The OT emphasises the spiritual importance of the high priest, especially as the one who makes atonement for the sins of the nation. It also sets out his duties and responsibilities.
The role of the high priest
Making atonement on the Day of Atonement
Leviticus 16:3 See also Leviticus 16:1–34
This is how Aaron is to enter the Holy Place: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.
Teaching
Deuteronomy 33:10 See also Ezra 7:12; Nehemiah 8:2
He will teach Your ordinances to Jacob and Your law to Israel; he will set incense before You and whole burnt offerings on Your altar.
Providing oracles
Leviticus 8:8 See also Numbers 27:21; Deuteronomy 33:8
Then he put the breastpiece on him and placed the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece.
Interceding
At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation with my tunic and cloak torn, and I fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the LORD my God,
Administering the sanctuary
Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, before the Tent of Meeting. They were to perform the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites; but any outsider who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.
Anointing kings
Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, presented him with the Testimony, and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and declared, “Long live the king!”
Supervising censuses
After the plague had ended, the LORD said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, “Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by the houses of their fathers — all those twenty years of age or older who can serve in the army of Israel.”
Encouraging soldiers
When you are about to go into battle, the priest is to come forward and address the army,
Titles used to refer to the high priest
The priest
as well as the woven garments, both the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests,
The anointed priest
Leviticus 4:3 See also Exodus 30:30; Leviticus 4:5, Leviticus 4:16, Leviticus 16:32
If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the LORD a young bull without blemish as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.
The high priest
Leviticus 21:10 See also Haggai 1:12–14, Haggai 2:2–4; Zechariah 3:1–8, Zechariah 6:11
The priest who is highest among his brothers, who has had the anointing oil poured on his head and has been ordained to wear the priestly garments, must not let his hair hang loose or tear his garments.
Melchizedek, the king-priest
Genesis 14:18; Psalm 110:4 David's son, as king-priest, is appointed to the order of Melchizedek, a priesthood superior to that of Aaron; Hebrews 7:11
High priesthood in the law
Only certain people might be high priests
So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood; but any outsider who approaches the tabernacle must be put to death.”
Consecration of a high priest
Next, Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled them on Aaron and his garments, and on his sons and their garments. So he consecrated Aaron and his garments, as well as Aaron’s sons and their garments.
Dignity of the high priesthood
Deuteronomy 17:12 See also Leviticus 21:10
But the man who acts presumptuously, refusing to listen either to the priest who stands there to serve the LORD your God, or to the judge, must be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel.
Dress of the high priest
Exodus 28:4 See also Leviticus 8:7–9, Leviticus 16:4
These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these holy garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so that they may serve Me as priests.
Other high priests mentioned in the OT
1 Samuel 1:9 Eli; 1 Samuel 21:2 Ahimelech; 1 Chronicles 24:3 Zadok; 2 Kings 16:10 Uriah; 2 Kings 22:4 Hilkiah; 2 Kings 25:18 Seraiah; Nehemiah 3:1 Eliashib
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.