Priest in the Old Testament
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
—a man consecrated to minister before God in Israel’s sanctuary. Aaron and his sons were set apart for the priesthood, and ordinary priests were drawn from Aaron’s descendants within the tribe of Levi (Exod. 28-29; Num. 18). The high priest occupied a distinct office. Priests were consecrated through washing, vesting, anointing, sacrifice, and the filling of their hands for service (Lev. 8). Bodily qualifications and rules of marriage, mourning, purity, and sacred food guarded the symbolic wholeness of sanctuary service (Lev. 21-22).