliteration. Which spelling is correct? Any of them are possible, they’re all the same person.
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What do we know about Zechariah and Elizabeth?
- He was a priest. Therefore, we know he was a descendant of Aaron.
- He was of the division of Abijah. David established 24 divisions of priests to serve in rotation at the temple (1 Chronicles 24). Tradition indicates that they served twice a year for one week at a time, plus during the festivals. When the captives returned from Babylon, not all the courses, including Abijah, were represented, so the larger groups filled in for the empty positions.
- Elizabeth was also a daughter of Aaron. The Law presented strict guidelines about who a priest could marry. While being of priestly descent was not a requirement, extra blessings were thought to follow a couple who both were of the Aaronic line.
- They were righteous before God. In all manner of the Law, He sought to follow God.
- They were childless. Just like Abram and Sarai and Isaac and Rebecca, they did not have a child. Children were considered the ultimate blessing from the Lord, so a man who had no children was considered cursed.
- They were both well advanced in years. Edershiem tells us this term was used for people over 60 years old. The Law forbids men over 50 to perform the sacrifices, but they may serve in the supporting roles.
- Zechariah was chosen, by lot, to burn incense. This was the daily incense offered in the Holy Place. He was not the high priest, so he did not enter the Holy of Holies.
What we don’t know
- We don’t know what year the Luke 1 account occurred. We know it was at least 2 years before the death of King Herod (9 months for Elizabeth’s pregnancy, an additional 6 months until the birth of Jesus, and probably 12-18 months before the Wise Men arrived). But when did King Herod die? That date is debated. Most scholars say either 4 B.C. or 1 B.C. Take your pick. People smarter than me with better access to the records can’t figure it out.
- We don’t know what month he was serving. A teaching is circulating that the announcement came during the Feast of Trumpets. Could be. But since we don’t know what year, and we don’t know, for sure, when each division served during that time, we have two (spring or fall) two-month windows to choose from.
- We don’t know how much time passed between Gabriel’s announcement and when Elizabeth became pregnant. Was Zechariah at the beginning or end of his time of service? Did Elizabeth need to have a period and start the reproductive cycle after he got home, or had God miraculously prepared her womb? Did she get pregnant immediately, or did it take several months?
We know a lot. And there’s a lot of conjecture. We might build stories, but we must do so with the understanding that we are filling in with guesses. Our guesses and opinions must not become doctrine. Be gentle with those who have different guesses.
But the truth remains: God promised to send a forerunner to prepare the way for the Messiah. Elizabeth carried that prophet and provided a stepping stone of faith. If a woman well past the age of childbearing can know the joys of motherhood, it’s not as far a leap to think that a virgin would conceive.
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