Were the priests always Levites?

[cyberjosh]

I wish the Bible Study section was functional because this would be a good place to put this, however I will present the topic here.

I had a question, that I would like people to investigate with me, about whether the priests who officiated in the Tabernacle and the Temple were always Levites. Of course in the Wilderness they were all Levites but much later by the time of Christ this was not the case (as I recall), and even under David's reign I'm not sure if all the priests were Levites either (perhaps even happened before the temple was built?). I seem to recall reading a distinction made (a class/social distinction?) somewhere in the OT, perhaps in the long lists of people in Chronicles, of a difference between "priests" as a general term, and Levites as a specific term. Does anyone know anything about this to help me sort this out?

Thanks,

~Josh

 

[stovebolts]

Hi Josh,

This could prove to be an interesting study. I've always know the priests after Aaron to be Levites, and the only mention of priests other than from Aaron's line would be in 1 Kings.

12:25 Jeroboam built up Shechem in the Ephraimite hill country and lived there. From there he went out and built up Penuel. 12:26 Jeroboam then thought to himself:38 “Now the Davidic dynasty could regain the kingdom. 12:27 If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem, their loyalty could shift to their former master, King Rehoboam of Judah. They might kill me and return to King Rehoboam of Judah.†12:28 After the king had consulted with his advisers, he made two golden calves. Then he said to the people, “It is too much trouble for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look, Israel, here are your gods who brought you up from the land of Egypt.†12:29 He put one in Bethel and the other in Dan. 12:30 This caused Israel to sin; the people went to Bethel and Dan to worship the calves.

12:31 He built temples on the high places and appointed as priests people who were not Levites. 12:32 Jeroboam inaugurated a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the festival celebrated in Judah. On the altar in Bethel he offered sacrifices to the calves he had made. In Bethel he also appointed priests for the high places he had made.

I know that this doesn't answer your question, but I'll see what I can come up with.

 

[dan p]

Hi to all , to be a High Priest , you have to be a son of AARON and Ex 28:43 , to me prove that premise and also see Ex 29:9 , a perpetual statute forever .

Then in Numbers 3:9-10 , the stranger that comes nighs , shall put to death .
And in Numbers 4:3 we have the length of the sevice for a Levi priest to be 20 years .

This is why there no priests today , unless you are Jewish and belong to the Tribe of Levi and to be a High Priest , a son of Aaron .

 

[Benoni]

Before Aaronic Priesthood all Israelites were Priest. I will find the reference.

 

[veteran]

Do a study about the Nethinims, and the priests in Ezra's day. The name Nethinim means given to service. They were bondservants in the temple under the Levites. And, they were of the Canaanite nations left which Israel could not destroy (see Joshua 9; 1 Kings 9; Ezra 1 & 2; Ezra 7:7; 1 Chron.2:55). Also see Jer.35 about the house Rechab, the Rechabites. They were Kenites of the nations of Canaan that became scribes per 1 Chron.2:55.

The general working, is that the remnants left of Canaan which Israel was not able to destroy (Judges 2 & 3), God left among Israel to test His people with. They worked their way up the ladder, first as bondservants, then as temple servants, then as scribes and priests. Many of the scribes were of the Kenites of Hemath, a people that dwelt among the Canaanites. Per Ezra, foreigners returned with the house of Judah to Jerusalem after the Babylon captivity, and their genealogy could not be found among Israel. It says those were cast off from doing the priest job. Per the Jewish historian Josephus, some of the later high priests of the Jews were actually Idumeans (of Esau). The Herods were Idumeans, so that may appear to show a political control, like an appointment by Herod over the priesthood in Jesus' day also.

 

[cyberjosh]

Interesting. I had almost forgotten about this. I will have to look into this again. Thanks for the input.

 

[Elijah674]

No. Abram paid tithe's to Melchadisedec. (Gen. 14:18, Psalms 110:4, Heb. 5:6-10) + (see Gen. 26:5 for why God called him!) The Sanctuary brought the Levitical Priesthood as a pedigree line. One needs to realize that Christ gave oral Commandments from Adam on until Mount Sinai when the children of Israel asked God to not to talk with them anymore that they die not. (take note of the REMEMBER in front of the written 4th Commandment one! Remember from where? Gen. 1:31 was the start of Their Sabbath, Adam had just been created. What do you suppose was God's first sermon to him?? A WARNING message!

See also Gen. 12:1-5 (?) where 'Gentile Abe' was a gentile 'soul' winner long before the Sanctuary was built. So church was not a new thing! Eccl. 3:15

--Elijah

 

[dan p]

Before Aaronic Priesthood all Israelites were Priest. I will find the reference.

Hi and maybe you are thinking of Ex 19:6 , where they WERE to be a Kingdom of Priests , but they were scared and opted to be a Tail instead of the Head .