Priests: Generally Participated in Punishment of the People
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In the biblical narrative, priests held a significant role not only in religious and ceremonial functions but also in the administration of justice and the execution of divine punishment. Their involvement in these activities underscores their position as intermediaries between God and the people, tasked with upholding the holiness and moral order prescribed by the Law.

Role in Administering Justice

The priests were integral to the judicial system in ancient Israel. As custodians of the Law, they were responsible for teaching and interpreting it, ensuring that the community adhered to God's commandments. In Deuteronomy 17:8-9 , it is written: "If a case is too difficult for you to judge—whether bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults—take it to the place the LORD your God will choose. You are to go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office at that time. Inquire of them, and they will give you the verdict."

This passage highlights the priests' role in resolving complex legal matters, emphasizing their authority in determining the application of the Law. Their involvement in such cases often extended to the execution of judgments, particularly in matters of capital punishment or severe transgressions.

Participation in Punitive Actions

The priests' participation in punitive actions is evident in several biblical accounts. In Numbers 25, during the incident at Peor, the Israelites engaged in idolatry and immorality with Moabite women, provoking God's wrath. Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron the priest, took decisive action by executing an Israelite man and a Midianite woman, thus halting a plague sent by God as punishment. Numbers 25:7-8 states: "On seeing this, Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, rose from the assembly, took a spear in his hand, followed the Israelite into the tent, and drove it through both of them—the Israelite and the woman—through her belly. So the plague against the Israelites was halted."

Phinehas's actions were commended by God, who granted him a "covenant of peace" and a "lasting priesthood" (Numbers 25:12-13), illustrating the divine approval of priestly involvement in executing judgment.

Guardians of Holiness

The priests' duty to maintain the sanctity of the community often required them to participate in or oversee acts of punishment. Leviticus 10 recounts the deaths of Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, who offered unauthorized fire before the LORD. Their immediate punishment by divine fire served as a stark reminder of the priests' responsibility to uphold the sanctity of worship and obedience to God's commands.

Furthermore, in cases of leprosy or other forms of ritual impurity, priests were responsible for diagnosing and isolating individuals to prevent the spread of impurity within the camp (Leviticus 13-14). This role, while not punitive in the judicial sense, underscores their function in preserving the community's holiness.

Conclusion

The priests' participation in the punishment of the people reflects their broader role as enforcers of divine law and guardians of holiness. Through their involvement in judicial matters and punitive actions, they served as instruments of God's justice, ensuring that the covenant community remained faithful to the standards set forth by the LORD.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Jeremiah 14:18
If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yes, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Lamentations 2:20
Behold, O LORD, and consider to whom you have done this. Shall the women eat their fruit, and children of a span long? shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Lord's Day --The Worship of the Apostolic Church --Its ...
... of the temple, as well as the priests, the vestments ... these adults, without exception,
at once participated in the ... 219:4] and yet it is generally conceded that ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter i the lords daythe.htm

A Treatise to Prove that no one Can Harm the Man who Does not ...
... For if generally speaking poor men, when they see ... and foreign people who had never
participated in any ... all their kindred, and removal from priests and prophets ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/a treatise to prove that.htm

Seances Historiques De Geneve --The National Church.
... If all priests and ministers of religion could at one ... of supposing it to be otherwise,
is participated by those ... of classical history had not generally the same ...
/.../seances historiques de genevethe national.htm

The Political Constitution of Egypt
... as interpreters of their wishes the priests and the ... concessions,* its losses were
generally amply compensated ... These storehouses participated like all the other ...
/.../chapter ithe political constitution of.htm

An Essay on the Scriptural Doctrine of Immortality.
... no mention is made of the mediation of priests till the ... of the offenders, and {55}
in punishment awarded according ... of human life may be put generally under the ...
/.../an essay on the scriptural.htm

The Memphite Empire
... kind of large mussel which the inhabitants generally used as ... bodies of handicraftsmen
who had participated in the ... that no one except the priests and custodians ...
/.../chapter iithe memphite empire.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... of Ishtar," but the etymology now most generally accepted is ... Magi, as well as that
of the priests who handed ... passing over it; death was the punishment for any ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

part i
... speaking) of mankind has largely participated; the writings ... anything the voices of
the priests, deacons, readers ... of heart and disturbance, we generally feel a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part i.htm

Resources
What is the cause of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the priests of On? Was Joseph wrong to marry the daughter of a pagan priest (Genesis 41)? | GotQuestions.org

Who are the Chemarim / Chemarims in Zephaniah 1:4? | GotQuestions.org

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Subtopics

Priests

Priests and Levites

Priests were Sometimes: Corrupters of the Law

Priests were Sometimes: Drunken

Priests were Sometimes: Greedy

Priests were Sometimes: Profane and Wicked

Priests were Sometimes: Slow to Sanctify, Themselves for God's Services

Priests were Sometimes: Unjust

Priests were to Live by the Altar As They had No Inheritance

Priests: After the Exodus Young Men (First-Born) Deputed to Act As

Priests: All Except Seed of Aaron Excluded from Being

Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Anointing With Oil

Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Clothing With the Holy Garments

Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Lasted Seven Days

Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Offering Sacrifices

Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Partaking of the Sacrifices of Consecration

Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Placing in Their Hands the Wave-Offering

Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Purification by Blood of the Consecration Ram

Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Washing in Water

Priests: Christ

Priests: Divided by David Into Twenty-Four Courses

Priests: During Patriarchal Age Heads of Families Acted As

Priests: Each Course of, had Its President or Chief

Priests: First Notice of Persons Acting As

Priests: Garments of Laid up in Holy Chambers

Priests: Garments of Often Provided by the People

Priests: Garments of Purified by Sprinkling of Blood

Priests: Garments of The Bonnet

Priests: Garments of The Coat or Tunic

Priests: Garments of The Girdle

Priests: Garments of The Linen Breeches

Priests: Garments of Worn Always While Engaged in the Service of the Tabernacle

Priests: Garments of Worn at Consecration

Priests: Garments of Worn by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement

Priests: Generally Participated in Punishment of the People

Priests: Made of the Lowest of the People by Jeroboam and Others

Priests: Might Purchase and Hold Other Lands in Possession

Priests: No Blemished or Defective Persons Could be Consecrated

Priests: On Special Occasions Persons not of Aaron's Family Acted As

Priests: Publicly Consecrated

Priests: Punishment for Invading the office of

Priests: Required to Prove Their Genealogy Before They Exercised The

Priests: Required to Remain in the Tabernacle Seven Days After

Priests: Required to Wash in the Brazen Laver Before They Performed

Priests: Revenues of a Fixed Portion of the Spoil Taken in War

Priests: Revenues of all Devoted Things

Priests: Revenues of all Restitutions when the Owner Could not be Found

Priests: Revenues of First of the Wool of Sheep

Priests: Revenues of First-Born of Animals or Their Substitutes

Priests: Revenues of First-Fruits

Priests: Revenues of Part of all Sacrifices

Priests: Revenues of Redemption-Money of the First-Born

Priests: Revenues of Show-Bread After Its Removal

Priests: Revenues of Tenth of the Tithes Paid to the Levites

Priests: Saints

Priests: Sanctified by God for the office

Priests: Services of Blessing the People

Priests: Services of Blowing the Trumpets on Various Occasions

Priests: Services of Burning Incense

Priests: Services of Carrying the Ark

Priests: Services of Covering the Sacred Things of the Sanctuary Before Removal

Priests: Services of Deciding in Cases of Jealousy

Priests: Services of Deciding in Cases of Leprosy

Priests: Services of Encouraging the People when They Went to War

Priests: Services of Judging in Cases of Controversy

Priests: Services of Keeping the Charge of the Tabernacle

Priests: Services of Keeping the Sacred Fire Always Burning on the Altar

Priests: Services of Lighting and Trimming the Lamps of the Sanctuary

Priests: Services of Offering First Fruits

Priests: Services of Offering Sacrifices

Priests: Services of Placing and Removing Show-Bread

Priests: Services of Purifying the Unclean

Priests: Services of Teaching the Law

Priests: Services of Valuing Things Devoted

Priests: Services of, Divided by Lot

Priests: Services of, Ineffectual for Removing Sin

Priests: Special Laws Respecting: All Bought and Home-Born Servants to Eat of Their Portion

Priests: Special Laws Respecting: Children of, Married to Strangers, not to Eat of Their

Priests: Special Laws Respecting: No Sojourner or Hired Servant to Eat of Their Portion

Priests: Special Laws Respecting: Not to Defile Themselves by Eating What Died or Was Torn

Priests: Special Laws Respecting: Not to Defile Themselves for the Dead Except the Nearest of

Priests: Special Laws Respecting: Not to Drink Wine While Attending in the Tabernacle

Priests: Special Laws Respecting: Not to Marry Divorced or Improper Persons

Priests: Special Laws Respecting: Restitution to be Made To, by Persons Ignorantly Eating of

Priests: Special Laws Respecting: While Unclean Could not Eat of the Holy Things

Priests: Special Laws Respecting: While Unclean Could not Perform Any Service

Priests: The Four Courses Which Returned from Babylon Subdivided Into

Priests: The Sons of Aaron Appointed As, by Perpetual Statute

Priests: Thirteen of the Levitical Cities Given To, for Residence

Proxy in Priest's Service

Related Terms

Office (64 Occurrences)

Consecrate (65 Occurrences)

Abihu (12 Occurrences)

Sanctify (91 Occurrences)

Woven (40 Occurrences)

Bag (52 Occurrences)

Outsider (9 Occurrences)

Ith'amar (20 Occurrences)

Remainder (33 Occurrences)

Executed (39 Occurrences)

Plaited (12 Occurrences)

Beryls (4 Occurrences)

Cloths (16 Occurrences)

Abi'hu (12 Occurrences)

Sacred (140 Occurrences)

Minister (150 Occurrences)

Finely (27 Occurrences)

Anoint (59 Occurrences)

Cutting (178 Occurrences)

Ithamar (20 Occurrences)

Blow (124 Occurrences)

Nadab (21 Occurrences)

Worked (145 Occurrences)

Garments (232 Occurrences)

Eleazar (74 Occurrences)

Oblation (208 Occurrences)

Elea'zar (72 Occurrences)

Belongs (127 Occurrences)

Zadok (50 Occurrences)

Unauthorized (4 Occurrences)

Jewels (54 Occurrences)

Layman (9 Occurrences)

Fleshhook (2 Occurrences)

Broidered (9 Occurrences)

Consecration (22 Occurrences)

Admit (8 Occurrences)

Ablution

Afar (98 Occurrences)

Smote (281 Occurrences)

Sacrificing (39 Occurrences)

Seething (5 Occurrences)

Colour (22 Occurrences)

Meal-offering (120 Occurrences)

Cereal (124 Occurrences)

Aaron's (53 Occurrences)

Remnant (157 Occurrences)

Wrought (186 Occurrences)

Meat-offering (111 Occurrences)

Cooked (35 Occurrences)

Stead (117 Occurrences)

Girdle (44 Occurrences)

Ministering (63 Occurrences)

Ministered (53 Occurrences)

Heave-offering (55 Occurrences)

Punishments (31 Occurrences)

Serving (85 Occurrences)

Twisted (79 Occurrences)

Consecrated (101 Occurrences)

Common (118 Occurrences)

Urim (8 Occurrences)

Cleansed (76 Occurrences)

Presented (114 Occurrences)

Thummim (6 Occurrences)

Hook (10 Occurrences)

Prime (3 Occurrences)

Clothes (208 Occurrences)

Bringing (288 Occurrences)

Vail (44 Occurrences)

Till (774 Occurrences)

Anointing (39 Occurrences)

Custom (51 Occurrences)

Anointed (132 Occurrences)

Cut (616 Occurrences)

Heave (25 Occurrences)

Sacrificed (112 Occurrences)

Ephod (45 Occurrences)

Aaron (343 Occurrences)

Belong (127 Occurrences)

Priests: Garments of Worn by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement
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