ISB ~ Luke 1 v5

In the days of:Luke situates his narrative within the broader framework of world history (2:1-2; 3:1-2).

Herod:Herod the Great, who was appointed king over Palestine by the Roman Senate in 40 B.C. and reigned in Jerusalem from 37 B.C. until his death in 4/1 B.C. See note on Mt 2:1.

Zechariah:A Hebrew name meaning “Yahweh has remembered.” division of Abijah: Israel’s Levitical priesthood was comprised of 24 divisions of priests (1 Chron 24:7-19). Each division served at the Jerusalem Temple two different weeks each year, and those represented by Abijah were the eighth group in the priestly rotation.

Elizabeth:A Greek form of the Hebrew name meaning “My God’s oath”. Being a daughter of Aaron, she was a Levite (1 Chron 6:1-3).