The list attached is of the High Priests of Israel from the first, Aaron, to the last recorded, Eliashib, who was High Priest when the walls of Jerusalem were being rebuilt by Nehemiah. There are four lists.
The first list
The first list consists of the names of the descendants of Aaron given in 1 Chronicles 6.1-15. There are twenty-two names given but the number of years covered (in excess of 800) may indicate that some names are omitted. This is in line with other name lists to be found in the Scriptures. When Israel entered Canaan the Tabernacle was pitched at Shiloh (Josh 18.1) and there it remained for a period of approximately 300 years. After the Ark was taken by the Philistines it was not, when returned, placed in the Tabernacle, which by then had been moved to Gibeon (1 Chr 16.39).
The second list
The second list contains the names of four High Priests who are noted as occupying the office from the time of Eli. These are not contained in 1 Chronicles 6 as they were not descendants of Aaron through Eleazar, his oldest son. They were descendants of Ithamar and, therefore, were of the junior branch of the family. They had no right to the priesthood. In the list from 1 Chronicles 6, Zerahiah and the three priests who followed him, have been marked * as it was during their time that the junior line occupied the office. It is not possible to determine if this situation predated Eli, but Josephus states that it was Eli who was the first priest of the junior line.
The matter was rectified during the reign of Solomon. Abiathar, the son of Ahimilech, the High Priest who was slain by Doeg the Edomite, escaped and joined David. He was effectively joint High Priest with Zadok (2 Sam 8.17), who was descended from the senior line of the Aaronic family. The prophecy that the high priestly office would be taken from the house of Eli was made to Samuel (1 Sam 3.11-14) and fulfilled in the death of Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli (1 Sam 4.10-11), and the slaughter of the priests at Nob (1 Sam 22.6-23). When Solomon ascended the throne he banished Abiathar to Anathoth (1 Kings 2.26-27) and Zadok became sole High Priest (1 Kings 2.35).
The third list
The third list consists of the names of two High Priests who held office during the reigns of Joash and of Ahaz. There has been much conjecture as to why they are omitted from the list of 1 Chronicles 6. Jehoiada was an influence for good with the king whose life he and his wife had preserved in the Temple. It is sad to note that after the death of Jehoiada the king failed to continue on the pathway set for him by the High Priest.
Urijah served during the reign of an evil monarch, Ahaz, the father of that great king Hezekiah. It is recorded that " the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel" (2 Chr 28.19). When visiting Damascus Ahaz saw an altar which impressed him and he sent the pattern to Urijah. An altar was built according to that pattern and placed in the Temple and, on his return, Ahaz placed offerings on this altar, acting as a priest. He moved the brazen altar from the front of the Temple to the north side of the new altar. The instructions of the king were carried out by Urijah without protest for "Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded" (2 Kings 16.16).
The fourth list
This contains the names of the two High Priests who are mentioned during the time of the return from Babylon. Jeshua, who returned with Zerubbabel was involved in this great movement from the start. Eliashib appears later when Nehemiah comes to Jerusalem and the walls are rebuilt. There are two issues which cause concern about this man. First, when the gates were being rebuilt, the sheep gate, for which he was responsible, had no locks or bars, suggesting that his concern for the separation of the people was less than sincere. Later, when Nehemiah returned from Babylon, he found that Eliashib, had given Tobiah, an enemy of Israel, a chamber in which to live in the city. Part of the reason may be that his family was related in marriage to the enemy (Neh 13.28).
New Testament High Priests
These are not included because they were not of the Aaronic family and had no right to occupy this office.