(Hebrew: “Aaronide priest”) Individual authorized by reason of birth to carry out Temple sacrifices and other rites. Aaron, brother of Moses, was consecrated as the first Israelite priest, and from him all Israelite priests trace their origin via the male line. Scripture holds that the priests are the tribe of Levi, one of the Israelite tribes. The LEVITES had no land assigned to them in the Land of Israel; they were counted separately in the census; they were supported by a tithe of the crop of the Land. The Levites were chosen for God’s service by reason of their loyalty, when others strayed.
This is the picture of Leviticus 8–10. Priests were sanctified and had to keep purity laws and were restricted in whom they might marry; they could not contract corpse uncleanness except for near of kin. They also taught instruction to the people, administered the Temple, and maintained its facilities. In contemporary synagogues, the Kohen has the honor of being called first to the Torah. The Kohen also bestows the priestly blessing on specified liturgical occasions, daily in the state of Israel, on festivals in the diaspora. See BIRKAT KOHANIM.
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