Aaromites

This phrase might, according to Sem. idiom, denote either the members of a class or (.niild (comp. sons of Korah, sons of Asaph, sons of the prophets), or members of a family connected by blood kinship. As used in OT it was understood in the latter sense, all the priests, at anyrate from the time of the second temple, tracing their descent from Aaron, as the head and founder of the Israelitish priesthood. The term does not occur earlier than the priestly portions of the Pent.

, where in certain groups of laws the epithet Aaronites is often given to the priests (see esp. Lv 1-3, and comp. 6' 'Aaron and his sons'), and a sharp distinction is drawn between the Aaronite priests and the LeWtes who wait upon them (see esp. Nu 3'° 16*° 18'''). It is doubtful whether any mention of the Aaronites or seed of Aaron was to be found in the original II (Law of Holiness), the present text of Lv 17' 21'- "•"•»« 22».«.i» being probably due to the R.

The Chronicler divides the priests into the houses of Eleazar and Ithamar, assigning sixteen courses to the former and eight to the latter ; and, probably without good authority, he connects the former with the Zadokite priests of Jerus., and the latter with the family of Eli (1 Ch 24), though the name of one of Ell's sons (cf. also 1 S 2"'-) would suggest a connexion between this family and Phinehas the eon of Eleazar (Jos 24").

Throughout his work the priests are frequently termed the Aaronitt-s (sons of Aaron)— viz. 1 Ch 6"-" 15' 23«<-«' 24>- ", 2 Ch 13»- '0 26" 2<)2' 31" 35", Neh 10" 12". In 1 Ch 12" 27" the house or family of Aaron is placed on a level with the other tribes ; and similarly in some late Hsiilms, by the side of the House of Israel and the House of l>evi, the priestly class is described as the House of Aaron (Ps 1 1 ')'"■" 118' 135"). H. A. White.