[CKG]

If Elisabeth was of the lineage of Aaron (Luke 1:5) and Mary was of the lineage of David, then how are they cousins (Luke 1:36)?

[George]

Originally Posted by CKG

If Elisabeth was of the lineage of Aaron (Luke 1:5) and Mary was of the lineage of David, then how are they cousins (Luke 1:36)?

Aloha CKG,

Mary's mother could have been a sister to Elizabeth's mother.

After the revolt of the ten tribes (under Jeroboam), a large portion of the Levites abandoned their cities in Israel ("for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the LORD"), and dwelt in Judah, [2 Chronicles 11:13-14; 13:9-11]. After the captivity, numbers of them returned from beyond the Euphrates to Judea, [Nehemiah 11:15-19; 12:24-31].

So, the possibility of a man from the tribe of Levi marrying a woman from the tribe of Judah was not only quite possible, but given the close proximity of the tribes, it may have been quite common.

[CKG]

Thanks for the reply George. I really enjoy and profit from reading your replies and posts!

George is so cool. His scriptural understanding (or perhaps it's his clear thinking) puts me to shame.

Get thee behind me, envy....

[Tmonk]

Didn't the tribal separation become somewhat muddled during the Babylonian exile? I cant remember.

[George]

Originally Posted by Tmonk

Didn't the tribal separation become somewhat muddled during the Babylonian exile? I cant remember.

You are quite right, especially with the ten tribes (Israel - Assyrian Captivity). However the Scriptures are clear about the return of a remnant of the two tribes (Judah & Benjamin - along with some of the priests) after the Babylonian Captivity. {Ezra & Nehemiah]

By the time of the Lord Jesus Christ's ministry on the earth most of Israel (the remnant of the ten tribes) were represented by the "Samaritans". While the tribes of Benjamin & Judah (along with the priests) were the majority of the Jews in Jerusalem and Judea. Mary & Joseph came from the tribe of Judah and Zacharias (Elizabeth's husband) from the tribe of Levi. {Paul came from the tribe of Benjamin.}

[George]

Originally Posted by Tmonk

Didn't the tribal separation become somewhat muddled during the Babylonian exile? I cant remember.

You are quite right, especially with the ten tribes (Israel - Assyrian Captivity). However the Scriptures are clear about the return of a remnant of the two tribes (Judah & Benjamin - along with some of the priests) after the Babylonian Captivity. {Ezra & Nehemiah]

By the time of the Lord Jesus Christ's ministry on the earth most of Israel (the remnant of the ten tribes) were represented by the "Samaritans". While the tribes of Benjamin & Judah (along with the priests) were the majority of the Jews in Jerusalem and Judea. Mary & Joseph came from the tribe of Judah and Zacharias (Elizabeth's husband) from the tribe of Levi. {Paul came from the tribe of Benjamin.}