Topical Bible: Priest: The Time of Moses is Holy

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In the biblical narrative, the role of the priest during the time of Moses is of profound significance, serving as a pivotal element in the religious and communal life of the Israelites. The priesthood was established by divine command, with Aaron, the brother of Moses, appointed as the first high priest. This sacred office was instituted to mediate between God and His people, offering sacrifices, teaching the Law, and maintaining the sanctity of worship.

Divine Appointment and Duties

The establishment of the priesthood is detailed in the Book of Exodus, where God commands Moses to consecrate Aaron and his sons as priests. Exodus 28:1 states, "And bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the Israelites, to serve Me as priests—Aaron and his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar." This divine selection underscores the holiness and set-apart nature of the priestly office.

The primary duties of the priests included offering sacrifices, maintaining the Tabernacle, and instructing the people in the Law. Leviticus 10:11 emphasizes their teaching role: "You must teach the Israelites all the statutes that the LORD has given them through Moses." The priests were responsible for ensuring that the Israelites adhered to the covenantal laws, thus preserving the community's holiness.

The High Priest and the Day of Atonement

The high priest held a unique position within the priesthood, with specific responsibilities that underscored the sacredness of his role. One of the most significant duties was performed on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), as described in Leviticus 16. On this day, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the sins of the people. Leviticus 16:32-33 states, "The priest who is anointed and ordained to succeed his father as high priest is to make atonement. He is to put on the sacred linen garments and make atonement for the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar."

This annual ritual highlighted the necessity of purification and reconciliation with God, reinforcing the priest's role as an intermediary who facilitated the people's access to divine grace and forgiveness.

The Holiness of the Priesthood

The holiness of the priesthood was paramount, as priests were required to adhere to strict purity laws and rituals. Leviticus 21 outlines various regulations to ensure the priests' sanctity, including prohibitions against contact with the dead and restrictions on marriage. Leviticus 21:6 declares, "They must be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. For they present the offerings made by fire to the LORD, the food of their God. So they must be holy."

The consecration of the priests and their adherence to these laws served as a constant reminder of God's holiness and the need for His people to remain pure and set apart.

The Priesthood as a Foreshadowing

In the broader biblical context, the priesthood during the time of Moses is often seen as a foreshadowing of the ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ. The New Testament book of Hebrews draws parallels between the Levitical priesthood and the priesthood of Christ, emphasizing the fulfillment of the sacrificial system through His atoning work. Hebrews 9:11-12 states, "But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands, that is, not of this creation. He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption."

Thus, the priesthood in the time of Moses not only served an essential function in the religious life of ancient Israel but also pointed forward to the redemptive work of Christ, the ultimate mediator between God and humanity.

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Leviticus 21:6,7
They shall be holy to their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy.
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Leviticus 22:9,16
They shall therefore keep my ordinance, lest they bear sin for it, and die therefore, if they profane it: I the LORD do sanctify them.
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Library

About the Time of Christ, in Accordance with Prophecy, the Rulers ...
... them who were called Judges, and who came after Moses and his ... the right of ancient
succession, had been up to that time both king and high priest, he sent ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter vi about the time of.htm

High Priest
... with his people at the foot of Mount Sinai, Moses performed the ... failed, because he
was a philosophical fraud; and the priest of the present time, shall fail ...
/.../conversion of a high priest into a christian worker/chapter iv high priest.htm

The Name Jesus and Also the Name Christ were Known from the ...
... 5. Thus Moses bestowed the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ ... Christ by name, predicting
at the same time the plots ... Thou art a priest forever after the order of ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter iii the name jesus and.htm

Exodus
... was then revealed to Moses for the first time, was unknown ... Aaron's commission to
be the spokesman of Moses, vii.1 ... and the prominence of Aaron the priest in the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/exodus.htm

Moses the Type of Christ.
... He reveals God, and He cleanses man. The same is our Prophet and our Priest. ... He can,
for Moses, give you Himself. ... He has done this for many in time past. ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon ix moses the type.htm

Was Moses "A Literary Fiction"?
... to in 2 Chronicles 34:14, 15; "Hilkiah the priest found the ... The Book of the Law of
Moses" was the Jewish title given to the Pentateuch at that time, and is ...
/.../iii was moses a literary.htm

The Death of Moses
... it may be that this was not the only time that he ... over his bones; no lamps are to
burn, or priest to chant ... to the book of Judges, just what Moses foretold"an ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon xviii the death of.htm

The Ministerial Office
... 4. From the time of Noah to that of Moses the same observation may be made. The
eldest of the family was the Priest, but any other might be the Prophet. ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 115 the ministerial office.htm

Marriage of the Blessed virgin to Joseph
... On the command of the high priest, Joseph now came, dressed in his best, to the
Temple at Jerusalem. ... Already in the time of Moses (see Exod. 38. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/vii marriage of the blessed.htm

Jesus Drives Out the Money-Changers.
... Nathanael dissuaded them, saying: "Come in an hour's time to the forecourt of the
high priest. ... and the people cheered them, crying aloud: "We have Moses! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/stead/king of the jews/chapter i jesus drives out.htm