He was, like his 3 brothers and his father, a commissioned priest. Afterhis brothers, Abih u and Nadab, suddenly died for their disobedience toGod, Eleazar and his surviving brotehr, I thamar, moved up to be chiefassistants to Aaron. Later, on Aaron's death, Eleazar became chi efpriest. He helped Moses in his census and Joshua in dividing the land ofCanaan among the c onquering tribes. Eleazar was the ancestor of all highpriests until 168 B.C., except for a b rief period in the time of Eli andSolomon. (Everyone in the Bible, by William P. Barker, 19 66)