Priesthood (Ancient Israel)
Encyclopedia
The priesthood of Ancient Israel was the class of male individuals, whom, according to the Hebrew Bible
, are patrilineal descendants from Aaron (the elder brother of Moses), who served in the Tabernacle
, Solomon's Temple
and Second Temple
until the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. Their temple role included animal sacrifice
. The priests (Hebrew kohanim) are viewed as continuing in the Kohen
families of rabbinical Judaism.
, who was a priest of the Most High
, and who officiated for Abraham. The first priest mentioned of another god is Potipherah priest of On (ancient Heliopolis)
, whose daughter Asenath
married Joseph
in Egypt. The third priest to be mentioned is Jethro
, priest of Midian
, and Moses' father in law. The first mention of a priesthood occurs in Exodus 40:15 "And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father [Aaron], that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations." (KJV, 1611) Among these priests a High Priest was anointed (first mentioned Leviticus 21:10), to serve in unique functions, such as entering the Holy of Holies
once yearly on the Day of Atonement
.
, including the passover sacrifice, sin offering, guilt offering
, release of the scapegoat
, burnt offering
, peace offering, red heifer
, heave offering
, meal offering, dough offering, drink offering
, incense offering, thank offering
, etc., throughout the liturgical year.
(with Urim and Thummim
), and a priestly breastplate with 12 stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel.
The priests served in rotating priestly divisions
.
that Israel's history is redacted and represents three stages; (1) non Levitical priests, (2) Levitical priests, (3) Aaronids and Levites. However Wellhausen's views depend on some critical, but unproven, assumptions, and some scholars consider that the study of the cult and priesthood of ancient Israel is still in its infancy compared to other areas of biblical studies.
Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible is a term used by biblical scholars outside of Judaism to refer to the Tanakh , a canonical collection of Jewish texts, and the common textual antecedent of the several canonical editions of the Christian Old Testament...
, are patrilineal descendants from Aaron (the elder brother of Moses), who served in the Tabernacle
Tabernacle
The Tabernacle , according to the Hebrew Torah/Old Testament, was the portable dwelling place for the divine presence from the time of the Exodus from Egypt through the conquering of the land of Canaan. Built to specifications revealed by God to Moses at Mount Sinai, it accompanied the Israelites...
, Solomon's Temple
Solomon's Temple
Solomon's Temple, also known as the First Temple, was the main temple in ancient Jerusalem, on the Temple Mount , before its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar II after the Siege of Jerusalem of 587 BCE....
and Second Temple
Second Temple
The Jewish Second Temple was an important shrine which stood on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem between 516 BCE and 70 CE. It replaced the First Temple which was destroyed in 586 BCE, when the Jewish nation was exiled to Babylon...
until the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. Their temple role included animal sacrifice
Animal sacrifice
Animal sacrifice is the ritual killing of an animal as part of a religion. It is practised by many religions as a means of appeasing a god or gods or changing the course of nature...
. The priests (Hebrew kohanim) are viewed as continuing in the Kohen
Kohen
A Kohen is the Hebrew word for priest. Jewish Kohens are traditionally believed and halachically required to be of direct patrilineal descent from the Biblical Aaron....
families of rabbinical Judaism.
Hebrew Bible
The first priest mentioned in the Bible is MelchizedekMelchizedek
Melchizedek or Malki Tzedek translated as "my king righteous") is a king and priest mentioned during the Abram narrative in the 14th chapter of the Book of Genesis....
, who was a priest of the Most High
Most High
Most High is a 2004 film starred in, written by, and directed by Marty Sader. The film deals with the descent of the main character, Julius, into drug addiction.-Plot:The main character Julius loves helping people, so he works at a clinic...
, and who officiated for Abraham. The first priest mentioned of another god is Potipherah priest of On (ancient Heliopolis)
Heliopolis (ancient)
Heliopolis was one of the oldest cities of ancient Egypt, the capital of the 13th Lower Egyptian nome that was located five miles east of the Nile to the north of the apex of the Nile Delta...
, whose daughter Asenath
Asenath
Asenath or Asenith is a figure in the Book of Genesis , an Egyptian woman whom Pharaoh gave to Joseph son of Jacob to be his wife...
married Joseph
Joseph
-Media:* YosepH, album by Luke Vibert* Josef , a Croatian television movie from 2011*Various works based on the life of Joseph in the Hebrew Bible:** Joseph and his Brethren, oratorio by George Frideric Handel...
in Egypt. The third priest to be mentioned is Jethro
Jethro
In the Old Testament or the Hebrew Bible, Jethro |Shu-ayb]]) is Moses' father-in-law, a Kenite shepherd and priest of Midian. He is also revered as a prophet in his own right in the Druze religion, and considered an ancestor of the Druze.-In Exodus:...
, priest of Midian
Midian
Midian , Madyan , or Madiam is a geographical place and a people mentioned in the Bible and in the Qur'an. It is believed to be in northwest Saudi Arabia on the east shore of the Gulf of Aqaba and the northern Red Sea...
, and Moses' father in law. The first mention of a priesthood occurs in Exodus 40:15 "And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father [Aaron], that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations." (KJV, 1611) Among these priests a High Priest was anointed (first mentioned Leviticus 21:10), to serve in unique functions, such as entering the Holy of Holies
Holy of Holies
The Holy of Holies is a term in the Hebrew Bible which refers to the inner sanctuary of the Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem where the Ark of the Covenant was kept during the First Temple, which could be entered only by the High Priest on Yom Kippur...
once yearly on the Day of Atonement
Day of Atonement
Day of Atonement may refer to:*Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement* Day of Atonement , a national day established in 1995 by the Nation of Islam...
.
Sacrifices and offerings
The priests were to officiate at many sacrifices and offerings under the Law of MosesLaw of Moses
The Law of Moses is a term first found in Joshua 8:31-32 where Joshua writes the words of "the Law of Moses" on the altar at Mount Ebal. The text continues "And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law."...
, including the passover sacrifice, sin offering, guilt offering
Guilt offering
A guilt offering , also referred to as a trespass offering , is a type of Biblical sacrifice, specifically a sacrifice made as a compensation payment...
, release of the scapegoat
Scapegoat
Scapegoating is the practice of singling out any party for unmerited negative treatment or blame. Scapegoating may be conducted by individuals against individuals , individuals against groups , groups against individuals , and groups against groups Scapegoating is the practice of singling out any...
, burnt offering
Burnt Offering
Burnt Offering was a punk fanzine based in and around Northampton, England, from 1979 to 1980.In keeping with the DIY style of the time, Burnt Offerings house style was a mixture of badly-typed articles, ransom note effect lettering and cartoon drawings...
, peace offering, red heifer
Red heifer
The red heifer or red cow was a sacrifice in the Hebrew Bible the ashes of which are used for the ritual purification of an ancient Israelite who had come into contact with a corpse.- Hebrew Bible :...
, heave offering
Heave offering
A heave offering, or terumah is a kind of offering. The word is generally used in the positive sense of an offering to God, though rarely it may also be used in a negative sense, such as of a dishonest "judge who loves gifts."...
, meal offering, dough offering, drink offering
Drink offering
The drink offering was a form of libation forming one of the sacrifices and offerings of the Law of Moses.-Etymology:The Hebrew noun nesek is formed from the Qal form of the verb nasak, "to pour," hence "thing poured." The verb and the noun frequently come together, such as nasak et-nesek,...
, incense offering, thank offering
Thank offering
The thank offering or sacrifice of thanksgiving was an optional offering under the Law of Moses...
, etc., throughout the liturgical year.
Garments
The garments of the priests and high priests are described, and proscribed, in detail in Leviticus. For the high priest these include a priestly tunic, linen undergarments, sash, robe, priestly turban, ephodEphod
An ephod was an article of clothing, and a worship object, in ancient Israelite culture, and was closely connected with oracular practices....
(with Urim and Thummim
Urim and Thummim
In ancient Israelite religion and culture, Urim and Thummim is a phrase from the Hebrew Scriptures or Torah associated with the Hoshen , divination in general, and cleromancy in particular...
), and a priestly breastplate with 12 stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel.
The priests served in rotating priestly divisions
Priestly divisions
The priestly divisions or sacerdotal courses are ritual work groups in Judaism originally formed during the reign of King David in the 10th century BCE as documented in the biblical passage of 1 Chronicles 24. These priests were all descendants of Aaron, known also as Aaronites. Aaron had four...
.
Critical scholarship
The starting point of much critical scholarship of the priesthood in ancient Israel is the thesis of Julius WellhausenJulius Wellhausen
Julius Wellhausen , was a German biblical scholar and orientalist, noted particularly for his contribution to scholarly understanding of the origin of the Pentateuch/Torah ....
that Israel's history is redacted and represents three stages; (1) non Levitical priests, (2) Levitical priests, (3) Aaronids and Levites. However Wellhausen's views depend on some critical, but unproven, assumptions, and some scholars consider that the study of the cult and priesthood of ancient Israel is still in its infancy compared to other areas of biblical studies.