Topics Research¶

Question¶

What are the qualifications for the Levitical priesthood, what do the priestly garments signify, and how does the high priest's ministry prefigure Christ's? How does the distinction between regular priest and high priest map onto Christ's ministry?

Topics¶

PRIEST¶

Before Moses: - Melchizedek (GEN 14:18; HEB 5:6,10,11; 6:20; 7:1-21) - Jethro (EXO 2:16) - Priests in Israel before the law (EXO 19:22,24) - Called "angel" (ECC 5:6)

Mosaic Institution: - Appointed: EXO 28:1-4; 29:9,44; NUM 3:10; 18:7; 1CH 23:13 - Hereditary descent: EXO 27:21; 28:43; 29:9 - Consecration: EXO 29:1-9,19-35; 40:12-16; LEV 6:20-23; 8:6-35; HEB 7:21 - Holy: LEV 21:6,7; 22:9,16 - Without blemish: LEV 21:17-23 - Vestments: EXO 28:2-43; 39:1-29; LEV 6:10,11; 8:13; EZK 44:17-19 - Ablutions: EXO 40:30-32; LEV 16:24 - Atonement for: LEV 16:6,24; EZK 44:27 - Marriage restrictions: LEV 21:7-15; EZK 44:22 - 24 divisions: 1CH 24:1-19; 2CH 8:14; EZR 2:36-39 - Chosen by lot: LUK 1:8,9,23

Duties: - Offer sacrifices: LEV 1:4-17; 2:2,16; 3:5,11,13,16; 4:5-12; HEB 10:11 - Offer firstfruits: LEV 23:10,11; DEU 26:3,4 - Pronounce benedictions: NUM 6:22-27; DEU 21:5; 2CH 30:27 - Teach the law: LEV 10:11; DEU 24:8; 33:10; MAL 2:7 - Light lamps: EXO 27:20,21; LEV 24:3,4 - Keep sacred fire: LEV 6:12,13 - Responsible for sanctuary: NUM 4:5-15; 18:1,5,7 - Sound trumpets: NUM 10:2-10; JOS 6; 2CH 13:12 - Purify unclean: LEV 15:31 - Officiate in Holy Place: HEB 9:6 - Act as magistrates: DEU 17:8-13; EZK 44:23,24 - Carry the ark: JOS 3; 4:15-18; 1SA 4:3-5

Figurative/Spiritual Priesthood: - EXO 19:6; ISA 61:6; 1PE 2:9; REV 1:6; 5:10; 20:6

HIGH PRIEST¶

(See PRIEST entry — consolidated above under "High Priest — Specific") - Title and qualifications: LEV 21:10-15; NUM 3:32 - Vestments: EXO 28:2-43; 39:1-31; LEV 8:7-9 - Charge of sanctuary and altar: NUM 18:2,5,7 - Offer sacrifices: HEB 5:1; 8:3 - Designate subordinate priests: NUM 4:19; 1SA 2:36 - Light lamps: EXO 27:20,21; 30:8; LEV 24:3,4; NUM 8:3 - Burn incense: EXO 30:7,8; 1SA 2:28; 1CH 23:13 - Place showbread: LEV 24:8 - Offer for own sins of ignorance: LEV 4:3-12 - Day of Atonement: EXO 30:10; LEV 16; HEB 5:3; 9:7,22,23 - Judicial role: DEU 17:8-13; MAT 26:3,57,62; ACT 5:21-28 - Count the people: NUM 1:3 - Officiate at choice of ruler: NUM 27:18,19,21 - Respect due to: ACT 23:5

BREASTPLATE¶

For high priest: EXO 25:7
Directions for making: EXO 28:15-30
Made by Bezaleel: EXO 39:8,21
Freewill offering of materials: EXO 35:9,27
Worn by Aaron: EXO 29:5; LEV 8:8
Figurative: ISA 59:17; EPH 6:14; 1TH 5:8

EPHOD¶

Described: EXO 28:6-14,31-35; 25:7
Making of: EXO 39:2-26
Breastplate attached: EXO 28:22-29
Used as oracle: 1SA 23:9,12; 30:7,8
Inferior worn by ordinary priests: 1SA 22:18
Worn by Samuel (1SA 2:18) and David (2SA 6:14)
Called COAT: EXO 28:40; 29:8; 39:27; 40:14; LEV 8:13
Gideon's idolatrous ephod: JDG 8:27; 17:5; 18:14
Prophecy of absence: HOS 3:4

URIM AND THUMMIM¶

(Signifying light and perfection) - In the breastplate: EXO 28:30; LEV 8:8 - Eleazar to ask counsel for Joshua: NUM 27:21 - Only priests could interpret: DEU 33:8; EZR 2:63; NEH 7:65 - Israelites consult: JDG 1:1; 20:18,23 - Withheld from Saul: 1SA 28:6

MELCHIZEDEK¶

King of Salem: GEN 14:18-20; PSA 110:4
A priest and type of Christ: HEB 5:6,10; 6:20; 7:1-21

ATONEMENT¶

Day of: - Time of: EXO 30:10; LEV 23:27; 25:9; NUM 29:7 - How observed: EXO 30:10; LEV 16:2-34; 23:27-32; NUM 29:7-11; HEB 5:3; 9:7,19,22

Made by Animal Sacrifices: - EXO 29:36; LEV 1:4; 4:20,22-35; 9:7; 10:17; 16:6,10,11,15-19,24-34; 17:11; HEB 9:22

Made by Jesus: - Divinely ordained: GAL 4:4,5; EPH 1:3-12; COL 1:19,20; 1PE 1:20; REV 13:8 - Made but once: HEB 7:27; 9:24-28; 10:10,12,14; 1PE 3:18 - Redemption by: MAT 20:28; GAL 3:13; HEB 9:12; REV 5:9 - Typified: GEN 4:4/HEB 11:4; EXO 12:5/1CO 5:7; LEV 16:30,34/HEB 9:7,12,28; LEV 17:11/HEB 9:22

LEVITES¶

Set apart as ministers: NUM 1:47-54; 3:6-16; 16:9; DEU 10:8; 1CH 15:2
Substituted for firstborn: NUM 3:12,41-45; 8:14,16-18; 18:6
Religious zeal: EXO 32:26-28; DEU 33:9,10; MAL 2:4,5
Consecration of: NUM 8:6-21
Three divisions: Gershon, Kohath, Merari (NUM 3:17)
Amramites/Aaron set apart as priests: EXO 28:1; 29:9; NUM 3:38; 18:1
Subordinate to sons of Aaron: NUM 3:9; 8:19; 18:6

CONSECRATION¶

Of Aaron and priests: See PRIESTS
Personal: PSA 51:17; ROM 6:13,16,19; 12:1; 2CO 8:5

SANCTUARY¶

The Holy of Holies in tabernacle: HEB 9:2
Divine dwelling place: EXO 25:8
Reverence for: LEV 19:30; 26:2
In charge of high priest: EXO 27:21; LEV 24:3; NUM 18:5
Holy Place in temple: LAM 2:7,20; EZK 42:20
Figurative: EZK 11:16
Symbolical: HEB 8:2,5

INTERCESSION¶

Of Man with God (priestly): - High priest bears Israel: EXO 28:12,29,30,38 - Moses/Aaron intercede: EXO 32:9-14; NUM 6:23-26; 16:46-50; DEU 5:5 - Need for a mediator: JOB 9:32,33; 16:21 - NT intercession: HEB 13:18; JAS 5:14-20; 1PE 2:5,9; 1JN 5:16

VEIL¶

Moses' veil: EXO 34:33,35; 2CO 3:13-16

ORDINATION — closely related to consecration
HOLINESS — priestly holiness requirements (LEV 21:6; EXO 28:36; 39:30)
ROBE/GARMENT — general garment entries supplement priestly vestment data