Topical Bible: Priest: had Charge of the Sanctuary and Altar

◄ Priest: had Charge of the Sanctuary and Altar ►

Jump to: Nave's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical context, priests held a significant and sacred role within the religious life of Israel, particularly in their charge over the sanctuary and the altar. The priesthood was established by God through Moses, with Aaron and his descendants set apart for this holy office (Exodus 28:1). The primary responsibilities of the priests included maintaining the sanctity of the sanctuary, performing sacrifices, and acting as mediators between God and the people.

Sanctuary Duties

The sanctuary, also known as the Tabernacle during the wilderness period and later the Temple in Jerusalem, was the central place of worship and the dwelling place of God's presence among His people. Priests were entrusted with the care and maintenance of the sanctuary, ensuring that it remained a holy place. They were responsible for the daily operations within the sanctuary, including the lighting of the lamps, the burning of incense, and the presentation of the showbread (Exodus 30:7-8; Leviticus 24:5-9).

The priests also had the duty of teaching the Israelites the statutes and laws of God, as the sanctuary was not only a place of worship but also a center for instruction in righteousness (Leviticus 10:11). This teaching role underscored the priestly function as spiritual leaders and guardians of the covenant.

Altar Responsibilities

Central to the priestly duties was the service of the altar. The altar was the focal point of sacrificial offerings, which were integral to the worship and atonement practices of Israel. Priests were responsible for offering sacrifices on behalf of the people, which included burnt offerings, sin offerings, and peace offerings, among others (Leviticus 1-7). These sacrifices were essential for maintaining the covenant relationship between God and Israel, as they provided a means for atonement and reconciliation.

The priests were also tasked with ensuring that the offerings were made according to the precise regulations set forth by God. This included the proper handling of sacrificial animals, the sprinkling of blood, and the burning of offerings on the altar (Leviticus 1:5-9). The meticulous nature of these duties highlighted the holiness required in approaching God and the seriousness of sin.

Priestly Consecration and Holiness

The consecration of priests was a solemn and sacred ceremony, involving washing, anointing, and the donning of special garments (Exodus 29:1-9). This consecration set the priests apart for their divine service, emphasizing the holiness required of those who ministered before the Lord. The high priest, in particular, bore the responsibility of entering the Most Holy Place once a year on the Day of Atonement to make atonement for the sins of the nation (Leviticus 16).

The priestly office was not only a position of privilege but also one of great responsibility and accountability. The priests were to live lives of holiness, as they were representatives of the people before God and of God before the people. Their service at the sanctuary and altar was a constant reminder of the need for purity and devotion in the worship of the Almighty.

Biblical References

· Exodus 28:1: "Now you are to bring near to yourself your brother Aaron and his sons from among the Israelites to serve Me as priests—Aaron and his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar."
· Exodus 30:7-8: "And Aaron is to burn fragrant incense on it every morning when he tends the lamps. When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn the incense as a regular incense offering before the LORD throughout your generations."
· Leviticus 10:11: "You must teach the Israelites all the statutes that the LORD has given to them through Moses."
· Leviticus 1:5-9: "Then he shall slaughter the young bull before the LORD, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall present the blood and sprinkle it on all sides of the altar at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Next, he is to skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces. And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, including the head and fat, on the wood that is burning on the altar. The entrails and legs must be washed with water, and the priest shall burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD."
· Leviticus 16: "The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached the LORD. The LORD said to Moses: 'Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.'"

Nave's Topical Index

Numbers 18:2,5,7
And your brothers also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, bring you with you, that they may be joined to you, and minister to you: but you and your sons with you shall minister before the tabernacle of witness.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

High Priest
... near relatives; must not marry a woman that had been a ... The priest's daughter who
committed whoredom was to be burned ... The priests were to have the charge of the ...
/.../conversion of a high priest into a christian worker/chapter iv high priest.htm

What is the Sanctuary?
... shall ye make it." And again the charge was given ... The walls had the appearance of
massive gold, reflecting in ... before which none but the high priest could enter ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /23 what is the sanctuary.htm

What is the Sanctuary?
... shall ye make it." And again the charge was given ... The walls had the appearance of
massive gold, reflecting in ... before which none but the high priest could enter ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/chapter 23 what is the.htm

The Charge of the Watchers in the Temple
... Perhaps by the High Priest, perhaps by the captain of ... The Rabbis had a saying that
there were two sorts of ... The charge bids us remember that the more sedulously ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/the charge of the watchers.htm

The Horns of the Altar
... It will not be laid to my charge, but to yours, if ... as I would with the best-ordained
priest or bishop ... A gentleman of considerable means had spent the Sunday at ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 31 1885/the horns of the altar.htm

The Rent Veil
... The Lord said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people ... this place of awe, even of this
sanctuary of Jehovah ... The high priest had a sense of communion with God; he ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 34 1888/the rent veil.htm

The Annunciation of Jesus the Messiah, and the Birth of his ...
... with the Academies, but in the Sanctuary, to a ... had not sufficient legal evidence
[721] of the charge. ... of his enforced solitude, the aged Priest had meditated on ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iv the annunciation of.htm

Political Religion
... bold words against a king, it was Amaziah the priest who gave ... No charge of that sort
is ever made against the calf ... If he had so cared, he could not have set up ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/political religion.htm

St. Athanasius,
... This was a charge which touched Constantine very closely ... finding things carried on
as they had been before Constantine's time, only one old priest was to ...
/.../chapter xii st athanasius.htm

The Prophet --His Youth and his Call.
... assurance which centuries later filled another priest's home in the ... that as the meaning
of this charge was gradually ... or parties, loyal to the Lord had been in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/lecture iii the prophethis youth.htm