. The earliest priest mentioned in the Bible,
Melchizedek, was a priest of the
Most High and a contemporary of
Abram. The first priest mentioned of another god is
Potipherah priest of
On, whose daughter
Asenath married
Joseph in Egypt. The third priest to be mentioned is
Jethro, priest of
Midian, and Moses' father in law. The first mention of an
Israelite priesthood occurs in Exodus 40:15: "And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father [Aaron], that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations." (
KJV, 1611) Among these priests a
High Priest was anointed (first mentioned in
Leviticus 21:10), to serve in unique functions, such as entering the
Holy of Holies once yearly on the
Day of Atonement. The priesthood was associated with the tribe of
Levi, from whom
Aaron descended.
Sacrifices and rituals The Israelite priests were to officiate at many offerings prescribed under the
Law of Moses, including the
burnt offering,
meal offering,
dough offering,
sin offering,
guilt offering, release of the
scapegoat,
peace offering,
heave offering,
drink offering,
incense offering,
thank offering, etc., throughout the liturgical year. In addition, they would engage in many different rituals, such as the priestly blessing, the
red heifer, the redemption of the firstborn, and various purification rituals.
Garments The garments of the Israelite priests and high priests are described, and prescribed, in detail in Leviticus. For the high priest these include a
priestly tunic,
linen undergarments,
sash,
robe,
priestly turban,
ephod (with
Urim and Thummim), and a
priestly breastplate with 12 stones representing the
twelve tribes of Israel. The priests served in rotating
priestly divisions. ==Critical scholarship==