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High Priest

High Priest

high-priestIn the Bible, the high priest was the Old Testament mediator between God and the people of Israel. He performed religious rituals including sacrifices as well as the annual expiratory sacrifice on the Day of Atonement. He is also called the Chief Priest (2 Chronicles 24:6; Jeremiah 52:24). The high priest was held to a higher form of ritual purity than were other priests.

“He could have no contact with dead bodies, including those of his parents. Nor could he rend his clothing or allow his hair to grow out as signs of mourning. He could not marry a widow, divorced woman, or harlot, but only an Israelite virgin (Lev. 21:10–15). Any sin committed by the high priest brought guilt upon the entire nation and had to be countered by special sacrifice (4:1–12). Upon a high priest’s death, manslayers were released from the cities of refuge (Num. 35:25, 28, 32).”[note]Myers, Allen C. The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1987.[/note]

The high priest was established by God through the revelation of Moses.  He served in the tabernacle and later in the temple. The high priest would enforce the covenant between God and man and he represented Israel. His sins reflected on Israel.  He was to point the people of Israel to God.

The high priest in the Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the true priesthood of Christ as is revealed in the book of Hebrews.

Once a year, the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle (later the Temple) where he would offer sacrifices for the nation of Israel (Exodus 30:10; Lev. 16; Num. 18:2,5,7; Heb. 8:3; 9:7). He would sprinkle blood on the Mercy Seat which was actually a lid on top of the Ark of the Covenant.

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