Steven James Schweitzer, «The High Priest in Chronicles: An Anomaly in a Detailed Description of the Temple Cult», Vol. 84 (2003) 388-402
The high and chief priests mentioned in both the genealogy of 1Chr 6,1-15 and the narrative of Chronicles (Zadok and Hilkiah) are compared with priests mentioned only in the narrative (the Azariah under Uzziah, the Azariah under Hezekiah, and Jehoiada); the Amariah under Jehoshaphat, possibly Amariah II in 1 Chr 6,11, is treated separately. This article concludes: Chronicles has not enhanced the Zadokite high priests; the three priests not mentioned in the genealogy are presented with increased cultic roles which delineate some of their duties; leading priests in Chronicles operate within the cultic sphere while their precise ceremonial role is unclear.
mentioned in the narrative or who cannot be equated with individuals in the list because of chronological difficulties. Zadok and Hilkiah are the only leading priests named in both the genealogy and the narrative. There are four priests — and also the only ones termed "chief priest" in Chronicles — that appear only in the narrative. They are: Jehoiada (2 Chr 22–24), the Azariah under Uzziah (2 Chr 26,16-21), the Azariah of the house of Zadok under Hezekiah (2 Chr 31,9-19), and the Amariah under Jehoshaphat — although it is chronologically possible that he is Amariah II from the genealogy (2 Chr 19,5-11)13. While the identity of Amariah is uncertain, it is clear that the first three chief priests have been excluded from the Zadokite lineage presented in the genealogy. Jehoiada has no ancestry14, Uzziah’s Azariah (who is unique to Chronicles) is also without an ancestry; and Hezekiah’s Azariah is strangely "of the house of Zadok" but not to be found among his descendants in 1 Chr 6,1-1515. The Chronicler creates two priests (the two Azariah’s) and has another in his source specifically called a "high priest" who has now become "chief priest" (namely, Jehoiada).
I will assess the data concerning the high priest in Chronicles according to the inclusion and exclusion of names in this genealogical list of high priests. First, I will address the priests that are included in both the list and the narrative. Next, I will discuss the priests mentioned only in the narrative. Following this, I will deal with the ambiguous case of Amariah II separately. Finally, I will compare and contrast the presentation of these groups of leading priests in Chronicles.