Priesthood (ancient Israel)

The priesthood of ancient Israel was the class of male individuals, who, according to the Hebrew Bible, were patrilineal descendants from Aaron (the elder brother of Moses) and the tribe of Levi, 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.

Hebrew Bible

The earliest priest mentioned in the Bible,

Jethro, priest of Midian, and Moses' father in law.^[2]

The first mention of an

Day of Atonement. The priesthood was associated with the tribe of Levi, from whom Aaron

descended.

Sacrifices and rituals

The Israelite priests were to officiate at many offerings prescribed under the

heave offering, drink offering, incense offering, thank offering, etc., throughout the liturgical year. In addition, they would engage in many different rituals, such as the priestly blessing, the red heifer

, the redemption of the firstborn, and various purification rituals.

Garments

The garments of the Israelite priests and high priests are described, and prescribed, in detail in Leviticus. For the high priest these include a

twelve tribes of Israel. The priests served in rotating priestly divisions

.

Critical scholarship

The starting point of much critical scholarship of the priesthood in ancient Israel is the thesis of Julius Wellhausen that biblical Israelite history is redacted and represents three stages:^[3]

non Levitical priests
Levitical priests
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.^[4]

References

^ Genesis 14:18–20
^ William R. Millar Priesthood in ancient Israel 2001
^
ISBN 9780674091764
. Retrieved 16 January 2023. One of the pillars of Julius Wellhausen's great synthesis of the history of Israelite religion was his reconstruction of the history of the [...].

^ Priesthood and cult in ancient Israel ed. Gary A. Anderson, Saul M. Olyan - 1991 "PREFACE The study of the cult and priesthood of ancient Israel is still very much in its infancy. This is surprising in light of how the field of biblical studies has grown over the last century and the myriads of publications it has ..."

[1] Genesis 14:18–20

[2] William R. Millar Priesthood in ancient Israel 2001

[3] 
ISBN 9780674091764
. Retrieved 16 January 2023. One of the pillars of Julius Wellhausen's great synthesis of the history of Israelite religion was his reconstruction of the history of the [...].

[4] Priesthood and cult in ancient Israel ed. Gary A. Anderson, Saul M. Olyan - 1991 "PREFACE The study of the cult and priesthood of ancient Israel is still very much in its infancy. This is surprising in light of how the field of biblical studies has grown over the last century and the myriads of publications it has ..."

[2]

[3]

[4]