Yahshua, descendant of both David and Levi
In the book of Luke it is recorded that Yahshua’s mother Mary was a “cousin” (KJV) to Elizabeth who was “of the daughters of Aaron”. (Luke 1:5,36) The Greek word translated “cousin” literally means
close blood (genetic)
relative. The genetic connection can easily be seen by English speaking people in the Greek word “sun
genes”. This literally means
close kin (See Strongs
4773) This word could just as easily mean Elisabeth was Mary’s
aunt. Considering Elisabeth was much older than Mary, this would appear to be more likely the case, but it is a moot point in light of the fact that it doesn’t make a difference either way as you will see.
In Leviticus, God commanded that Levite men were to marry
only Levite women. (Leviticus 21:1,13-14, 22:12-13) Levite women on the other hand were permitted to marry outside the tribe. We know that Mary’s father Heli was a descendant of David of the tribe of Judah So if Mary was either a cousin ,or a niece to Elisabeth, it must mean that Mary’s
mother had to have been either a
sister or
aunt to Elisabeth, which means that Mary’s mother had to have been a “daughter of Aaron” as well! Here is the breakdown. If Mary and Elisabeth were
cousins, as it says in the KJV, then Mary’s mother was a sister to one of Elisabeth’s parents,
both of whom had to have been full-blooded Levites for Elisabeth to be called a “daughter of Aaron” and be legitimately married to Zacharias the priest. If Elisabeth was Mary’s
aunt, as is more likely the case, then Mary’s mother was a sister to Elisabeth. No matter how one works it, it comes out the same. Mary’s mother was a full-blooded Levite. She was then one of those who married outside the tribe when she married Heli of the tribe of Judah. Now it also logically flows perfectly well, that if Yahshua had no earthly father, no new genetic material was introduced at his conception. Therefore his physical bloodlines
must have been
identical to his mother’s bloodlines.
Mary was a perfect blend of both tribes Judah and Levi!
There is also another likelihood that makes this even better. Since God commanded the Levite men to marry only Levite women, it stands to reason the genetic markers
He recognizes as the Levitical priestly markers are passed down by the mothers making the tribe
matrilineal. These markers would be located in what science today calls the mitochondrial DNA. The genetic markers of the other tribes were passed down by the fathers from the Y chromosome. It is also a well established fact of science that the father’s genetic markers and the mother’s genetic markers do not compete with each other during the process of
recombination, so neither of them is diluted by the other. This would mean that Mary, and subsequently Yahshua, carried
all the genetic markers of
both tribes! It stands to reason that God intended for Levi’s genetic markers to be
matrilineal for the very purpose of being able to bring all of Judah, and all of Levi together into one man.
God promised the Messiah would be both king and priest like Melchizedek in Psalm 110:4. God also spoke through other prophets on numerous occasions that He would indeed bring both offices into one in the Messiah.
“Behold, the days are coming”, says the Lord, “that I will perform that good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah; In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David a
Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In those days Judah will be saved, andJerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called; ‘THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS’.
For thus says the Lord; David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel; nor shall the priests, the Levites, lack a man to offer burnt offerings before Me, to kindle grain offerings, and to sacrifice continually.” Jeremiah 33:14-18
“Behold, the man whose name is the BRANCH! From his place he shall branch out, and he shall build the temple of the Lord; Yes, he shall build the temple of the Lord. He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on his throne; So he shall be a
priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” (both offices) Zechariah 6:12-13
“Then it shall be the
prince’s part to give burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings, at the feasts, the New Moons, the Sabbaths, and at all the appointed seasons of the house of Israel. He shall prepare the sin offering, the grain offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offerings to make atonement for the house of Israel .” Ezekiel 45:17
God had said the Levites had and “
everlasting” priesthood. The only way God could fulfill these promises He made to David and the Levites is if the Messiah was from both tribes. Yahshua just so happens to be descendant of
both David
and Levi!
Who is Yeshua
