Elisheba, whose name means “God is my oath” (or “God is my abundance”), was a woman of high nobility and the foundational matriarch of the Levitical priesthood. She is the Old Testament equivalent of the name Elizabeth.
While her presence in the biblical narrative is brief, her lineage and her role as a bridge between the royal and priestly tribes are of profound theological significance.
Her Distinguished Lineage
Elisheba was not of the tribe of Levi; she was a daughter of the tribe of Judah. This placed her in the direct line of the kings of Israel and, ultimately, the Messiah.
- Father: Amminadab, a prominent leader in Judah.
- Brother: Nahshon, who was the “prince of the children of Judah” and is recorded as the first to offer his dedication gift for the Tabernacle (Numbers 7:12).
- Marriage: She married Aaron, the elder brother of Moses and the first High Priest of Israel.
“And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.” (Exodus 6:23, KJV)
The Mother of Priests
Elisheba holds the unique title of being the mother of the entire consecrated priesthood. Every legitimate priest (Kohen) who served in the Tabernacle and later the Temple for over a thousand years was a direct descendant of Elisheba.
She bore four sons, each of whom held high office:
- Nadab and Abihu: The eldest, who tragically died when they offered “strange fire” before the Lord (Leviticus 10:1-2).
- Eleazar: Who succeeded his father Aaron as the High Priest.
- Ithamar: Who was responsible for the Tabernacle’s inventory and served alongside his father.
Theological Significance: The Union of King and Priest
Elisheba’s marriage represented a “royal-priestly” union. By birth, she belonged to the tribe of Judah (the scepter/kingly line), and by marriage, she belonged to Levi (the altar/priestly line).
This union foreshadows the person of Jesus Christ, who is the Lion of the tribe of Judah (King) and our Great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. It is also noteworthy that in the New Testament, another Elizabeth—a descendant of Aaron and Elisheba—becomes the mother of John the Baptist, further tying these lineages together.