Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical context, the office of the priesthood was a sacred and divinely appointed role, primarily reserved for the descendants of Aaron, the brother of Moses, from the tribe of Levi. The priesthood was established by God to serve as mediators between Him and the people of Israel, performing sacrifices, maintaining the sanctuary, and teaching the Law. The sanctity and exclusivity of this office were underscored by severe consequences for those who attempted to usurp or invade it unlawfully.Korah's Rebellion (Numbers 16): One of the most notable instances of punishment for invading the priestly office is the rebellion led by Korah, a Levite who, along with Dathan, Abiram, and 250 community leaders, challenged the authority of Moses and Aaron. They questioned why the priesthood should be limited to Aaron's descendants, asserting that the entire congregation was holy. In response, God demonstrated His choice by causing the earth to open and swallow the rebels, while fire consumed the 250 men offering unauthorized incense. This event served as a stark warning against encroaching upon the divinely appointed priesthood. Numbers 16:32-33 states, "And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, all Korah’s men and all their possessions. They went down alive into Sheol with all they owned. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly." King Uzziah's Transgression (2 Chronicles 26): Another significant example is King Uzziah of Judah, who, in his pride, attempted to burn incense on the altar of incense in the temple, a duty reserved exclusively for the priests. Despite being confronted by Azariah the priest and eighty other courageous priests, Uzziah persisted in his unauthorized act. As a result, God struck him with leprosy, which remained with him until his death, signifying divine disapproval and the seriousness of violating the sanctity of the priestly office. 2 Chronicles 26:19 records, "Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. But while he raged against the priests in their presence before the altar of incense in the house of the LORD, leprosy broke out on his forehead." Saul's Impatience (1 Samuel 13): King Saul also faced consequences for overstepping his bounds into priestly duties. In a moment of impatience, Saul offered a burnt offering himself instead of waiting for the prophet Samuel, as was the prescribed order. This act of disobedience led to God's rejection of Saul's kingship, as it demonstrated a lack of faith and respect for God's established order. 1 Samuel 13:13-14 recounts Samuel's rebuke: "You have acted foolishly, Samuel declared. You have not kept the command that the LORD your God gave you; if you had, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after His own heart and appointed him ruler of His people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command." These biblical accounts highlight the gravity of attempting to invade the priestly office, emphasizing the importance of adhering to God's ordained structure and the severe repercussions for those who fail to do so. The priesthood, as established by God, was not merely a position of honor but a sacred duty with specific responsibilities and boundaries that were not to be transgressed. Torrey's Topical Textbook Numbers 16:1-35Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: Torrey's Topical Textbook Numbers 18:7 2 Chronicles 26:16-21 Library Letter x. To the Bishops of the Province of vienne. In the Matter ... Letter xxi. St. Ambrose Excuses Himself for not Having Gone to the ... The Greater Prophets. Babylonia and Assyria The Counter-Reformation The Prophet Joel. The Sibylline Oracles. The Prophet Amos. The Last Days of the Old Eastern World Sennacherib (705-681 BC ) Resources What is the cause of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church? | GotQuestions.orgWho 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 Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics 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: 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: 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: 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 Related Terms Meal-offering (120 Occurrences) Meat-offering (111 Occurrences) |
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