Priests

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Priests Levites

• APTS-BOT640

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1. Terms

• The word "priest," either alone or qualified by
  "chief" or "high," occurs over seven hundred
  times in the OT and over eighty times in the NT.
  The term "Levite" is less frequent it occurs
  some eighty times in the OT and only three times
  in the NT. Abba, Priests and Levites, IDB

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1. Terms Priest

• The Hebrew term for priest is kohen (!hk) which
  also appears in Phoenician inscriptions. The term
  is not restricted to Hebrew priest, but is also
  used for foreign religious functionaries.
  Etymologically, the term derives from kun (!wk),
  with the meaning, to stand. This implies that a
  priest stands and ministers before God/gods as
  their servants.

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1. Terms Levites

• The Hebrew term for Levites derives from the
  tribe name Levi (ywl).
• In Num. 182, 4, however, there is a play upon
  words between ywl and the verb hwl, meaning "to
  attach" or "to be joined" the tribe of Levi is
  to be joined to Aaron. Some have maintained that
  this wordplay is an indication of the true
  etymology of the term. The word "Levite," it is
  said, is not an indication of genealogy but
  signifies "one who attaches himself." The Levites
  are therefore regarded, on this view, as being
  originally either foreigners who joined the
  Israelites in the exodus period or Hebrew cultic
  attendants who acted as an escort to the ark or
  were attached to some local sanctuary. Abba

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2. Hierarchical Society
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2. Hierarchical Society
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2. Hierarchical Society

• Those not of Aarons direct family cannot become
  high priests (Exod 28.1), the Levites cannot
  become priests (Num 16-17), and members of the
  other tribes cannot fulfil Levitical functions
  (Num 8.14). The division of labour represented by
  the special tasks of the different groups is
  authorized by divine command through Moses, or
  sometimes Moses and Aaron . . . . To challenge
  and try to change this order is therefore a
  rebellion against God himself (Num 16.11).
  Jenson, Graded Holiness

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2. Hierarchical Society

• A high status in the hierarchy brings with it
  great privileges, although there (sic) are not
  unlimited. The priests had several sources of
  income and support, including a sizeable share in
  the booty and the tithes, although they could not
  own land (Num 18.20). The Levites were also given
  sources of income, in addition to cities with
  their pasture lands. The privileges were rewards
  for great responsibilities. The priests were not
  only required to sacrifice, they were also to
  guard the sanctuary from encroachment. The
  Levites were also guards, but outside the
  sanctuary. Jenson, Graded Holiness

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3. Priests Ordination

• 1. Initial State
• Aaron and his sons are clean
• Aaron and his sons were normal clothing
• 2. Rite of Separation (Lev 8)
• Moses washes Aaron sons with water (8.6)
• Moses dresses Aaron sons in special clothing
  (8.7-9, 13)
• Moses anoints consecrates the Tabernacle
  (8.10-11)
• Moses pours the anointing oil on Aaron (8.12)
• Moses offers 3 sacrifices (8.14-29)
• Moses sprinkles anointing oil and blood on Aaron
  his clothing
• Moses sprinkles anointing oil and blood on
  Aarons sons and clothing (8.30)

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3. Priests Ordination

• 3. Marginal State
• Aaron sons remain in sanctuary for seven days
  (8.33, 35)
• 4. Rite of Aggregation (Lev 9)
• Aaron offers a representative section of
  sacrifices
• For himself (9.8-14)
• For Israel (9.15-21)
• Aaron blesses the people by himself (9.22) and
  them with Moses (9.23)
• The glory of Yahweh appears (9.23)
• Fire from Yahweh consumes the sacrifice (9.24a)
• The People respond by shouting and prostration
  (9.24b)
• 5. Final State
• Aaron sons are priests.

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3. Priests Ordination

• . . . only God was holy in the absolute sense,
  and the narrative records the way in which Israel
  became a stratified society. The initiation of
  the priesthood along with the institution of the
  Tabernacle took place at Sinai. . . .
• The ordination, in form and content is closely
  associated with the sanctification of the
  Tabernacle. Thus the instructions to ordain Aaron
  and his sons, and their fulfilment, follow
  immediately upon the instructions to consecrate
  the Tabernacle and their fulfilment (Exod
  40.8-12/12-15 Lev 8.10-11/12-13). Jenson,
  Graded Holiness

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3. Priests Hierarchy

• Aaron was at the pinnacle of priestly hierarchy
• He was called the priest (Exod 29.30) Aaron
  the priest (Exod 31.10 Num 3.6).
• Yahweh would speak to him directly (Lev 10.8 Num
  18.1, 8, 20)
• Could correct Moses on cultic issues (Lev
  10.16-20
• Ministered in the inner sanctuary

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3. Priests Hierarchy

• The eldest son of the high priest held the
  second highest position in the hierarchy. Eleazar
  had overall leadership of the Levites (Num 3.32),
  and he supervised the sanctuary vessels carried
  by the Kohathites (Num 4.16).
• The younger son, Ithamar, oversaw the other two
  Levitical clans (Gershonites 4.28 Merarites
  4.33 7.8), who carried the less holy materials
  of the sanctuary, and who thus had a less
  dangerous tasks. Ithamar was also in charge of
  inventories of the Tabernacle (Exod 38.210.
  Jenson, Graded Holiness

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3. Priests Garments

• High Priests Garments are Described and Listed
  in Exod 28.6-43 39.1-43 28.4 29.5-9 Lev
  8.7-9 16.4.
• The basic order of Ephod, Breastplate, Robe,
  Rosette Diadem, Tunic, Turban Headdress, Sash,
  Undergarments seem to reflect an order of
  holiness in terms of material used and the more
  outward in order.

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3. Priests Marriage
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3. Priests Morning Customs
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3. Priests Morning of Partner
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4. Levites Initiation

• 1. Moses
• Sprinkles them with the water of purification
  (Num 8.7)
• 2. Levites
• Shave (Num 8.7)
• Wash their clothes (Num 8.7)
• 3. Aaron
• Separates them (Num 8.14)
• Offers them as a tenupha4 (Num 8.11)
• 4. Levites offer sacrifices (Num 8.12, 21)
• 5. Purpose to purify them (Num 8.21)

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4. Levites Role

• Hard labor for the sanctuary (Num 8.19, 21)
• Disqualified by impurity (but not by blemishes)
• Serve Aaron (Num 3.6 18.2), and the people (Num
  16.9)
• Guard Aaron and the tent (Num 18.3)
• Carry and transport Tabernacle Items (Num 3.21-37)