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-The essential significance of the priesthood cannot be deduced from the etymology of the Hebrew word thus translated, since that is not clear; nor is the extra-Levitical usage of the word so restricted as to afford an unequivocal solution of the question. A direct declaration of the Mosaic conception is, however, given in connection with the Korahitic rebellion (Numbers 16.); in which passage the notes of the priesthood are given by Moses himself as follows:

1. A Divine choice or call ("Whom He hath chosen").

2. A right of Divine service ("Who are His").

3. Holiness ("Who is holy").

4. A right of Divine access ("Come near unto Him").The priest was one who, having been Divinely selected, had accepted his call without reservation, and being possessor of an imputed righteousness, was privileged to draw near the Majesty from on high. A closer analysis might still further simplify this Mosaic conception of priesthood. Of the attributes just enumerated, it may be said that the second and the fourth are identical; then the first and the third rather belong to the prerequisites of priesthood than to its essence. The essential significance, therefore, of the priesthood may be stated to lie in its privilege of Divine approach. It will thus be seen that in a limited degree every Jew was, as the primary form of the covenant announced, a priest; nevertheless the right of Divine approach, restricted as it was to the court of the Tabernacle, was so meagre as to be unworthy of the name of priesthood. It was to the Aaronites, with their more tangible privileges of worship before the veil, that the name seemed more especially applicable; whilst to the officiating high priest alone was it permitted to occasionally enter within the veil, and participate in that highest access, in that most exalted priesthood, which was possible to Judaism. Guarded by so many restrictions, and rising through such gradations, how lofty the dignity, how sublime the privilege, of standing in the presence of the Holy One of Israel to worship and petition I The essential significance of the priesthood may be otherwise stated. For, if it be remembered that the privilege of Divine approach carried with it the privilege of representing others to whom such approach was denied, it may be said that the essence of the priesthood was mediation, that of the ordinary priests being indirect, and that of the high priest direct. Again, the essential attribute of the high priest, the privilege of access to the Holy of Holies, implying the purpose for which that access was made, the essence of the high priesthood, may be roughly described, as in some passages of the New Testament, and in popular theology, by its exceptional privilege of atonement.

(A. Cave, D. D.)

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KJV: Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread;

WEB: "Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and the bull of the sin offering, and the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread;