Priests played an important role in the OT and were regarded as having a special status and place in the life of Israel.
Pagan priests in the OT
1 Samuel 6:1–2; 2 Kings 23:5; Hosea 10:5; Zephaniah 1:4
The special status of priests
Ezra 1:5; Isaiah 24:2; Hosea 4:9; Micah 3:11
Associated with the descendants of Levi through Aaron
The exclusive nature of the priesthood
1 Chronicles 6:49 Only God has the right to nominate those who mediate between him and humanity. See also Exodus 6:16–20 This genealogy shows Moses and Aaron were both descended from Levi; Exodus 28:1, Exodus 29:44, Exodus 30:30; Numbers 16:40DEU Numbers 18:1; Jeremiah 33:21
But Aaron and his sons did all the work of the Most Holy Place. They presented the offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
Micah's priest
Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, because a Levite has become my priest.”
The Shiloh priesthood
1 Chronicles 24:3 See also 1 Chronicles 6:27
With the help of Eleazar’s descendant Zadok and Ithamar’s descendant Ahimelech, David divided them according to the offices of their service.
The priests in Dan
The Danites set up idols for themselves, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.
Descendants of Zadok
Ezekiel 44:15–16 See also 2 Samuel 8:17; 1 Chronicles 6:50–53, 1 Chronicles 24:3
But the Levitical priests, who are descended from Zadok and who kept charge of My sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from Me, are to approach Me to minister before Me. They will stand before Me to offer Me fat and blood, declares the Lord GOD. They alone shall enter My sanctuary and draw near to My table to minister before Me. They will keep My charge.
Criticism of priestly appointments that were not Levitical
1 Kings 12:31 See also 1 Kings 13:33; 2 Chronicles 11:13–14, 2 Chronicles 13:9
Jeroboam also built shrines on the high places and appointed from every class of people priests who were not Levites.
The appointment of priests
Their preliminary purification
Exodus 29:4 See also Exodus 30:19, Exodus 40:12
Then present Aaron and his sons at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water.
Their anointing
Exodus 30:30–32 See also Leviticus 8:30; Numbers 3:3 Kings and priests also were anointed.
Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them to serve Me as priests. And you are to tell the Israelites, ‘This will be My sacred anointing oil for the generations to come. It must not be used to anoint an ordinary man, and you must not make anything like it with the same formula. It is holy, and it must be holy to you.
Their consecration
Exodus 29:1 See also Exodus 29:12–14, Exodus 29:18, Exodus 29:20–21; Leviticus 8:12
“Now this is what you are to do to consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve Me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without blemish,
Their ordination
Exodus 29:35 See also Exodus 29:9, Exodus 29:29, Exodus 29:33; Leviticus 8:22, Leviticus 8:33; Judges 17:5, Judges 17:12
This is what you are to do for Aaron and his sons based on all that I have commanded you, taking seven days to ordain them.
The dress of the priests
Exodus 28:40 See also Exodus 28:42, Exodus 39:27–29; Leviticus 8:13
Make tunics, sashes, and headbands for Aaron’s sons, to give them glory and splendor.
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.