Luk 1:5 | JFB | STEP | 5. Herod —(See on ). course of Abia —or Abijah; the eighth of the twenty-four orders of courses into which David divided the priests (see ). Of these courses only four returned after the captivity ( ), which were again subdivided into twenty-four—retaining the ancient name and order of each. They took the whole temple service for a week each. his wife was of the daughters of Aaron —The priests might marry into any tribe, but "it was most commendable of all to marry one of the priests' line" [LIGHTFOOT ].

Luke 1:5

5. Herod—(See on Mt 2:1).

course of Abia—or Abijah; the eighth of the twenty-four orders of courses into which David divided the priests (see 1Ch 24:1, 4, 10). Of these courses only four returned after the captivity (Ezr 2:34-39), which were again subdivided into twenty-four—retaining the ancient name and order of each. They took the whole temple service for a week each.

his wife was of the daughters of Aaron—The priests might marry into any tribe, but "it was most commendable of all to marry one of the priests' line" [LIGHTFOOT].