Admission to the Priesthood
Priests — Only the Descendants of Aaron
Only Aaron (the brother of the prophet Moses) and his descendants could be priests (Ex. 28:1; Ex. 28:4).
Handing On the Office of High Priest
Only Aaron (the brother of the prophet Moses) and his descendants could be priests (Ex. 28:1; Ex. 28:4; Ex. 29:9). The successor of the high priest was clothed in the garments and anointed with oil for seven days (Ex. 29:29-30). Together with the office the sacred garments were handed on (Ex. 29:29). If an outsider undertook priestly service, he was punished by death (Num. 3:10).
Requirements for a Candidate
He may not have bodily defects (Lev. 21:17-21):
blindness,
lameness,
a marred face or a limb too long,
a broken foot or broken hand,
a hunched back,
a defect in the eye,
eczema, scab, or damaged testicles.
Requirements for a Priest
he must not shave his head or the edges of his beard (Lev. 21:1,5);
he must not take as wife a divorced woman (Lev. 21:7), a harlot, or a defiled woman (Lev. 21:7), and the wife of the high priest may only be a virgin (Lev. 21:13-14);
he must not touch the dead (Lev. 21:1-4), and the high priest may not touch even his dead relatives (Lev. 21:10-11);
the high priest must not uncover his head (Lev. 21:10).
The Rite
In Brief
It is performed through the offering of sacrifices, washings, anointing with oil (Ex. 28:41), sprinkling with the blood of animals, and a meal. For consecration sacred garments are required (Ex. 28:2-3), which are handed on with the office (Ex. 29:29).
Consecration of the Old Testament High Priest
Sacrifices
For the consecration animals without blemish must be sacrificed (Ex. 29:1), along with unleavened bread of wheat flour (Ex. 29:2):
one young bull;
two rams;
unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and wafers anointed with oil;
unleavened bread of wheat flour.
The high priest and the priests lay their hands on the bull, and then it is killed at the door of the Tabernacle of Meeting (Ex. 29:10-11) (a prototype of the killing of Christ).
The horns of the altar are smeared with the blood of the bull, and all the rest is poured out at the base of the altar (Ex. 29:12) (a prototype of Christ’s sufferings on the Cross-altar). The inward parts of the bull (the liver, kidneys, etc.) are burned on the altar (Ex. 29:13). The flesh of the bull, its skin and the rest are burned with fire outside the camp — this is a sin offering (Ex. 29:14).
In the same way the high priest and the priests lay their hands on the head of one ram (Ex. 29:15), kill it, and its blood is sprinkled all around on the altar (Ex. 29:16). The ram was cut in pieces, its entrails washed, and it was burned on the altar — this is a burnt offering to the Lord (Ex. 29:17-18).
Likewise the high priest and the priests laid their hands on the head of the other ram (Ex. 29:19), killed it (Ex. 29:20), and with its blood touched the tip of the right ear of Aaron and his sons, the thumb of the right hand and the big toe of the right foot (Ex. 29:20), and then the blood was sprinkled all around on the altar (Ex. 29:20).
With the blood from the altar and the anointing oil Aaron and his sons and their priestly garments were sprinkled (Ex. 29:21). Now they are hallowed.
Next the fat parts of the ram are taken (Ex. 29:22), 1 loaf of bread, 1 cake and 1 wafer from the basket of unleavened bread (Ex. 29:23), they are put into the hands of Aaron and his sons (Ex. 29:24), then received back from them and burned on the altar (Ex. 29:25). The breast of the ram is also offered (Ex. 29:26-28).
Washing
Before the consecration a washing with water is performed (Ex. 29:4).
Vesting in the Priestly Garments
After the washing the man is clothed in the holy garments (Ex. 29:5-6). The priests are also clothed in garments (Ex. 29:8-9).
Pouring Oil on the Head
After the vesting the man is anointed with oil (Ex. 28:41), which is poured on his head (Ex. 29:7).
The Meal
The flesh of the ram was boiled in the holy place (Ex. 29:31), and then the high priest and the priests were to eat it at the door of the Tabernacle of Meeting (Ex. 29:32). Outsiders could not take part in this meal (Ex. 29:33). If any flesh remained until morning, it had to be burned (Ex. 29:34).
Repetition for 7 Days
This whole rite of offering sacrifices and consecration was repeated for 7 days (Ex. 29:35; Lev. 8:33-34). As a result the altar becomes most holy: whatever touches it will be holy (Ex. 29:37) (a prototype of the Cross of Christ, which became a holy thing).
Garments
Purpose
For glory, for beauty, and for consecration (Ex. 28:2-3), and for handing on the office of high priest (Ex. 29:29).
The Set
The set of the high priest’s garments includes (Ex. 28:4):
the breastplate,
the ephod (outer garment),
the robe (upper vestment),
the woven tunic (undergarment),
the turban (head covering),
the sash.
The Ephod, or Epomis (Outer Sleeveless Garment)
Made of gold, of thread of various colors (blue, purple, scarlet, that is, red) and of fine woven linen (Ex. 28:5-6).
The Shoulder Straps
The ephod is not of one piece, but consists of a back and a front part, and is therefore joined on the shoulders by “shoulder straps” (Ex. 28:7).
For the two shoulder straps two ornaments were made (Ex. 28:12): onyx stones in gold settings (Ex. 28:10). On these stones the 12 names of the tribes of Israel were engraved (Ex. 28:9): 6 names on one stone and 6 names on the other, in order of their birth (Ex. 28:10). The stones were set in gold settings and adorned with golden chains (Ex. 28:13-14).
Somewhere at the edges, probably near the band, the ephod had two rings for fastening the breastplate to it (Ex. 28:28).
The Band (Sash)
The woven band is put on over the ephod and is made of the same materials: blue, purple and scarlet thread and fine woven linen (Ex. 28:8). The sash was of woven work (Ex. 28:39).
The Breastplate
A square piece of fabric folded double (Ex. 28:16). Dimensions: about 23 × 23 cm, or 9 × 9 in (a span in length and width) (Ex. 28:16). A span is the distance between the thumb and the little finger of a spread hand, about 23 cm. It is made of the same materials as the ephod (gold, thread and linen) (Ex. 28:15).
To this piece of fabric 12 precious stones are fastened. They are listed 3 to a row (4 rows in all, Ex. 28:17; the names of the stones are given as in the NKJV):
sardius, topaz, emerald (Ex. 28:17);
turquoise, sapphire, diamond (Ex. 28:18);
jacinth, agate, amethyst (Ex. 28:19);
beryl, onyx, jasper (Ex. 28:20).
On the stones the names of the 12 tribes of Israel were engraved, one name on each stone (Ex. 28:21).
The breastplate was fastened to the shoulder straps (Ex. 28:23). For this, at its two upper corners the breastplate had golden rings (Ex. 28:23) through which a chain was passed (Ex. 28:24) of pure gold (Ex. 28:22), while the other end of the chain was fastened to the shoulder straps on the front side (Ex. 28:22; Ex. 28:25).
At its two lower corners the breastplate had 4 golden rings: two on the inner side (toward the ephod) (Ex. 28:26) and two on the outer side (Ex. 28:27). By these rings the breastplate was bound with a blue cord (Ex. 28:28) to the rings of the ephod (Ex. 28:28), so that it would not come loose from the ephod, staying above the band (Ex. 28:28).
The breastplate was put on every time one had to go into the holy place (the temple) (Ex. 28:29).
Urim and Thummim
Into the breastplate (since it consisted of fabric folded double), like into the Ark of the Covenant, mysterious objects were put (Lev. 8:8): the Urim and Thummim[1][2], in the Church Slavonic translation: “Manifestation and Truth” (Ex. 28:30, in Church Slavonic). The high priest had to have them over his heart (Ex. 28:30).
The Robe (Upper Vestment)
Made of blue fabric (Ex. 28:31). The robe must have an opening for the head (Ex. 28:32). The opening is finished with a woven binding so that it does not tear (Ex. 28:32).
Below, on its hem, the robe is embroidered with images of pomegranates (Ex. 28:33), in threads of blue, purple and scarlet. Between the pomegranates golden bells are fastened (Ex. 28:33): pomegranate, bell, pomegranate, bell — all around (Ex. 28:34).
The Turban (Head Covering)
The turban is made of fine linen (Ex. 28:39).
The Golden Plate
To the turban was fastened a plate of pure gold with the inscription engraved on it “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” (Ex. 28:36). The plate is fastened to the front of the turban with a blue cord (Ex. 28:37) and is at the level of the forehead (Ex. 28:38).
The Tunic
The tunic is made of fine linen (Ex. 28:39). Under it, linen trousers reach from the waist to the thighs (Ex. 28:42).
An Ordinary Priest
The garments of ordinary priests have no detailed description. The garments are made for them for glory and beauty (Ex. 28:40).
A priest must have a tunic (Ex. 28:40), a woven sash (Ex. 28:39-40), and a hat (Ex. 28:40).
These garments are to be worn for being in the Tabernacle of Meeting and for performing divine services in the holy place (the temple) (Ex. 28:43).
Sacrifices
Every day at the door of the Tabernacle of Meeting (Ex. 29:42) two lambs of the first year must be offered (Ex. 29:38): one in the morning and one in the evening (Ex. 29:39).
Together with the lambs flour, oil and wine are offered (Ex. 29:40).
The place of the offering of sacrifices will be sanctified by the glory of God (Ex. 29:43).