The parents of John the Baptist, Zacharias and Elisabeth, lived in a city in the the hill country of Judah, Luke 1:39,40. There is one particular city in the Scriptures that is so described. It is the city of Hebron, cf. Joshua 21:11: And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it.
The city of Hebron was given to Caleb upon the conquest of Canaan who in turn gave it over to the priests to be a priestly city and also a city of refuge.
In particular this city of Hebron was given over to Aaron and his family. It was specially the city of the High Priest in Israel, Joshua 21:13. Elsewhere it says that the cities of refuge were given generally to the Levities, but Hebron was given to Aaron.
Out of this priestly city, out of this city, that is so closely associated with the High priest in Israel would come the Forerunner. John the Baptist will be the Forerunner to the one who fulfills the type of the High Priest. Aaron and his sons were forerunners themselves in that they were types of Jesus Christ, who is called our Great High Priest. God makes no mistakes.
The plan of redemption is meticulous in its operation and outworking. Christ can't come from Judah by John the Baptist will! In this city of Hebron lived Zacharias and Elisabeth, a godly couple. |
