Mary And Elizabeth

If Mary and Elizabeth were cousins (having common grand parents) and Elizabeth was a Levite how come?? also Elizabeth was so very much older than Mary? how come? thanks Garnet

Q. If Mary and Elizabeth were cousins (having common grand parents) and Elizabeth was a Levite how come?? Also Elizabeth was so very much older than Mary? How come?

A. I was using the term cousin in its widest sense. Both Mary and Elizabeth were descended from the same man, Jacob. Mary came through Judah and Elizabeth through Levi. Judah and Levi were brothers. That makes Mary and Elizabeth cousins, though many times removed.

In any case the angel Gabriel called them relatives. (Luke 1:36) Perhaps there was a marriage between their families somewhere up the line.