Topical Bible: Tabernacle: The Priests were the Ministers of

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The Tabernacle, often referred to as the "Tent of Meeting," was the portable earthly dwelling place of Yahweh used by the Israelites from the time of the Exodus until the conquest of Canaan. It served as the central place of worship and sacrifice, where the presence of God dwelled among His people. The Tabernacle was meticulously constructed according to the divine specifications given to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 25-31).

Role of the Priests

The priests, primarily from the tribe of Levi and specifically the descendants of Aaron, were appointed as the ministers of the Tabernacle. Their role was crucial in maintaining the sanctity and function of this sacred space. The priests were responsible for performing the sacrifices, maintaining the sacred fire, and ensuring that all rituals were conducted according to the laws given by God.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Sacrificial Offerings: The priests were tasked with offering sacrifices on behalf of the people. These included burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings. Leviticus 1-7 outlines the various types of sacrifices and the specific roles of the priests in each.

2. Maintenance of the Holy Place: The priests were responsible for the upkeep of the Tabernacle, including the care of the altar, the lampstand, the table of showbread, and the altar of incense. They ensured that the lamps were kept burning continually (Exodus 27:20-21) and that the bread of the Presence was always before the Lord (Leviticus 24:5-9).

3. Mediation and Intercession: As mediators between God and the Israelites, the priests interceded on behalf of the people. They bore the responsibility of ensuring that the community remained in right standing with God through the proper observance of rituals and sacrifices.

4. Teaching and Judging: The priests also served as teachers of the Law and judges in matters of ritual purity and other legal issues. They were tasked with instructing the people in the statutes and commandments of the Lord (Leviticus 10:11).

5. Day of Atonement: The high priest, a position held by Aaron and his successors, had the unique role of entering the Most Holy Place once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). On this day, the high priest made atonement for himself and the people, sprinkling the blood of the sacrifice on the mercy seat (Leviticus 16).

Biblical References

· Exodus 28:1: "And bring near to you your brother Aaron and his sons with him from among the Israelites to serve Me as priests—Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron."
· Leviticus 9:7: "Then Moses said to Aaron, 'Approach the altar and present your sin offering and your burnt offering to make atonement for yourself and the people. Present the offering of the people to make atonement for them, as the LORD has commanded.'"
· Numbers 18:7: "But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the veil. I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift. Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death."

The priesthood was a divinely instituted office, integral to the worship and spiritual life of Israel. The priests' ministry in the Tabernacle was a foreshadowing of the ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ, who would offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of humanity.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hebrews 8:2
A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Mystic Meaning of the Tabernacle and Its Furniture.
... Chapter VI."The Mystic Meaning of the Tabernacle and Its ... the image of the Lord the
worthiest were chosen from the sacred tribes to be high priests, and those ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter vi the mystic meaning of.htm

Whether Sufficient Reason Can be Assigned for the Ceremonies ...
... that (higher) world: whereas into the outward tabernacle, ie the Holy Place, the
priests entered every day: whereas the people were only admitted to ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether sufficient reason can be.htm

Whether the Priest of the Law had the Keys?
... not the keys, but that the keys were foreshadowed in ... the keys, not of heaven, but
of an earthly tabernacle. Reply to Objection 2: The priests of the Old Law ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the priest of the.htm

A New Order of Priests and Levites
... brought to the door of the tabernacle, whether according ... people whom he makes to
be priests and Levites ... Amongst the Levites were found those scribes who became ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/a new order of priests.htm

Whether There Can be any Suitable Cause for the Sacraments of the ...
... with it; to signify that the tabernacle was cleansed ... Lev.8:7-9] and consecrated;
thirdly, they were employed in ... With regard to the high-priests and priests the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether there can be any 2.htm

On Attending the Church Service
... the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the ... and Pharisees he gives
that of the Priests also. ... "The multitude of them that believed were of one ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 104 on attending the.htm

Good Earnests of Great Success
... At the Metropolitan Tabernacle,. ... Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests
were obedient to ... keep the church together, as all true ministers should be ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 14 1868/good earnests of great success.htm

The Sacred Officers and Sacred Occasions.
... the first born or oldest son became priests of the ... Ex.28:1. They served in the
tabernacle and later ... Twelve were chosen, and when Judas, one of them, betrayed ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter iii the sacred officers.htm

The Lord Coming to his Temple
... of the divine presence, which resided in the tabernacle and temple. ... The sons of Levi ,
the priests, the official ministers of God, were gone (departed ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon iv the lord coming.htm

Knox and the Scottish Revolution, 1559
... up a stone" and hit the tabernacle, and "the ... intense ardour of the convictions that
were to be ... That priests, by the prescription of fifteen centuries, should ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter x knox and the.htm