The Levitical priesthood refers to the priests and high priests who were descendants of the tribe of Levi in the Old Testament. They had the responsibility of performing sacrifices, offerings, and other rituals related to the tabernacle and later the temple. Here is an overview of the Levitical priesthood:
Origin and Purpose
After the Exodus from Egypt, God chose the tribe of Levi to be priests and assistants to the priests (Numbers 3:5-13). This was different from other nations where the firstborn son served as priest. God set apart the Levites for this special role (Numbers 8:14).
The purpose of the Levitical priesthood was to serve as mediators between God and the people. They represented the holiness of God and the need for atonement for sin. The priests instructed the people in the Law of God (Leviticus 10:11; Deuteronomy 33:10). They also offered the various sacrifices that pointed to the need for forgiveness and cleansing from sin.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Levitical priests had various duties and responsibilities:
- Caring for the tabernacle and later the temple – setting up, taking down, guarding, repairing, etc. (Numbers 1:50-53).
- Performing the daily offerings, Sabbath offerings, monthly offerings, and festival offerings (Exodus 29:38-42; Numbers 28-29).
- Making atonement for the sins of the people through sacrifice (Leviticus 4:20).
- Inspecting people for physical impurities and cleansing them when needed (Leviticus 13-15).
- Teaching the people God’s law (Leviticus 10:11; Deuteronomy 33:10).
- Blessing the people and officiating over special ceremonies (Numbers 6:22-27)
- Judging legal cases as representatives of God (Deuteronomy 17:8-13).
Divisions and Ranks
There were several divisions and ranks within the Levitical priesthood:
- High Priest – The top leader of the priests. Wore special garments and alone could enter the Most Holy Place once per year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16; Exodus 28).
- Priests – Levite males ages 30-50 who performed the sacrifices, offerings, and other duties (Numbers 4:3).
- Divisions of Priests – The priests were organized into 24 divisions during the reign of King David (1 Chronicles 24:1-19). Each division served at the temple for one week on a rotating schedule.
- Assistants to the Priests – These included non-priest Levites who served as guards, musicians, gatekeepers, and other roles at the tabernacle and temple (1 Chronicles 15:16-24).
Consecration and Purity Laws
The Levitical priests had to follow specific consecration rituals and purity laws:
- Washing, anointing, and special garments (Exodus 29:1-9).
- Sacrifices to atone for their own sins (Exodus 29:10-14).
- Abstaining from alcohol while serving at the tabernacle (Leviticus 10:8-11).
- Maintaining ritual purity by avoiding corpses and following purification procedures (Leviticus 21-22).
- Not having certain physical defects (Leviticus 21:17-23).
These laws set the priests apart as holy and enabled them to approach God’s presence.
Support and Inheritance
The Levitical priests did not receive land as an inheritance like the other tribes (Deuteronomy 18:1-2). Instead, they were supported by:
- Tithes from the other tribes (Numbers 18:21-24)
- Portions of the sacrifices and offerings (Leviticus 6:16-18, 7:6-10)
- Redemption money (Exodus 30:11-16)
- Firstfruits of grain, wine, oil, and wool (Deuteronomy 18:3-5)
They lived in 48 Levitical cities scattered throughout the Land (Numbers 35:1-8). God was their inheritance (Numbers 18:20).
Aaronic Priesthood
“Aaronic priesthood” refers specifically to the high priests who were descendants of Aaron, Moses’ brother. Aaron was the first high priest (Exodus 28:1). The high priest had to be a descendant of Aaron (Numbers 16:40). This heritage gave them the right to offer sacrifices on the altar.
Prophecies About Levitical Priesthood
Several Old Testament prophecies pointed to changes coming to the Levitical priesthood:
- A new priest “after the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4). This prophecy is interpreted to refer to Jesus (Hebrews 7:11-17).
- A time when God would accept offerings from all people, not just Levites (Isaiah 66:18-21; Malachi 1:11). Fulfilled in the New Covenant.
- References to a coming messenger and REFINE (Isaiah 42:6; Malachi 3:1). Christians see these as references to Christ.
End of the Levitical Priesthood
The Levitical priesthood came to an end with the destruction of the temple in 70 AD by the Romans. With no temple, the extensive sacrificial system and priestly duties could no longer be performed. The priesthood was central to the Old Covenant between God and Israel.
The New Testament teaches that Jesus is the new High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16, 7:11-28) whose sacrifice of himself fulfilled and abolished the need for further animal sacrifices (Hebrews 10:1-18). The access to God given to all believers through Jesus’ priestly work (Hebrews 10:19-22) did away with the need for a special priestly class to represent the people.
Though the temple does not exist and Old Testament forms of worship have ceased, the Levitical priesthood still gives insight into God’s holiness, humanity’s sinfulness, the need for mediation between God and humans, and the foreshadowing of salvation through Christ.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
Some of the key roles and responsibilities of the Levitical priesthood included:
- Performing sacrifices and offerings
- Caring for the tabernacle and temple
- Teaching God’s law
- Officiating over ceremonies
- Making atonement for sins
- Inspecting for impurities
- Consecrating gifts to God
The priests acted as mediators and representatives between God and the people. They maintained ritual purity and followed specific procedures in order to enter God’s presence.
Qualifications and Consecration
The Levites had some unique qualifications and rules for consecration:
- Had to be descendants of Levi and Aaron to hold priesthood (Exodus 28:1)
- Free from physical defects (Leviticus 21:17-23)
- Washed, dressed in priestly garments (Exodus 29:4-9)
- Anointed with oil (Exodus 29:7)
- Sacrifices made to atone for their sins (Exodus 29:10-14)
- Abstain from alcohol while serving (Leviticus 10:8-11)
These procedures set the priests apart as holy. The washing and sacrifices removed impurities. The anointing consecrated them for service. The special clothing identified their priestly role.
Support and Inheritance
The Levites were supported by tithes, offerings, and their portion of sacrifices:
- Tithes from the other 11 tribes (Numbers 18:21)
- Portions of the offerings (Leviticus 6:16-18)
- Redemption money (Exodus 30:11-16)
- Firstfruits of the harvest (Deuteronomy 18:3-5)
They lived in 48 Levitical cities throughout Israel (Numbers 35:1-8). God was their inheritance rather than land (Numbers 18:20).
Aaronic Priesthood
The “Aaronic priesthood” refers to those descendants of Aaron who served as high priests. Requirements included:
- Being a descendant of Aaron (Exodus 28:1)
- Being anointed and consecrated as high priest (Exodus 29:7)
- Wearing special garments (Exodus 28:2-43)
- Sacrificing bull for atonement of sins (Leviticus 16:6, 11-14)
The high priest could enter the Most Holy Place once annually on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:2). The high priest also wore the Urim and Thummim to discern God’s will (Exodus 28:30).
Changes in the New Testament
Several changes occurred regarding the priesthood in the New Testament:
- Jesus is High Priest of a new order – after Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:11-17)
- His sacrifice of himself fulfilled and abolished animal sacrifices (Hebrews 10:1-18)
- All believers are part of a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:5,9)
- No longer a special priestly class to represent people to God (1 Timothy 2:5)
The Levitical priesthood was setting the stage for Jesus’ high priestly work. His access goes beyond the veil into God’s presence (Hebrews 4:14-16, 10:19-22).
Significance for Christian Theology
For Christian theology, the Levitical priesthood provides:
- A picture of human sinfulness and need for atonement
- A foreshadowing of Christ’s priestly role as mediator and sacrifice
- Examples of holiness, consecration, sacrifice, and dedication
- Illustration of God’s perfection, justice and detailed requirements for approaching Him
- Type of shadow of the access believers now have to God through Christ (Hebrews 10:1)
While no longer functioning, study of the Levitical priesthood gives insight into the nature of God and the work of Christ in cleansing sin and providing access into God’s presence.
Old Testament History and Timeline
Here is an overview of key events related to the Levitical priesthood:
- Exodus – Tribe of Levi set apart for priestly duties (Exodus 13:1-16)
- Wilderness – Consecration of Levites, priestly duties begin (Numbers 3-4)
- Tabernacle – Priests offer sacrifices, mediate for people (Leviticus 1-7)
- Settlement – Given cities throughout Israel (Joshua 21:41-42)
- Judges – Irregular worship and priestly service at times
- Monarchy – Established priestly system and rotations (1 Chronicles 24:1-19)
- Temple – Officiate in temple built by Solomon (1 Kings 8)
- Exile – Some priestly service preserved (Ezekiel 40:46)
- Return – Help rebuild temple in Jerusalem
The priesthood continued functioning until the temple’s destruction in 70 AD. It reached its peak under David’s organization and Solomon’s temple.
Comparison to Other Ancient Priesthoods
Features that distinguished the Levitical priesthood:
- Hereditary priesthood restricted to one tribe
- Elaborate consecration rituals and clothing
- Prohibition from owning land as inheritance
- High degree of ritual purity required
- Ethical holiness mandated along with ritual purity
- Complex sacrificial system tied to atonement
- Numerous required sacrifices and offerings
Other priesthoods in Egypt and Mesopotamia served localized gods. Israel’s priesthood showed the uniqueness and holiness of Yahweh in its structure and duties.
Design as a Foreshadow of Christ’s Priesthood
The Levitical priesthood foreshadowed Jesus’ high priestly role in several ways:
- Mediating between God and people
- Providing atonement and reconciliation
- Purity and consecration to enter God’s presence
- Representing the people before God
- Offering sacrifices for sin
- Serving in the temple/tabernacle dwelling of God
The animal sacrifices could not permanently atone for sin (Hebrews 10:4). But they pointed ahead to the perfect and complete sacrifice of Christ.
Transition to Messianic Priesthood in the New Testament
Several New Testament passages describe the transition from the Levitical priesthood to Jesus’ Melchizedek priesthood:
- Jesus as culmination of the temple and priesthood (John 2:19-21)
- Jesus’ perfect and permanent sacrifice (Hebrews 10:11-18)
- End of the old covenant and beginning of the new (Hebrews 8:7-13)
- Jesus as heavenly high priest (Hebrews 9:11-14)
- All believers now have priestly access to God (1 Peter 2:5-9)
Christ’s priesthood is superior and the Levitical priesthood obsolete now that He has offered the final atoning sacrifice as both priest and victim.
Continued Relevance for Christians
For Christians today, studying the Levitical priesthood provides:
- Greater appreciation of Christ’s sacrifice and priestly work
- Model of commitment, holiness and mediation with God
- Understanding of concepts like atonement, consecration and purification
- Pictures and object lessons illustrating spiritual truths
- Insight into the meticulous detail of Old Testament worship
Though no longer functioning, the Levitical priesthood gives a glimpse of what uncompromising dedication to God’s service and worship looks like.
