Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Aaron was the first who was solemnly set apart to this office (Ex. 29:7; 30:23; Lev. 8:12). He wore a peculiar dress, which on his death passed to his successor in office (Ex. 29:29, 30). Besides those garments which he wore in common with all priests, there were four that were peculiar to himself as high priest: (1.) The “robe” of the ephod, all of blue, of “woven work,” worn immediately under the ephod. It was without seam or sleeves.
The hem or skirt was ornamented with pomegranates and golden bells, seventy-two of each in alternate order. The sounding of the bells intimated to the people in the outer court the time when the high priest entered into the holy place to burn incense before the Lord (Ex. 28). (2.) The “ephod” consisted of two parts, one of which covered the back and the other the breast, which were united by the “curious girdle.” It was made of fine
twined linen, and ornamented with gold and purple. Each of the shoulder-straps was adorned with a precious stone, on which the names of the twelve tribes were engraved. This was the high priest’s distinctive vestment (1 Sam. 2:28; 14:3; 21:9; 23:6, 9; 30:7). (3.) The “breastplate of judgment” (Ex. 28:6-12, 25-28; 39:2-7) of “cunning work.” It was a piece of cloth doubled, of one span square. It bore twelve precious stones, set in four
rows of three in a row, which constituted the Urim and Thummim (q.v.). These stones had the names of the twelve tribes engraved on them. When the high priest, clothed with the ephod and the breastplate, inquired of the Lord, answers were given in some mysterious way by the Urim and Thummim (1 Sam. 14:3, 18, 19; 23:2, 4, 9, 11, 12; 28:6; 2 Sam. 5:23). (4.) The “mitre,” or upper turban, a twisted band of eight yards of fine linen coiled into a
cap, with a gold plate in front, engraved with “Holiness to the Lord,” fastened to it by a ribbon of blue. To the high priest alone it was permitted to enter the holy of holies, which he did only once a year, on the great Day of Atonement, for “the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest” (Heb. 9; 10). Wearing his gorgeous priestly vestments, he entered the temple before all the people, and then, laying them aside and
assuming only his linen garments in secret, he entered the holy of holies alone, and made expiation, sprinkling the blood of the sin offering on the mercy seat, and offering up incense. Then resuming his splendid robes, he reappeared before the people (Lev. 16). Thus the wearing of these robes came to be identified with the Day of Atonement. The office, dress, and ministration of the high priest were typical of the priesthood of our Lord (Heb.
4:14; 7:25; 9:12, etc.). It is supposed that there were in all eighty-three high priests, beginning with Aaron (B.C. 1657) and ending with Phannias (A.D. 70). At its first institution the office of high priest was held for life (but comp. 1 Kings 2:27), and was hereditary in the family of Aaron (Num. 3:10). The office continued in the line of Eleazar, Aaron’s eldest son, for two hundred and ninety-six years, when it passed to Eli, the first of
the line of Ithamar, who was the fourth son of Aaron. In this line it continued to Abiathar, whom Solomon deposed, and appointed Zadok, of the family of Eleazar, in his stead (1 Kings 2:35), in which it remained till the time of the Captivity. After the Return, Joshua, the son of Josedek, of the family of Eleazar, was appointed to this office. After him the succession was changed from time to time under priestly or political influences.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898) & Schaff's Bible Dictionary
HIGH' PRIEST, the head of the Jewish priesthood, Lev 21:10. Aaron was the first to hold the office, Ex 28:1, and his descendants filled it after him. Eleazar was his immediate successor, Num 3:32; Num 20:28; Deut 10:6, and the priesthood remained in his family till Eli, 1 Chr 24:3, 1 Chr 24:6, who was of the house of Ithamar. The office of the high priest was originally held for life. This rule was disregarded by Solomon, who appointed Zadok and
deposed Abiathar, 1 Kgs 2:35, because he had espoused the cause of Adonijah, 1 Kgs 1:7, 1 Kgs 1:25. In the years succeeding the close of the canon the office became a tool in the hands of the rulers of the land. Herod particularly and his successors disregarded the tradition of the Jews on this point. This people, who held the ofiice so sacred, now often begged their rulers to remove the incumbents, who were parasites of the throne. Herod
appointed no less than five high priests himself, and one of them, Simon, as the price of his daughter in marriage. We consequently read in the N.T. of several high priests living at the same time, and Annas and Caiaphas are particularly mentioned, Luke 3:2. The services of consecration were prolonged, lasting 7 days, Ex 29:35. and elaborate. They consisted of sacrifices, Ex 29; of anointing with oil, Ex 29:7; Ex 30:22-33; Lev 21:10; and of
putting on of garments, Ex 29:5-6, Ex 29:8-9. The dress of the high priest was much more costly and magnificent than that of the inferior order of priests. It is described Ex 39:1-9. In the cut are seen the robe and ephod, the latter of which is outermost of all, and is curiously wrought with gold wire and blue, purple, and scarlet thread. Upon either shoulder is seen an onyx-stone, on each of which were engraved the names of six of the tribes of
Israel. The breastplate is also seen, with a wrought chain of High Priest. Priest. gold attached to each corner, and passing under the arms and over the shoulder. See Breastplate. The mitre, or head-dress, is formed of eight yards of fine linen, in circular folds, and inscribed in front, upon a plate of pure gold, Holiness to the Lord. The fringe or hem of the robe, and the bells suspended from it, are also seen. The dress of the high priest on
the day of expiation was very plain and simple, consisting only of plain linen, with a sash or girdle. Hence these were called by the Jews the priest's "white garments," etc.; the former, "garments of gold." Functions. — The high priest's most solemn, peculiar, and exclusive duty was to offciate in the most holy place on the great day of atonement, Heb 9:7, Heb 9:25. See Atonement, Day of. In Lev 16 we have a full account of this most
interesting service and the imposing ceremonies which preceded it. The high priest might at any time perform the duties assigned to the ordinary priests. He was in general the overseer of the temple, 2 Kgs 12:10, and at the time of our Lord presided over the Sanhedrin. Acts 5:17; John 18:13-14, etc. Jesus is the great High Priest, who once for all sprinkled with his own blood the threshold of the holy of holies (heaven), where he ever liveth to
make intercession for us. Heb 4:14; Neh 7:25; Heb 9:12, etc.