A Popular Dictionary of Judaism
The Israelite Chief *Priest who served in the *Temple in *Jerusalem. According to *Leviticus, the High Priest must be a descendant of *Aaron, but as the office became increasingly political under the *Hasmonean kings, a Hasmonean High Priest was appointed. By Roman times, the office was constantly criticised by the *Pharisees as being the tool of the government.
The High Priest wore the blue robe, the *ephod, the *breastplate and the *urim and thummim. He was the only person who entered the *Holy of Holies once a year on *Yom Kippur. After the destruction of the *Temple in 70CE the office lapsed. (See also *AARON, *AARONIDES, *KOHEN, *LEVITE, *PRIEST).
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