Aaronites

Air´uh-nits

A term equivalent to “sons of Aaron” (Lev 1:7) or “house of Aaron” (Ps 115:10), indicating the postexilic view that the whole priesthood was descended from Aaron. It was divided into twenty-four families, each serving in the Temple for a week, sixteen claiming descent from Aaron’s elder son, Eleazer, and eight from his younger son, Ithamar (1Chr 24:1-19). Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, was a member of such a division of priests (Luke 1:5; Luke 8:1-9:5).