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67-473: The sacred incense prescribed for use in the wilderness Tabernacle was made of costly materials that the congregation contributed ( Exodus 25:1, 2, 6; 35:4, 5, 8, 27-29 ). The Book of Exodus describes the recipe: And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto yourself sweet spices, stacte , and onycha , and galbanum ; these sweet spices with pure frankincense : of each shall there be a like weight: And you shall make it

134-589: A Christological reference to the coals from the altar of incense taken behind the veil on the Day of Atonement ( Hebrews 9:3–4 ), and a reference to the prayers of believers as incense ( Revelation 5:8 ). In later Christian typology the smoke of incense in the tabernacle typically signifies offered prayer. This was developed in medieval Christian art. In the Catholic Church , the Eastern Orthodox Church and

201-559: A Kohen Gadol. The distinguished rank of the high priest is apparent from the fact that his sins are regarded as belonging also to the people. He was entrusted with the Urim and Thummim , which were worn in his garments. On Yom Kippur he alone performed the Yom Kippur Temple service , entering the Holy of Holies to atone for himself and for the people. Only he could offer the sacrifices for

268-568: A considerable part of the Anglican Church , and among some Lutheran churches as well, incense is still used in liturgical rites as well as in some popular devotions outside of church liturgies. Tabernacle According to the Hebrew Bible , the tabernacle ( Hebrew : מִשְׁכַּן , romanized :  miškan , lit.   'residence, dwelling place'), also known as the Tent of

335-411: A day, a priest would stand in front of the golden prayer altar and burn fragrant incense. Other procedures were also carried out in the tabernacle: An Israelite healed of tzaraath would be presented by the priest who had confirmed his healing "at the door of the tabernacle of meeting", and a woman healed of prolonged menstruation would present her offering (two turtledoves or two young pigeons) to

402-421: A perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together [salted], pure and holy: And you shall beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with you: it shall be unto you most holy. And as for the perfume which you shall make, you shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto you holy for

469-418: A quarter- kab ; and a minute amount of maaleh ashan . Rabbi Nathan of Babylon says: Also a minute amount of Jordan amber . If he added honey, he invalidated it; if he [deliberately] omitted one of the spices, he was liable to the death penalty. Rabbi Shimon ben Gamaliel says: The stacte is nothing more than the sap that drips from the branches of the balsam tree. Why was Carshina lye brought? To refine

536-600: A set of white "linen garments" ( bigdei ha-bad ) which he wore only on Yom Kippur for the Yom Kippur Temple service . According to the Talmud , the wearing of the Priestly golden head plate atoned for the sin of arrogance on the part of the Children of Israel ( B . Zevachim 88b) and she also symbolizes that the high priest bears the lack of all the offerings and gifts of the sons of Israel. And it must be constantly on his head for

603-505: A stool, the people on the floor; he rent his garments, not from above, but from below, near the feet, the penalty for rending them from above being flagellation. He could not permit his hair to be disheveled, nor could he cut it. He had one house attached to the Temple, and another in the city of Jerusalem. His honor required that he should spend most of his time in the Sanctuary, The high priest

670-630: A time. He could perform halizah , and it could be given to his widow, as she also was subject to the Levirate; his divorced wife could marry again. When entering the Temple, he was supported to the curtain by three men. He could take part in the service whenever he desired. On Yom Kippur, he wore white garments, while on other occasions he wore his golden vestments. The seven days preceding Yom Kippur were devoted to preparing for his high function, precautions being taken to prevent any accident that might render him Levitically impure. The ceremonial for that day

737-773: Is an essential element in the Mandaean faith. Kohen Gadol In Judaism , the High Priest of Israel ( Hebrew : כהן גדול , romanized :  Kohen Gadol , lit.   'great priest'; Aramaic :  Kahana Rabba ) was the head of the Israelite priesthood . He played a unique role in the worship conducted in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple in Jerusalem , as well as in some non-ritual matters. Like all priests, he

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804-660: Is based on the existence of significant parallels between the biblical Tabernacle and similar structures from ancient Egypt during the Late Bronze Age. The detailed outlines for the tabernacle and its priests are enumerated in the Book of Exodus: Some interpreters assert the Tent of the Presence was a special meeting place outside the camp, unlike the Tabernacle which was placed in the center of

871-523: Is described in detail in Mishnah Yoma. The succession was to be through one of his sons, and was to remain in his own family. If he had no son, the office devolved upon the brother next of age: such appears to have been the practice in the Hasmonean period. In this period, the high priests belonged to priestly families from the sons of Zadok . This tradition came to an end in the 2nd century BCE during

938-470: Is read. This is equivalent to the tabernacle's altars upon which incense and animal sacrifices were offered. On the main holidays the priests gather at the front of the synagogue to bless the congregation as did their priestly ancestors in the tabernacle from Aaron onwards ( Numbers 6:22–27 ). Some Christian churches are built like a tent, to symbolize the tent of God with men, including St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus , Brazil, Zu den heiligen Engeln (To

1005-422: Is the chief of all the priests; he should be anointed and invested with the priestly garments; but if the sacred oil were not obtainable, investiture with the additional four garments is regarded as sufficient. A high priest so invested is known as merubbeh begadim. This investiture consists of arraying him in the eight pieces of dress and in removing them again on eight successive days, though (the anointing and)

1072-767: Is the incense mixture formulated? Three hundred and sixty eight mina were in it: three hundred sixty five corresponding to the days of the solar year - a mina for each day, half in the morning and half in the afternoon, and three extra mina , from which the Kohen Gadol would bring both his handfuls [into the Holy of Holies] on Yom Kippur . He would return them to the mortar on the day preceding Yom Kippur, and grind them very thoroughly so that they would be exceptionally fine. Eleven kinds of spices were in it, as follows: (1) stacte , (2) onycha , (3) galbanum , (4) frankincense - each weighing seventy mina [and each comprising 19.02% of

1139-451: Is variously described as being the operculum from a shell found in the Red Sea (which are said to resemble a fingernail), the exudation from the rock rose bush called labdanum (both petals and markings which are said to resemble a fingernail), Styrax benzoin , bdellium , or even cloves . Galbanum is generally considered to be Ferula galbaniflua . Also considered is a milder variety from

1206-399: The Holy of Holies , housing the ark, and an outer chamber with the six-branch seven-lamp Temple menorah , table for showbread , and an altar of incense . An enclosure containing the sacrificial altar and bronze laver for the priests to wash surrounded these chambers. Traditional scholars contend that it describes an actual tabernacle used in the time of Moses and thereafter. This view

1273-644: The Latin tabernāculum (meaning "tent" or "hut"), which in ancient Roman religion was a ritual structure. The Hebrew word mishkan implies "dwell", "rest", or "to live in". In Greek , including the Septuagint , the Hebrew is translated σκηνή ( skēnē ), itself a Semitic loanword meaning "tent". A detailed description of a tabernacle, located in Exodus chapters 25–27 and Exodus chapters 35–40 , refers to an inner shrine,

1340-523: The Levant or possibly even a close relative of Ferula galbaniflua called narthex or giant fennel . Pure frankincense is the resin of a tree of the boswellia species. Josephus mentions the incense, numbering thirteen ingredients. The rabbis of the Talmud expanded the description of the recipe for the incenses from 4 ingredients of the Hebrew Bible to 11 ingredients. as follows: The Rabbis taught: How

1407-497: The Talmud lists seven additional components from the oral Torah . The four components from the Book of Exodus are The components are still being studied and are not determined with absolute certainty. Stacte is variously described as being the extract of the transparent portion of the myrrh resin which exudes spontaneously from the tree, or a balsam from a tree such as opobalsamum or a styrax . Onycha , which in Greek means "nail",

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1474-685: The rule of the Judges . According to a possible translation of Judges 20:26–28 , the Ark, and thus the tabernacle, was at Bethel while Phinehas, grandson of Aaron, was alive. After the Ark of the Covenant was captured by the Philistines , the subsequent history of the tabernacle is separate from that of the Ark, even after the latter was returned. Under King Saul , the tabernacle was eventually moved to Nob , near Saul's his home town of Gibeah , but after he massacred

1541-658: The Bible include Aaron's son Eleazar , Eleazar's son Phinehas , Eli , and Zadok . After the Babylonian Exile , the first high priest was Joshua the High Priest , who is mentioned as a prominent leader alongside the political ruler Zerubavel . Joshua was a son of Zadok , in accordance with Ezekiel 's prophecy. It was presumed that the high priest's son would succeed him, but this did not always happen. The role eventually passed from Phinehas (or his descendants) to Eli , who

1608-801: The Congregation (Hebrew: אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד , romanized:  ʔōhel mōʕēḏ , also Tent of Meeting ), was the portable earthly dwelling of God used by the Israelites from the Exodus until the conquest of Canaan . Moses was instructed at Mount Sinai to construct and transport the tabernacle with the Israelites on their journey through the wilderness and their subsequent conquest of the Promised Land . After 440 years, Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem superseded it as

1675-451: The Covenant which contained the tablets with Ten Commandments. This is the holiest spot in a synagogue, equivalent to the Holy of Holies. There is also usually a constantly lighted lamp, Ner tamid , or a candelabrum, lighted during services, near a spot similar to the position of the original Menorah. At the center of the synagogue is a large elevated area, known as the bimah , where the Torah

1742-569: The Holy Angels), Hanover , Germany and the Cardboard Cathedral , Christchurch, New Zealand. A mashkhanna ࡌࡀࡔࡊࡍࡀ maškna (hebrew cognate מִשְׁכַּן mishkān ), Beth Manda ࡁࡉࡕ ࡌࡀࡍࡃࡀ , Beit Manda , or Mandi ('house of knowledge'), is a cultic hut and place of worship for followers of Mandaeism . A Mashkhanna must be built beside a river in order to perform maṣbuta ( baptism ) and other ceremonies because Living Water

1809-648: The LORD. Whosoever shall make like unto it, to enjoy the smell thereof, shall even be cut off from his people.- Exodus 30:34-38; 37:29 . At the end of the Holy compartment of the tabernacle, next to the curtain dividing it off from the Most Holy, was located the incense altar ( Exodus 30:1; 37:25; 40:5, 26, 27 ). According to the Books of Chronicles , there was also a similar incense altar in Solomon's temple in Jerusalem ( 1 Chronicles 28:18, 2 Chronicles 2:4 ). Every morning and evening

1876-460: The camp. According to Exodus 33:7–11 , this tent was for communion with Yahweh , to receive oracles and to understand the divine will. The people's elders were the subject of a remarkable prophetic event at the site of this tent in Numbers 11:24–30 . In Exodus 31, the main builder and maker of the priestly vestments is specified as Bezalel , son of Uri son of Hur of the tribe of Judah , who

1943-467: The camp: Joshua 10:43ESV "…and returned into the camp" ( see Numbers 1:52–2:34 "…they shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side"). After the conquest and division of the land among the tribes, the tabernacle was moved to Shiloh in Ephraimite territory (Joshua's tribe) to avoid disputes among the other tribes ( Joshua 18:1 ; 19:51 ; 22:9 ; Psalm 78:60 ). It remained there during most of

2010-476: The death of Zerubbabel , there was a tendency to combine political and priestly leadership in a single office; the final link in this development was the assumption of monarchy by the Hasmonean high priests after their successful revolt. But after Hasmonean national independence came to an end, the high-priesthood changed again in character, ceasing to be a hereditary and a life office. High priests were appointed and removed with great frequency. This may account for

2077-410: The death of an immediate relative ). He was also forbidden to leave his hair dishevelled or exposed, or to rend his garments, as signs of mourning. The Torah provides for specific vestments to be worn by the priests when they are ministering in the Tabernacle . The high priest wore eight holy garments ( bigdei kodesh ). Of these, four were of the same type worn by all priests and four were unique to

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2144-478: The dwelling-place of God. The main source describing the tabernacle is the biblical Book of Exodus , specifically Exodus 25–31 and 35–40. Those passages describe an inner sanctuary, the Holy of Holies , created by the veil suspended by four pillars. This sanctuary contained the Ark of the Covenant , with its cherubim -covered mercy seat . An outer sanctuary (the "Holy Place") contained a gold lamp-stand or candlestick. On

2211-453: The fact that in the post-Maccabean period the high priest was looked upon as exercising in all things, political, legal, and sacerdotal, the supreme authority, shows it to be almost certain that the presidency of the Sanhedrin was vested in the high priest (see Isidore Loeb in "R. E. J." 1889, xix. 188–201; Jelski, "Die Innere Einrichtung des Grossen Synhedrions", pp. 22–28, according to whom

2278-542: The good pleasure of God towards them ( Exodus 28:38 ). Even though Aaron was the first high priest mentioned in the Book of Exodus , Louis Ginzberg in Legends of the Jews noted that in legends the first man that assumed the title of high priest of God is Enoch , who was succeeded by Methuselah , Lamech , Noah , Shem , Melchizedek , Abraham , Isaac and Levi . The high priest

2345-400: The high priest's appearance at the altar . The Great Sanhedrin alone had the right to appoint, or confirm the appointment of, the high priest. His consecration could take place only in the daytime. Two high priests could not be appointed together. Every high priest had a deputy—called the segan (deputy), mishneh (second), or "memunneh" (appointed)—to stand at his right; another assistant

2412-413: The high priest. Those vestments which were common to all priests were the tunic (Hebrew ketonet ), sash ( avnet ), turban (Hebrew mitznefet ), and undergarments ( michnasayim ). The vestments that were unique to the high priest were the robe ( me'il ), ephod (vest or apron), breastplate ( hoshen ), and headplate (Hebrew tzitz ). In addition to the above "golden garments", he also had

2479-438: The initial consecration of Aaron and his sons, all of them were anointed ). The consecration also required wearing the special high priestly vestments for seven days. He was permitted to marry only an Israelite virgin. He was required to strictly avoid ritual defilement . He was forbidden to come in contact with the bodies of the dead, not even those of his parents (unlike regular priests, who may become ritually impure for

2546-485: The investiture on the first day suffices to qualify him for the functions of the office. The only distinction between the "anointed" and the "invested" high priest is that the former offers the bull for an unintentional transgression. The age of eligibility for the office is not fixed in the Torah ; but according to rabbinical tradition it was twenty. (For comparison, Levites began working at age 30. ) Aristobulus , however,

2613-545: The north side stood a table, on which lay the showbread . On the south side was the Menorah , holding seven oil lamps to give light. On the west side, just before the veil, was the golden altar of incense . It was constructed of 4 woven layers of curtains and 48 15-foot tall standing wood boards overlaid in gold and held in place by its bars and silver sockets and was richly furnished with valuable materials taken from Egypt at God's command. The English word tabernacle derives from

2680-564: The onycha, that it be pleasant. Why was Cyprus wine brought? To steep the onycha, that it be pungent; while urine (מי רגליים - mei raglaiim ) was more suited for this, nevertheless, one did not bring urine into the Temple, out of respect. According to the Talmud , the House of Avtinas was responsible for compounding the qetoret incense in the days of the Second Temple . The New Testament makes several typological references to incense, including

2747-513: The priest "at the door of the tabernacle of meeting". It was at the door of the tabernacle that the community wept in sorrow when all the chiefs of the people were impaled and the men who had joined in worship to the Baal of Peor were killed on God's orders. During the conquest of Canaan , the main Israelite camp was at Gilgal ( Joshua 4:19 ; 5:8–10 ) and the tabernacle was probably erected within

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2814-468: The priests there ( 1 Samuel 21–22 ), it was moved to Gibeon , a hill-shrine ( 1 Chronicles 16:39 ; 21:29 ; 2 Chronicles 1:2–6 , 13). Just prior to David 's moving the ark to Jerusalem, the ark was located in Kiriath-Jearim ( 1 Chronicles 13:5–6 ). The Ark was eventually brought to Jerusalem, where it was placed "inside the tent David had pitched for it" ( 2 Samuel 6:17 ; 1 Chronicles 15:1 ), not in

2881-448: The proximity of the narrative of the tabernacle with that of the episode known as the sin of the golden calf recounted in Exodus 32:1–6 . Maimonides asserts that the tabernacle and its accoutrements, such as the golden Ark of the Covenant and the golden Menorah were meant as "alternates" to the human weakness and needs for physical idols as seen in the golden calf episode. Other scholars, such as Nachmanides , disagree and maintain that

2948-616: The references to multiple contemporaneous "high priests" (ἀρχιερεῖς) in Josephus . The deposed high priests seem to have retained the title, and to have continued to exercise certain functions. Even in the latest periods, the office was apparently restricted to a few families of great distinction (probably the benei kohanim gedolim , "[members of] high-priestly families"). Herod the Great nominated no less than six high priests; Archelaus , two. The Roman legate Quirinius and his successors exercised

3015-521: The right of appointment, as did Agrippa I , Herod of Chalcis , and Agrippa II . Even the people occasionally elected candidates to the office. The high priests before the Exile were apparently appointed for life; in fact, from Aaron to the exile fewer high priests served than in the 60 years preceding the fall of the Second Temple . Josephus enumerates only 52 high priests under the Second Temple, omitting

3082-522: The rule of the Hasmoneans , when the position was occupied by other priestly families unrelated to Zadok. After the Exile , the succession seems to have been, at first, in a direct line from father to son; but later the civil authorities arrogated to themselves the right of appointment. Antiochus IV Epiphanes for instance, deposed Onias III in favor of Jason , who was followed by Menelaus . Beginning with

3149-413: The sacred incense was burned ( Ex 30:7, 8; 2 Chronicles 13:11 ). Once a year, on the Day of Atonement , coals from the altar were taken in a censer, or fire holder, together with two handfuls of incense, into the Holy of Holies , where the incense was made to smoke before the mercy seat of the ark of the testimony ( Leviticus 16:12–13 ). The Book of Exodus lists four components of the incense, while

3216-610: The second appointments of Hyrcanus II , Hananeel , and Joazar . The high priest was the presiding officer of the Sanhedrin. This view conflicts with the later Jewish tradition according to which the Pharisee tannaim (the Zugot ) at the head of the yeshivot presided over the great Sanhedrin also (Ḥag. ii. 2). However, a careful reading of the sources ("Ant." xx. 10; "Contra Ap." ii., § 22; comp. "Ant." iv. 8, § 14; xiv. 9, §§ 3–5 [Hyrcanus II. as president]; xx. 9, § 1 [Ananus]), as well as

3283-417: The sins of the entire people. He also offered a meal-offering twice daily, on behalf of himself and the whole priesthood. An unintentional killer was required to remain in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest, at which point the killer could return home. The high priest alone was anointed with holy anointing oil upon his consecration, hence the title of the "anointed priest" (though in

3350-488: The tabernacle laid out in the Hebrew Bible . For example: You must put the Levites in charge of the tabernacle of the Covenant, along with its furnishings and equipment. They must carry the tabernacle and its equipment as you travel, and they must care for it and camp around it. Whenever the Tabernacle is moved, the Levites will take it down and set it up again. Anyone else who goes too near the tabernacle will be executed. Twice

3417-456: The tabernacle's meaning is not tied in with the golden calf, but instead symbolizes higher mystical lessons that symbolize God's constant closeness to the Children of Israel. Synagogue construction over the last two thousand years has followed the outlines of the original tabernacle. Every synagogue has at its front an ark, aron kodesh , containing the Torah scrolls, comparable to the Ark of

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3484-559: The tabernacle, which remained at Gibeon. The altar of the tabernacle at Gibeon was used for sacrificial worship ( 1 Chronicles 16:39 ; 21:29 ; 1 Kings 3:2–4 ), until Solomon brought the structure and its furnishings to Jerusalem to furnish and dedicate the Temple ( 1 Kings 8:4 ). There is no mention of the tabernacle in the Tanakh after the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Babylonians in c. 587 BCE. Some rabbis have commented on

3551-425: The title of "great priest" ( kohen gadol ) which later became the standard Hebrew title, the term "head priest" ( kohen harosh ) was used, as was "anointed priest" ( kohen mashiach ). The Torah sometimes uses longer descriptions: "the great priest, who was anointed with the holy oil", "the priest who was anointed and invested to serve in place of his father" "the priest who is greater than his brothers, whom oil

3618-539: The total weight]; (5) myrrh , (6) cassia , (7) spikenard , (8) saffron , each weighing sixteen "mina" [and each comprising 4.35% of the total weight]; (9) costus - twelve mina [comprising 3.26% of the total weight]; (10) aromatic bark - three "mina" [comprising 0.82% of the total weight]; and (11) cinnamon - nine "mina" [comprising 2.45% of the total weight]; [Additionally] Carshina lye , nine kab ; Cyprus wine , three se'ah and three kab - if he has no Cyprus wine, he brings old white wine; Sodom salt ,

3685-509: The two stone tablets brought down from Mount Sinai by Moses on which were written the Ten Commandments , a golden urn holding the manna , and Aaron 's rod which had budded and borne ripe almonds ( Exodus 16:33–34 , Numbers 17:1–11 , Deuteronomy 10:1–5 ; Hebrews 9:2–5 ). Tachash is referred to fifteen times in the Hebrew Bible ; 13 of these refer to the roof coverings. There is a strict set of rules to be followed for transporting

3752-468: Was always erected when the Israelite tribes would camp, oriented to the east as the east side had no frames. In the center of this enclosure was a rectangular sanctuary draped with goat-hair curtains, with the roof coverings made from rams' skins. Beyond this curtain was the cube-shaped inner room, the Kodesh Hakedashim ( Holy of Holies ). This area housed the Ark of the Covenant , inside which were

3819-433: Was assisted by Oholiab and a number of skilled artisans. During the Exodus , the wandering in the desert and the conquest of Canaan , the Tabernacle was in part a portable tent, and in part a wooden enclosure draped with ten curtains, of blue ( tekhelet תְּכֵלֶת), purple ( ’argāmān אַרְגָּמָן), and scarlet ( šānî שָׁנִי) fabric. It had a rectangular, perimeter fence of fabric, poles and staked cords. This rectangle

3886-414: Was called the " Catholicos ". For offenses which entailed flagellation, the high priest could be sentenced by a court of three; after submitting to the penalty, he could resume his office. The high priest was expected to be superior to all other priests in physique, in wisdom, in dignity, and in material wealth; if he was poor, his brother priests contributed to make him rich; but none of these conditions

3953-401: Was descended from Ithamar (brother of Eleazar). However, Eli's family eventually lost rights to the high priesthood due to their sins, a prophecy fulfilled when King Solomon appointed Zadok (a descendant of Eleazar) in place of Abiathar (a descendant of Eli). Rabbinic tradition supports the positions that Ezra was an ordinary member of the priesthood, and that he actually served as

4020-438: Was indispensable. The high priest was required to be mindful of his honor. He was not allowed to mingle with the common people, nor permit himself to be seen disrobed, or in a public bath, etc.; but he could invite others to bathe with him. He was not allowed to participate in a public banquet, but he could pay a visit of consolation to mourners, though even then, his dignity was guarded by prescribed etiquette. The high priest

4087-451: Was not allowed to follow the bier of one in his own family who had died, nor leave the Temple or his house during the time of mourning. The people visited him to offer consolation; in receiving them, the Segan was at his right, the next in rank and the people at his left. The people said: "We are thy atonement." He answered: "Be ye blessed from heaven". During the offering of consolation he sat on

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4154-429: Was only seventeen when appointed by Herod the Great ; but the son of Onias III was too young (νηπιος) to succeed his father. Legitimacy of birth and lineage was essential, hence the care in keeping genealogical records and distrust of one whose mother had been captured in war. According to Josephus, birth on foreign soil was no disqualification. The high priest, like all priests, would minister barefoot when he

4221-460: Was poured on his head and who was invested to wear the garments", and "the priest in place of him [=Aaron] from his sons, who will come to the Tent of Meeting for the holy service". Some verses refer by name to a specific individual who is understood to be "the" priest, i.e. the high priest at that moment. The first high priest was Aaron himself, the ancestor of all priests; he was appointed to this role by God . Other notable high priests in

4288-426: Was required to be descended from Aaron (the first biblical priest). But unlike other priests, the high priest followed more restrictive laws, wore unique priestly garments, and was the only priest allowed to perform certain ceremonies. The high priest is referred to by a number of titles in the Hebrew Bible ; the title kohen gadol did not become dominant until well into the Second Temple period. In addition to

4355-422: Was serving in the Temple. Like all priests, he had to immerse himself in the mikvah before vesting, and wash his hands and his feet before performing any sacred act. Neither common nor high priests could serve unless they wore their priestly vestments. It is further taught that just as the sacrifices facilitate an atonement for sin , so do the priestly garments. Though other priests would serve only when it

4422-469: Was subject to the jurisdiction of the courts, but if accused of a crime entailing capital punishment he was tried by the Great Sanhedrin; he could, however, refuse to give testimony. The high priest needed to be married, and "should only marry a virgin"; to guard against contingencies, it was proposed to hold a second wife in readiness immediately before Yom Kippur ; but he was to have only one wife at

4489-453: Was their week on rotation and on festivals (and even then their function was decided by lot), the high priest could choose to perform any priestly rite at any time. Josephus contends that the high priest almost invariably participated in the ceremonies on Shabbat , Rosh Chodesh , and the three festivals . This may also be inferred from the glowing description given in the Wisdom of Sirach 1 of

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