Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Luke 1:5
5. Herod—(See on :-). course of Abia—or Abijah; the eighth of the twenty-four orders of courses into which David divided the priests (see 1 Chronicles 24:1; 1 Chronicles 24:4; 1 Chronicles 24:10). Of these courses only four returned after the captivity (1 Chronicles 24:10- :), which were again subdivided into twenty-four—retaining the ancient name and order of each. They took the whole temple service for a week each. his wife was of the daughters of Aaron—The priests might marry into any... read more
Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Luke 1:13
Luke 1:13. Thy prayer is heard;— We cannot imagine that this holy man, at so advanced an age, and on such an occasion, would pray for the pregnancy of his wife, who was very old. The priests in this office considered themselves as the mouth of the people, and made the welfare of the nation the subject of their prayers. Wherefore, since it is reasonable to suppose that Zacharias now interceded for the coming of the Messiah, in whom all the families of the earth were to be blessed, we may... read more