Priests

Overview

God established the Levitical priesthood through Aaron and his sons to serve as mediators between Him and Israel. Priests were uniquely consecrated through anointing oil, given specific duties in tabernacle worship, and held exclusive rights to certain offerings and holy things. Their role emphasized the need for qualified intermediaries to approach a holy God.

Key Scriptures

"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.'" (Numbers 3:10, ESV)

"The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: No one of your offspring throughout their generations who has a blemish may approach to offer the bread of his God.'" (Leviticus 22:11, ESV)

"The Lord blessed them, saying, 'The Lord bless you and keep you.'" (Numbers 6:24-25, ESV)

Application

Believers today can appreciate how Christ fulfills the priestly office perfectly, making direct access to God available to all who trust in Him.

✦ Scripture References 40 references

Numbers 31:29 Numbers 31:41 Exodus 19:22 Exodus 24:5 Leviticus 22:11 Numbers 18:14 Numbers 3:10 Numbers 16:40 Numbers 18:7 Numbers 5:8 Exodus 30:30 Exodus 40:13 Numbers 6:23 Numbers 6:24 Numbers 6:25 Numbers 6:26 Numbers 6:27 Numbers 10:1 Numbers 10:2 Numbers 10:3 Numbers 10:4 Numbers 10:5 Numbers 10:6 Numbers 10:7 Numbers 10:8 Numbers 10:9 Numbers 10:10 Joshua 6:3 Joshua 6:4 Exodus 20:7 Exodus 20:8 Luke 1:9 Joshua 3:6 Joshua 3:17 Joshua 6:12 Leviticus 22:12 Hebrews 10:11 Hebrews 10:12 Exodus 29:8 Exodus 29:9

✦ Topical Scripture Breakdown 406 verses

A fixed portion of the spoil taken in war

Numbers 31:29 Numbers 31:41

After the exodus young men (first-born) deputed to act as

Exodus 19:22 Exodus 24:5

All bought and home-born servants to eat of their portion

Leviticus 22:11

All devoted things

Numbers 18:14

All except seed of Aaron excluded from being

Numbers 3:10 Numbers 16:40 Numbers 18:7

All restitutions when the owner could not be found

Numbers 5:8

Anointing with oil

Exodus 30:30 Exodus 40:13

Blessing the people

Numbers 6:23 Numbers 6:24 Numbers 6:25 Numbers 6:26 Numbers 6:27

Blowing the trumpets on various occasions

Joshua 6:3 Joshua 6:4 Numbers 10:1 Numbers 10:2 Numbers 10:3 Numbers 10:4 Numbers 10:5 Numbers 10:6 Numbers 10:7 Numbers 10:8 Numbers 10:9 Numbers 10:10

Burning incense

Exodus 20:7 Exodus 20:8 Luke 1:9

Carrying the ark

Joshua 3:6 Joshua 3:17 Joshua 6:12

Children of, married to strangers, not to eat of their portion

Leviticus 22:12

Christ

Hebrews 10:11 Hebrews 10:12

Clothing with the holy garments

Exodus 29:8 Exodus 29:9 Exodus 40:14 Leviticus 8:13

Corrupters of the law

Isaiah 28:7 Malachi 2:8

Covering the sacred things of the sanctuary before removal

Numbers 4:5 Numbers 4:6 Numbers 4:7 Numbers 4:8 Numbers 4:9 Numbers 4:10 Numbers 4:11 Numbers 4:12 Numbers 4:13 Numbers 4:14 Numbers 4:15

Deciding in cases of jealousy

Numbers 5:14 Numbers 5:15

Deciding in cases of leprosy

Leviticus 13:2 Leviticus 13:3 Leviticus 13:4 Leviticus 13:5 Leviticus 13:6 Leviticus 13:7 Leviticus 13:8 Leviticus 13:9 Leviticus 13:10 Leviticus 13:11 Leviticus 13:12 Leviticus 13:13 Leviticus 13:14 Leviticus 13:15 Leviticus 13:16 Leviticus 13:17 Leviticus 13:18 Leviticus 13:19 Leviticus 13:20 Leviticus 13:21 Leviticus 13:22 Leviticus 13:23 Leviticus 13:24 Leviticus 13:25 Leviticus 13:26 Leviticus 13:27 Leviticus 13:28 Leviticus 13:29 Leviticus 13:30 Leviticus 13:31 Leviticus 13:32 Leviticus 13:33 Leviticus 13:34 Leviticus 13:35 Leviticus 13:36 Leviticus 13:37 Leviticus 13:38 Leviticus 13:39 Leviticus 13:40 Leviticus 13:41 Leviticus 13:42 Leviticus 13:43 Leviticus 13:44 Leviticus 13:45 Leviticus 13:46 Leviticus 13:47 Leviticus 13:48 Leviticus 13:49 Leviticus 13:50 Leviticus 13:51

Divided by David into twenty-four courses

Drunken

Isaiah 28:7

During patriarchal age heads of families acted as

Genesis 8:20 Genesis 12:8 Genesis 35:7

Each course of, had its president or chief

1 Chronicles 24:6 1 Chronicles 24:31 2 Chronicles 36:14

Encouraging the people when they went to war

Deuteronomy 20:1 Deuteronomy 20:2 Deuteronomy 20:3 Deuteronomy 20:4

First notice of persons acting as

Genesis 4:3 Genesis 4:4

First of the wool of sheep

Deuteronomy 18:4

First-born of animals or their substitutes

Exodus 13:12 Exodus 13:13 Numbers 18:17 Numbers 18:18

First-fruits

Deuteronomy 18:4 Numbers 18:8 Numbers 18:12 Numbers 18:13

Generally participated in punishment of the people

Jeremiah 14:18 Lamentations 2:20

Greedy

1 Samuel 2:13 1 Samuel 2:14 1 Samuel 2:15 1 Samuel 2:16 1 Samuel 2:17

Judging in cases of controversy

Deuteronomy 17:8 Deuteronomy 17:9 Deuteronomy 17:10 Deuteronomy 17:11 Deuteronomy 17:12 Deuteronomy 17:13 Deuteronomy 21:5

Keeping the charge of the tabernacle

Numbers 18:1 Numbers 18:5 Numbers 18:7

Keeping the sacred fire always burning on the altar

Leviticus 6:12 Leviticus 6:13

Laid up in holy chambers

Ezekiel 44:19

Lasted seven days

Exodus 29:35 Exodus 29:36 Exodus 29:37 Leviticus 8:33

Lighting and trimming the lamps of the sanctuary

Exodus 27:20 Exodus 27:21 Leviticus 24:3 Leviticus 24:4

Made of the lowest of the people by Jeroboam and others

1 Kings 12:21 2 Kings 17:32

Might purchase and hold other lands in possession

1 Kings 2:26 Jeremiah 32:8 Jeremiah 32:9

No blemished or defective persons could be consecrated

Leviticus 21:17 Leviticus 21:18 Leviticus 21:19 Leviticus 21:20 Leviticus 21:21 Leviticus 21:22 Leviticus 21:23

No sojourner or hired servant to eat of their portion

Leviticus 22:10

Not to defile themselves by eating what died or was torn

Leviticus 22:8

Not to defile themselves for the dead except the nearest of kin

Leviticus 21:1 Leviticus 21:2 Leviticus 21:3 Leviticus 21:4 Leviticus 21:5 Leviticus 21:6

Not to drink wine, &c while attending in the tabernacle

Ezekiel 44:21 Leviticus 10:9

Not to marry divorced or improper persons

Leviticus 21:7

Offering first fruits

Deuteronomy 26:3 Deuteronomy 26:4 Leviticus 23:10 Leviticus 23:11

Offering sacrifices

Often provided by the people

Ezra 2:68 Ezra 2:69 Nehemiah 7:70 Nehemiah 7:72

On special occasions persons not of Aaron's family acted as

1 Kings 18:33 1 Samuel 7:9 Judges 6:24 Judges 6:25 Judges 6:26 Judges 6:27

Part of all sacrifices

Deuteronomy 18:3 Leviticus 7:6 Leviticus 7:7 Leviticus 7:8 Leviticus 7:9 Leviticus 7:10 Leviticus 7:31 Leviticus 7:34 Numbers 6:19 Numbers 6:20 Numbers 18:8 Numbers 18:9 Numbers 18:10 Numbers 18:11

Partaking of the sacrifices of consecration

Exodus 29:31 Exodus 29:32 Exodus 29:33 Leviticus 8:31 Leviticus 8:32

Placing and removing show-bread

Leviticus 24:5 Leviticus 24:6 Leviticus 24:7 Leviticus 24:8 Leviticus 24:9

Placing in their hands the wave-offering

Exodus 29:22 Exodus 29:23 Exodus 29:24 Leviticus 8:25 Leviticus 8:26 Leviticus 8:27

Profane and wicked

1 Samuel 2:22 1 Samuel 2:23 1 Samuel 2:24

Publicly consecrated

Exodus 28:3 Numbers 3:3

Punishment for invading the office of

2 Chronicles 26:16 2 Chronicles 26:17 2 Chronicles 26:18 2 Chronicles 26:19 2 Chronicles 26:20 2 Chronicles 26:21 Numbers 16:1 Numbers 16:2 Numbers 16:3 Numbers 16:4 Numbers 16:5 Numbers 16:6 Numbers 16:7 Numbers 16:8 Numbers 16:9 Numbers 16:10 Numbers 16:11 Numbers 16:12 Numbers 16:13 Numbers 16:14 Numbers 16:15 Numbers 16:16 Numbers 16:17 Numbers 16:18 Numbers 16:19 Numbers 16:20 Numbers 16:21 Numbers 16:22 Numbers 16:23 Numbers 16:24 Numbers 16:25 Numbers 16:26 Numbers 16:27 Numbers 16:28 Numbers 16:29 Numbers 16:30 Numbers 16:31 Numbers 16:32 Numbers 16:33 Numbers 16:34 Numbers 16:35 Numbers 18:7

Purification by blood of the consecration ram

Exodus 29:20 Exodus 29:21 Leviticus 8:23 Leviticus 8:24

Purified by sprinkling of blood

Exodus 29:21

Purifying the unclean

Leviticus 15:30 Leviticus 15:31

Redemption-money of the first-born

Numbers 3:48 Numbers 3:51 Numbers 18:15 Numbers 18:16

Required to prove their genealogy before they exercised the office

Ezra 2:62 Nehemiah 7:64

Required to remain in the tabernacle seven days after consecration

Leviticus 8:33 Leviticus 8:34 Leviticus 8:35 Leviticus 8:36

Required to wash in the brazen laver before they performed their services

Exodus 30:18 Exodus 30:19 Exodus 30:20 Exodus 30:21

Restitution to be made to, by persons ignorantly eating of their holy things

Leviticus 22:14 Leviticus 22:15 Leviticus 22:16

Saints

1 Peter 2:9 Exodus 19:6

Sanctified by God for the office

Exodus 29:44

Services of, divided by lot

Luke 1:9

Services of, ineffectual for removing sin

Hebrews 7:11 Hebrews 10:11

Show-bread after its removal

1 Samuel 21:4 1 Samuel 21:5 1 Samuel 21:6 Leviticus 24:9 Matthew 12:4

Slow to sanctify, themselves for God's services

2 Chronicles 29:34

Teaching the law

Deuteronomy 33:8 Deuteronomy 33:10 Malachi 2:7

Tenth of the tithes paid to the Levites

Hebrews 7:5 Nehemiah 10:37 Nehemiah 10:38 Numbers 18:26 Numbers 18:28

The bonnet

Exodus 28:40 Exodus 39:28

The coat or tunic

Exodus 28:40 Exodus 39:27

The four courses which returned from Babylon subdivided into 24

Ezra 2:36 Ezra 2:37 Ezra 2:38 Ezra 2:39 Luke 1:5

The girdle

Exodus 28:40

The linen breeches

Exodus 28:42 Exodus 39:28

The sons of Aaron appointed as, by perpetual statute

Exodus 29:9 Exodus 40:15

Thirteen of the Levitical cities given to, for residence

1 Chronicles 6:57 1 Chronicles 6:58 1 Chronicles 6:59 1 Chronicles 6:60 Numbers 35:1 Numbers 35:2 Numbers 35:3 Numbers 35:4 Numbers 35:5 Numbers 35:6 Numbers 35:7 Numbers 35:8

Unjust

Jeremiah 6:13

Valuing things devoted

Leviticus 27:8

Washing in water

Exodus 29:4 Leviticus 8:6

Were to live by the altar as they had no inheritance

1 Corinthians 9:13 Deuteronomy 18:1 Deuteronomy 18:2

While unclean could not eat of the holy things

Leviticus 22:3 Leviticus 22:4 Leviticus 22:5 Leviticus 22:6 Leviticus 22:7

While unclean could not perform any service

Leviticus 22:1 Leviticus 22:2 Numbers 19:6 Numbers 19:7

Worn always while engaged in the service of the tabernacle

Exodus 28:43 Exodus 39:41

Worn at consecration

Exodus 29:9 Exodus 40:15

Worn by the high priest on the day of atonement

Leviticus 16:4

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