Journey Through Leviticus, Part 1ਨਮੂਨਾ

Holy Priesthood (pt 1): Behind the Text

Looking at the priestly regulations of Israel’s neighbors will put in perspective God’s calling on his priests and his nation.

The Role of Priests

Access to the Divine

Holy of Holies

Israel’s worship in the Old Testament is defined by limited access to the divine. Only the high priest could enter the holy of holies once a year. This was a dramatic departure from what was typical in the ancient Near East.

Egyptian Sanctuary

In Egypt, the king and many of his priests were able to access the innermost sanctuary. They had the responsibility of feeding the gods and caring for their needs, and this immediate encounter was a necessary part of their role.

Egyptian Priest

You’ll notice in this Egyptian mural that the priest has a withered leg. Israel had several restrictions for priests related to family, age, gender, physical condition and ritual purity.

Resident God

In Mesopotamia and Anatolia, access was monitored, but many were able to encounter the resident god in his dwelling place.

Source: Michael B. Hundley, Keeping Heaven on Earth: Safeguarding the Divine Presence in the Priestly Tabernacle, 2011, p. 115.

While these regulations may challenge our expectations of encountering a God whose main agenda is relationship with his people, they highlight the uniqueness of the Israelite ritual system.