A Figure in the High Priestly Lineage
The sacred lineage of the high priesthood, established by God through Moses’ brother Aaron, was a critical component of Israel’s covenant relationship with the Lord. The maintenance of this bloodline, which traced back to the tribe of Levi, ensured the continuity of ritual atonement and worship. Bukki is a vital link in this unbroken chain.
Bukki in the Line of Aaron
Bukki is explicitly recorded in the biblical genealogies as a descendant of Aaron, through Aaron’s son Eleazar. He is listed as an ancestor of the influential high priest Ezra, the scribe and reformer who played a key role in the post-exilic restoration.
The Scripture traces the lineage through his fathers:
“The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:” (1 Chronicles 6:4, KJV)
The specific line that leads to Ezra includes Bukki:
“The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest: And Azariah begat Seraiah, and Seraiah begat Jehozadak, and Jehozadak went into captivity, when the Lord carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.” (1 Chronicles 6:4–15, KJV)
While the full high priestly list is complex, the passage in Chronicles and Ezra confirms Bukki’s role as the son of Jether/Abishua and the father of Uzzi, placing him firmly in the succession.
“Bukki, the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest.” (Ezra 7:4–5, KJV, listing the ancestors of Ezra)
This careful listing establishes that Bukki held a position in the legitimate, consecrated line that held the office of the High Priest in Israel after the time of Phinehas.
The Significance of the Priestly Succession
While no specific deeds of Bukki are recorded, his inclusion in these sacred lists is immensely significant:
- Legitimacy of Priesthood: Bukki’s name affirms the divinely appointed order of the priesthood. The office of the High Priest was the highest earthly office in Israel, responsible for entering the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement. The meticulous preservation of the genealogy ensured that only those ordained by God’s own standard could hold this position.
- The Unbroken Line: His name bridges the gap between the ancient, desert-wandering period (Phinehas) and the period of the monarchy, demonstrating that the office remained consecrated even as Israel’s national life changed.
Bukki and the Eternal Priesthood
The Levitical priesthood, confirmed by the names of men like Bukki, ultimately served as a shadow pointing to the eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ.
- The High Priests of Aaron’s line were mortal and constantly required sacrifices for their own sins as well as the people’s.
- Christ, however, is the great High Priest who is “made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec” (Hebrews 6:20, KJV). He offered Himself once for all, and “hath an unchangeable priesthood” (Hebrews 7:24, KJV).
The names in the lineage, including Bukki, stand as a testament to God’s requirement for a pure, consecrated line to minister atonement, a requirement fulfilled and perfected only in the Person of Christ.