Sons of Zadok

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    The Sons of Zadok (Hebrew: בְּנֵי צָדוֹק bǝnê Ṣādōq) are a family of priests (kohanim), descended from Zadok, described in the prophecies of Ezekiel.

    Zadok himself was the first high priest in Solomon's Temple (10th century BCE). His descendants were high priests in that temple until its destruction in 587 BCE. Ezekiel's prophecy came several decades after that destruction, and describes the Zadokite family's loyalty to God while the rest of the nation rebelled against God.

    The sons of Zadok are mentioned four times in the Hebrew Bible, as part of the Third Temple prophecy in the final chapters of the Book of Ezekiel,[1] and are a theme in Jewish and Christian interpretation of these chapters.

    Hebrew Bible

    Ezekiel 44:5–15 describes the "rebellion" of the Israelite people and of the

    Levites. The sins involved in this rebellion include idol worship[2] and the offering of sacrifices by uncircumcised foreigners.[3] As punishment, the "Levites" (including non-Zadokite priests, who are not called priests because they have lost their priestly role[4]) will be demoted from the sacrificial service and will only perform common tasks.[5]

    In contrast (the prophecy continues), the "Levite priests, sons of Zadok" remained loyal to God when the remainder of the people strayed, and therefore they will be entitled to perform the future sacrificial service.[6] The passage then continues with a series of laws the sons of Zadok must keep.[7]

    Rabbinical commentary

    Choice of Zadok

    According to the Bible, Aaron received a perpetual priestly covenant by which his descendants, and only his descendants, would be priests.[8]

    According to some commentaries, the priesthood was further restricted to descendants of Aaron's son

    Pinchas after Pinchas performed his act of zealotry.[9]

    Nevertheless, later on the high priesthood was held by

    Battle of Gibeah, and not relieving Jephthah of his vow).[10] But upon the sin of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, a "man of God" prophesied the extinction of their priesthood:

    And I will erect myself a reliable priest (who acts) with my heart, and with my soul he will do, and I will build him a reliable household, and he will go before my Anointed all of days.[11]

    This prophecy was fulfilled when Zadok, who was descended from Eleazar and Pinchas, was appointed as high priest.[12]

    Rashi comments that since Zadok was the first high priest to serve in Solomon's Temple (as opposed to the mobile tabernacle), and also busied himself with establishing the twenty-four priestly divisions, he merited that the preferred lineage of Eleazar be called by his name, "the sons of Zadok" (as opposed to being titled the sons of Eleazar), and the entire concept of the twenty-four divisions be attributed to him.[13]

    Choice of Zadok's descendants

    Ezekiel records the general rebellion of the children of Israel against God.

    First Temple.[15]

    As recognition for not participating in idol worship and for actively and publicly sanctifying God's name, the sons of Zadok were granted numerous benefits in the Third Temple.[16] Several commentators liken this to the case of a king, who after suppressing a rebellion, rewards those individuals who stood firm and did not join the rebellion.[17]

    immunity against a plague, thus allowing them to function normally while others succumb to its undesirable results.[19]

    Koheleth Rabbah relates how Zadok and offspring were righteous in their personal actions and Temple service, to the point that were Aaron and his sons present at the era of Zadok and sons, Zadok and sons would supersede them in quality.[20]

    Priestly role

    The book of Ezekiel details that the family line of priests, sons of Zadok, will execute the primary services in the Third Temple, that is the services of the altar of the burnt-offering. Similarly, the High Priest must be a descendant of Zadok.[21]

    terumah and kodesh (sacrificial meat).[22][verification needed
    ]

    Ezekiel describes the sons of Zadok as conducting the main sacrificial services in the Third Temple, particularly animal sacrifices ("bring to me fat and blood") and organizing the

    kaballah, north is synonymous with monetary issue), suggesting that the sons of Zadok will not fall temptation to bribery or similar corruption.[24]

    As semi-high priests

    Rabbinic commentators on Ezekiel 44, such as

    coming of the Messiah, all sons of Zadok will have the status of "semi" high priests.[citation needed] This is alongside the choice of one of the sons of Zadok to be the full high priest. One source describes the future high priest from the sons of Zadok as being equal in certain ways to the future Jewish Messiah King.[25][verification needed
    ]

    One commonality between the High Priest and the Sons of Zadok appears in the listing of family members for whom they may or may not become defiled. In both cases, the father is listed before the mother,[26] in contrast to the standard priest, where the mother is listed before the father.[27][28] Another commonality is the animal used for the inauguration by the sons of Zadok of the altar of burnt offering; this animal should be a bull,[29] the same animal typically reserved as a sacrifice of the high priest.[citation needed]

    Garments of linen

    Main article: Temple robes

    The sons of Zadok are instructed to don priestly clothing exclusively made of

    priestly sash.[30]

    Commentators[who?] write that wearing exclusively linen clothing is considered haughty and showy, therefore the sons of Zadok are permitted to wear clothes of wool when going out to mingle with the nation.[31] An additional explanation to refraining from wool during service in the inner court is the nature of sheep to graze in any field they find – even one that the owner does not specifically give permission to (i.e. theft), whereas linen – as a crop – grows where the sustenance-source of the crop is taken by and with the will of the field owner.[32]

    Some

    messianic era, and therefore are instructed to don linen for the temple service, as it was the fruit of the linen crop that Cain chose to sacrifice to God.[34]

    Marriage prohibitions

    Main article:
    Kohanic disqualifications

    Ezekiel 44 prohibits "priests, Levites, sons of Zadok" from certain marriages:

    They must not marry widows or divorced women; they may marry only virgins of Israelite descent or widows of priests.[35]

    The priestly prohibition on marrying divorcees is already known from Leviticus 21:7. However, the inclusion of forbidding a widow, which was usually permitted to a common priest, is a subject of Rabbinic debate. The

    Talmud Bavli reads that the earlier part of Ezekiel 44 relates to the sons of Zadok, whereas 44:22 relates to priests who are not of Zadokite descent, meaning that the Zadokites, like the high priest, were forbidden from marrying a widow.[36] This explanation is echoed by the Malbim, Jonathan Eibshitz, and other commentators who see the future status of the sons of Zadok in a Third Temple
    as quasi-high priests.

    daughter of a priest.[40]

    Others understand the ending part of the verse to concern the Sons of Zadok as well (i.e. a Son of Zadok is permitted to marry the widow of another priest). The

    Chasam Sofer reasons that only the widow of the priest is permitted to the Sons of Zadok, since the purity (marital integrity) level of the former wife of a priest is of greater quality than that of the standard daughter of Israel.[41] Along this style of reasoning, others explain that the turmoil of the Jewish diaspora is cause for loss of marital integrity amongst the greater Jewish population whereas the Kohanim are more apt at maintaining an above-average standard of integrity for their spouses -thus the widow of a priest is permitted to the sons of Zadok.[42]

    Torah instruction

    The sons of Zadok are directed to provide Torah instruction to the people.[43]

    This instruction appears to be redundant to the standard portrayal of the priest as instructor (see The Torah instruction of the Kohanim). Chaim Yosef David Azulai, based on the writings of Samson ben Pesah Ostropoli, explains that the sons of Zadok are required to commit to judging monetary disputes, and are divinely blessed with an inherent ability to conquer the negative attribute of forgetfulness and to judge truthfully.[44]

    Guarding Shabbat

    Similarly, the sons of Zadok are told to guard Shabbat.[43] This too appears to be redundant.

    According to

    activities prohibited on Shabbat due to sacrificial activity that override Shabbat in the Temple, they must be reminded not to do the same outside the Temple.[45] Similarly, due to their requirement to engage in judicial activity, they may transgress Shabbat by writing legal notes.[46] Likewise, there is the need to ascertain the sons of Zadok will not issue a death sentence on the Shabbat.[47]

    Kabbalists declare that in the Messianic era the concept of nightfall and darkness will cease. As there will be no visual indication of the beginning of Shabbat, the sons of Zadok will be responsible for indicating this time to the nation of Israel.

    evil impulses.[49]

    Apportioned chambers

    Main article: Third Temple
    Blue colored sections indicate the chambers allotted to the sons of Zadok in the Third Temple[50]

    Due to the sons of Zadok performing the sacrificial services of the Third Temple, a specified chamber is apportioned to them as per the architectural detail laid out by Ezekiel. The verse describes one unique aspect of this chamber (compared to the other chambers) in the aspect that its entry-point faces north (as opposed to the other chambers opening towards south). Torah commentators describe that since the Zadokite priests are given the duties of the altar of burnt offering, therefore their chamber is situated at the South of the ramp leading up to the Mizbeach, with the entry and exit to their chamber facing North, thereby allowing them direct access to this ramp.[51] The text in Ezekiel does not record the size of this chamber, nor describe if it is split into multiple rooms or is one large room.

    Estates in Jerusalem

    As part of Ezekiel's vision of the division of the

    tefachs) beginning from the southern end of the Temple Mount heading South and from the opposite edge of the Temple Mount leading North, 12,250 kanns leading West and likewise to the East. This portion of the sons of Zadok is included in the 25,000 by 25,000 kanns that are to be given the greater Tribe of Levi with the greater tribe of Levi including Kohanim as well.[52]

    Identifying Kohens of Zadokite lineage

    Beit Knesset Kohanim HaDintreisa
    ), describes multiple personality aspects to be used in identifying genuine Kohanim. He describes the character traits of the Kohanim sons of Zadok as such:

    Any Kohen complete in his ways, exceptional is his path, and straight in his actions, who rises and lingers in the

    Ruach HaKodesh should rest on him.[53]

    Known priests of Zadokite lineage

    Priests in the Hebrew Bible of Zadokite lineage include Ezra and his relative Joshua the High Priest.

    Rabbis of Zadokite lineage include Eleazar ben Azariah (noted as being of tenth generation lineage to Ezra) and his descendants Rabbi Ezra and Rabbi Avtulas.[54]

    Rabbi

    Rifael Ziskind Katz of Hamburg was likewise known to be a descendant of the biblical Ezra, his patrilineal descendants include HaRav HaNazir, She'ar Yashuv Cohen, and Yoel Kahan.[citation needed
    ]

    Rabbinic literature indicates that there were numerous priestly families of Zadokite lineage – amongst them David HaKohain Bar Isha, who upon the Spanish expulsion in 1492, emigrated to the town of Debdou in Morocco – a town purported to have consisted of a large population of Jewish priests.[citation needed]

    Second Temple sects

    Qumran

    Various documents of the texts found at Qumran mention the teachers of the community as "kohanim Sons of Zadok",[55] leading some scholars to assume that the community at Qumran included priests who refused to participate in the Hellenization of the priesthood then taking place in Jerusalem.[56]

    Sadducees

    Main article: Sadducees

    Mishnaic pronunciation) sect of Judaism drew their name from Zadok the high priest in The First Temple, and that the leaders of the Sadducees were in fact the "Sons of Zadok".[57]

    However

    Avot of Rabbi Natan (5:2) states that the Sadducees began at the same time as the Boethusians, and their founder was a later Zadok who, like Boethus, was a student of Antigonus of Sokho during the second century BCE.[58]

    In Christianity

    The idea of a literal fulfillment of Ezekiel's Third Temple in Jerusalem is an idea shared between some schools of Judaism and some millennial or adventist Protestants.[59] These beliefs may include the reinstatement of animal sacrifices,[60] and the reestablishment of a Zadokite priesthood:

    The sons of Zadok are privileged to come near to the Lord to minister to Him. In the kingdom age, the descendants of Zadok become the personal ministers to Jesus the Messiah and His prince ...[61]

    This verse also compares Revelation 1:4–5, 5:9–10 stating that all who are saved by His blood, also are made priest unto God the Father. It speaks of a present priesthood existing as well as into the future for all Christians.

    In literature

    Shmuel HaNagid
    alluded to the loyalty of the sons of Zadok in his poem:

    A benevolent, Crassness she does not speak

    And does not heave shame on her parents

    The chosen sons of Zadok, a covenant of friendship She will defame, but her father she will not defame[62]

    See also

    External links

    References

    1. ^ Ezekiel 40:46, 43:19, 44:15, 48:11
    2. ^ Ezekiel 44:10,12
    3. ^ Ezekiel 44:7
    4. ^ Abarbanel, Ezekiel 44:11
    5. ^ Ezekiel 44:11–14
    6. ^ Ezekiel 44:15–16
    7. ^ Ezekiel 44:17–31
    8. ^ Exodus 29:9, Numbers 18:19, 1 Chronicles 23:13
    9. Yosef Karo, Maggid Meisharim, p. 55b; Rashi to Zevachim 101b interpreting the "covenant of eternal priesthood" (Numbers 25:13
      )
    10. ^ Yalkut Shimoni, 19,19; Genesis Rabbah 60:3
    11. ^ 1 Samuel 2:35
    12. ^ See "Torath HaKohanim", Mnachem Risikoff, Minor Chap. 200
    13. Haphtorah
      Parshat Emor
    14. ^ Malbim to Ezekiel chap. 2
    15. ^ Malbim on Ezekiel 4:5
    16. ^ Malbim to Malachi 3:3
    17. Chafetz Chaim
      to the Torah, Haftorah to Parshat Emor
    18. Deuteronomy
      10:8
    19. ^ Elef HaMagen (Elishevitz) to Haphtorah Parshat Emor
    20. Koheleth Rabbah
      Chap. 1
    21. Midrash ha-Gadol
      to Genesis 6:4 etc.
    22. ^ Malbim, 2 Kings 23:9
    23. ^ Ezekiel 44:15–16
    24. ^ Ahavath Yonathan to Haftarah Emor reading in Leviticus
    25. ^ Divrei Tovah to 1 Samuel 2:37
    26. ^ Leviticus 21:11, Ezekiel 44:25
    27. ^ Leviticus 21:2
    28. ^ Yehoshua Rokeach to Haftarath Emor in Leviticus
    29. ^ Ezekiel 43:19
    30. ^ Ezekiel 44:17–19
    31. Chasam Sofer
      to Orach Chayim chap. 15 (second count)
    32. ^ Elef HaMagen to Haftarah Emor
    33. ^ The Jewish religion: a companion, page 61. Louis Jacobs; 1995. "The name Cain, in Hebrew kayin, is said to have been given by Eve because she declared: 'I have gotten kaniti.'"
    34. Nethaneel Weil
      to Haftarath Emor
    35. ^ Ezekiel 44:22
    36. Talmud Bavli, Kiddushin
      78b
    37. ^ Aaron Zakkai, Torath HaParsha to Haftarath Emor
    38. ^ Chaim ibn Attar on Ezekiel, as quoted in "Bechor Yaakov" of Rabbi Ya'akov HaCohen zl from Djerba
    39. ^ Yom-Tov Lipmann Heller to Leviticus 21:14 (quoted in chumash Otzar Rishonim)
    40. ^ Malbim to Ezekiel 44:15-22
    41. Radak
    42. ^ "Mincha Belula to Vayikra 21:14 (printed in Chumash "Otzar HaRishonim")
    43. ^ a b Ezekiel 44:24
    44. ^ Chaim Yosef David Azulai Tzavrei Shallal" of the Chid"a to Haftarath Emor
    45. ^ Malbim on Ezekiel 44:24
    46. Chaim Palagi
      ) to Ezekiel chap. 44
    47. ^ Mishmereth Tzvi to Haftarath Parshat Emor
    48. ^ Ahavath Yonathan to Haftarath Parshat Emor
    49. ^ Pri Tzadik to Parshat Emor
    50. ^ Image based on Malbim's commentary to Ezekiel
    51. ^ Malbim, Ezekiel 40:41
    52. ^ Ezekiel chapters 45 and 48
    53. ^ Iggereth of Rav Hai Gaon, Ginzei Keddem vol.4 p.54
    54. ^ Menachot 53a
    55. ^ Biblical Exegesis of 4QpIsJM Rosenthal - The Jewish Quarterly Review, 1969 - JSTOR ...between Sadducees and Zadokites, Driver had a predecessor, namely, the Hebrew writer and journalist Ben Zion Katz
    56. ^ The Survivors of Israel: A Reconsideration of the Theology of Pre-Christian Judaism (9780802844835): p455
    57. ^ Abraham Geiger, Urschrift und Uebersetzung der Bibel in ihrer Abhängigkeit von der inneren Entwicklung des Judentums (Breslau: Hainauer, 1857) p.20
    58. ^ The dawn of Qumran: the sectarian Torah and the teacher of righteousness Ben Zion Wacholder 1983 "Zadok and Baethus, according to Abot de-Rabbi Nathan, studied under the master Antigonus of Soko, himself a disciple of Simon the Just, one of Jerusalem's high priests during the third century bce."
    59. ^ The Kregel Pictorial Guide to the Temple, page 4. Robert Backhouse, Tim Dowley; 1996; 32 pages; "Messiah's Coming Temple: Ezekiel's Prophetic Vision of the Future Temple" John W. Schmitt and J. Carl Laney. "What would a rebuilt Jewish temple – as prophesied in the Old Testament – look like? Based on extensive biblical research and ..."
    60. ^ The End of Days: Fundamentalism and the Struggle for the Temple Mount, page 177. Gershom Gorenberg; 2001; 288 pages. "People say sacrifice ended with the death of Jesus", he says. "I'm having to correct Christian notions in that ... That argument gets fuller treatment in Messiah's Coming Temple, by Oregon preachers John W. Schmitt and J. Carl Laney."
    61. ^ Messiah's coming Temple: Ezekiel's prophetic vision of the future page 92. John W. Schmitt, J. Carl Laney; 1997. Grand Rapids, Kegel Publications
    62. ^ Song of Rabbi Shmuel HaNagid, printed in "Chikrei HaLashon" p. 109
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