Thematic Bible: The high priest


Thematic Bible



Ahiah son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, Jehovah's priest in Shiloh, who was wearing an ephod were with him. The people did not know that Jonathan was gone.

Did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod in my presences me? Did I give to the house of your father all the offerings made by fire from the sons of Israel?


Paul looked straight at the Council and said: Fellow Israelites! My conscience is perfectly clear about the way in which I have lived before God to this very day. The high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Paul said to him: God will strike you, white washed wall! Do you sit judging me according to the Law, and against law command me to be struck? read more.
Those who stood near him said, Do you revile the high priest of God? Then Paul said, I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest. It is written: You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.

The chief priest and the elders of the people assembled at the court of Caiaphas, the high priest.

Those who captured Jesus took him to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest. The scribes and those in authority also gathered there. But Peter kept his distance. He followed him to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the servants, to see the outcome. The chief priests and all the Sanhedrin were looking for false witness against Jesus. They wanted to put him to death. read more.
They failed, even though a number of false witnesses came. Later two witnesses came. They said: This man said, 'I am able to destroy the Temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.' The high priest stood up and said to him: Have you no answer? What is it these say against you?

When they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and those who were with him. He called the council together and all the senate of the children of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought. The officers did not find them in the prison when they came. So they returned and said, We found the prison locked with the guards standing before the doors. When we opened it we did not find a man. read more.
When the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted them. They wondered what this would come to. Someone came to them and told them: The men you put in prison are standing in the temple teaching the people. Then the captain with the officers brought them in without violence. They feared the people lest they should have been stoned. They brought them before the council and the high priest asked them: Did we command you not to teach in this name? Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and are willing to bring this man's blood upon us.



Neither should he offer himself as the high priest enters into the Holy Place every year with blood of others. Otherwise he would have to suffer often from the founding of the world. He has presented himself once at the end of the age to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Every priest stands daily, serving and offering time after time the same sacrifices. Yet they can never take away sins. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,


That is where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

If perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood, for under it the people received the Law, what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, instead of one named after the order of Aaron? The priesthood was changed, and therefore it is necessary to also change the Law. The one about whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. read more.
It is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. This is clear if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, He would become such, not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. For it is announced: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law. The work they do as priests is only a copy and a shadow of what is in heaven. It is the same as it was with Moses. When he was about to build the sacred tent, God told him: Be sure to make everything according to the pattern you were shown on the mountain.



He is able to exercise compassion towards the ignorant and those going astray, since he is also subject to weakness.

Such a high priest as this was suitable for us. He is holy, harmless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and higher than the heavens. He does not have a day-by-day need as the high priests do, first to offer up sacrifices for his own sins, then for those of the people. He sacrificed for sin once for all when he offered up himself. The Law appoints men as high priests who have weakness. But the oath that came after the Law appointed the Son who is perfect forever.




Neither should he offer himself as the high priest enters into the Holy Place every year with blood of others.







The anointed priest should marry a virgin. He must not marry a widow, a divorced woman, a woman who has lost her virginity, or a prostitute. He may only marry a virgin from his own people.


Tell all the skilled men whom I have given this ability to make Aaron's clothes. These clothes will set him apart as holy when he serves me as priest.

Moses continued speaking: Bezalel and Oholiab will do the work as Jehovah commanded. They will do this with the help of every other craftsman to whom Jehovah has given the necessary skills and talents. They will know how to do all the work for constructing the holy place.

From the violet, purple, and bright red yarn they made special clothes worn for official duties in the holy place. They also made the holy clothes for Aaron. They obeyed Jehovah's instructions to Moses.


When Aaron goes into the holy place, he will carry the names of the sons of Israel over his heart as a continual reminder in Jehovah's presence. He must do this by wearing the breast piece for decision-making.

(The Shulamite to her Beloved) Set me as a signature ring seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For Love is as strong as death. Zeal (devotion) is as fixed as the grave. And zeal burns like coals of fire, the very flame of Jehovah.


David told Abiathar the priest: Please bring me the priestly ephod. So Abiathar brought David the ephod. David asked Jehovah: Should I pursue these troops? Will I catch up with them? Pursue them! Jehovah told him: You will certainly catch up with them and rescue the captives.

David learned that Saul was planning to harm him. He told the priest Abiathar: Bring the ephod! Then David said: Jehovah God of Israel, I have actually heard that Saul is going to come to Keilah and destroy the city on account of me. Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come here as I have heard? Jehovah God of Israel, please tell me. Jehovah answered: He will come. read more.
Will the citizens of Keilah hand my men and me over to Saul? David asked. Jehovah answered: They will hand you over.



Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the tent of meeting. Jehovah said to Moses: Get away from these people, and let me destroy them in an instant! Immediately, they bowed with their faces touching the ground. read more.
Moses said to Aaron: Take your incense burner, put burning coals from the altar and incense in it, and go quickly into the congregation to make peace with Jehovah for the people. Jehovah shows his anger! A plague has started. Aaron took his incense burner, as Moses told him. He ran into the middle of the assembly, because the plague had already begun among the people. He put incense on the incense burner to make peace with Jehovah for the people. He stood between those who had died and those who were still alive. The plague stopped.



He must not dishonor his children among his people because I, Jehovah, set him apart as holy.


and perform the ritual to purify the Most Holy Place, the rest of the Tent of Jehovah's presence, the altar, the priests, and all the people of the community.

This means that he had to become like his brothers in every way, in order to be their faithful and merciful High Priest in his service to God, in order to offer a propitiatory sacrifice (pay atonement) (to make reconciliation) for the sins of the people.


Dress Aaron in the priestly garments and anoint him. Consecrate him so that he can serve me as priest.

He also poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head and anointed him to set him apart for his holy duties.


He clothed Aaron with the embroidered tunic and tied the sash around him. He also dressed him in the linen robe that is worn with the ephod. He fastened the ephod to it.

He put the turban on Aaron's head and fastened the gold medallion, the holy crown, to the front of the turban as Jehovah had commanded Moses.



Every high priest taken from among men is appointed in behalf of men in things relating to God. He may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to exercise compassion towards the ignorant and those going astray, since he is also subject to weakness.


For seven days the one of his sons who is priest in his stead shall put them on when he enters the tent of meeting to minister in the holy place.

And the Tirshatha (governor) said that they were not to have the most holy things for their food, till a priest came to give decision by the Urim and Thummim.


Whenever there was a large amount of money in the box, the royal secretary and the High Priest would come, melt down the silver, and weigh it.

Go to Hilkiah the high priest. Let him count the money brought into the Temple of Jehovah that the keepers of the door gathered from the people.


When Aaron goes into the holy place, he will carry the names of the sons of Israel over his heart as a continual reminder in Jehovah's presence. He must do this by wearing the breast piece for decision-making.

Then fasten them on the shoulder straps of the ephod as reminders of who the Israelites are. In this way Aaron will carry their names on his shoulders as a reminder in Jehovah's presence.


Weave the tunic of checkered work of fine linen. Make a turban of fine linen and a sash, the work of a weaver.

The clothes they will make are as follows: a breastplate, an ephod and the robe that is worn with it, another specially woven linen robe, the chief priest's turban, and a cloth belt. They will make these holy clothes for your brother Aaron and his sons so that they will be able to serve me as priests.


Weave the tunic of checkered work of fine linen. Make a turban of fine linen and a sash, the work of a weaver.

The clothes they will make are as follows: a breastplate, an ephod and the robe that is worn with it, another specially woven linen robe, the chief priest's turban, and a cloth belt. They will make these holy clothes for your brother Aaron and his sons so that they will be able to serve me as priests.


Weave the tunic of checkered work of fine linen. Make a turban of fine linen and a sash, the work of a weaver.

The clothes they will make are as follows: a breastplate, an ephod and the robe that is worn with it, another specially woven linen robe, the chief priest's turban, and a cloth belt. They will make these holy clothes for your brother Aaron and his sons so that they will be able to serve me as priests.





John said: I saw the spirit descending as a dove out of heaven upon him. I did not know he was the one. God sent me to baptize in water and said: 'You will see one upon whom the spirit descends. The same is he who baptizes in Holy Spirit.' I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.




When Aaron lights the lamps at dusk he must burn incense. An incense offering must burn (smoke) constantly in Jehovah's presence for generations to come.

So Aaron set up the lamps on the lamp stand to illuminate the area in front of it, as Jehovah commanded Moses.


This was in the time when Annas and Caiaphas were chief priests. The word of God was delivered to John the son of Zechariah. He was in the wilderness.

Zadok the priest was there. He had Levites there carrying the sacred Ark of God. They set it down and did not pick it up again until all the people left the city. The priest Abiathar was there too.



Then Paul said, I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest. It is written: You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.


Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

Caiaphas the high priest that year said to them: You know nothing at all. You do not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people. That way the whole nation will not perish. He did not say this from his own understanding. As high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation.



Make sacred clothes for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor.


The anointed priest should marry a virgin. He must not marry a widow, a divorced woman, a woman who has lost her virginity, or a prostitute. He may only marry a virgin from his own people.


Aaron raised his hands toward the people and blessed them. He sacrificed the offering for sin, the burnt offering, and the fellowship offering. Then he came down from the altar. Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Meeting. As soon as they came out, they blessed the people. Then Jehovah's glory appeared to all the people.


Aaron raised his hands toward the people and blessed them. He sacrificed the offering for sin, the burnt offering, and the fellowship offering. Then he came down from the altar. Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Meeting. As soon as they came out, they blessed the people. Then Jehovah's glory appeared to all the people.


Jehovah gave Moses these instructions for Aaron's sons, the priests: Touching a dead body will make you unclean. So do not go near a dead relative, except for your mother, father, son, daughter, brother, or an unmarried sister, who has no husband to take care of her. read more.
As the head of your people, you should never become unclean. That would make you unholy. You should never mourn by shaving bald spots on your heads, shaving the edges of your beards, or slashing your bodies. Be God's holy men. Do not dishonor the name of your God. Be holy because you bring sacrifices by fire to Jehovah. It is the food (bread) of your God. Never marry prostitutes, those who have lost their virginity, or divorced women because a priest is God's holy man. Be holy because you offer the food of your God. Be holy because I, Jehovah, am holy. I set you apart as holy. When a priest's daughter dishonors herself by becoming a prostitute, she dishonors her father. She must be burned. The priest who is anointed with oil and wears the chief priest's clothes is chief over his brothers. He must never mourn by leaving his hair uncombed or by tearing his clothes. He must not go near any dead bodies or become unclean, even for his father or mother. He must not leave the holy tent of his God. If he does, he will be dishonoring it, because he is dedicated with the anointing oil of his God. I am Jehovah.


Tell Phinehas that I now make a promise of peace to him. My promise is that he and his descendants will be priests for a very long time because he stood up for his God. He made peace with Jehovah for the Israelites.


A man of God came to Eli. He said: Thus says Jehovah: 'Did I plainly appear to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? Did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod in my presences me? Did I give to the house of your father all the offerings made by fire from the sons of Israel? Why do you kick at my sacrifice and my offering, which I have commanded in my house? Do you honor your sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel my people?' read more.
Jehovah, the God of Israel says: 'I said indeed that your house and the house of your father should walk before me all the days of your life.' Now Jehovah says: Far be it from me. I will honor those who honor me. I will not regard those who think little of me. The days are coming when I will cut off your arm (reduce your strength) and the arm of your father's house. No old man shall be in your house! You will see the enemy in my house even though God does good for Israel. There will not be an old man in your house forever. Yet I will keep one of your descendants alive. He will serve me as priest. But he will become blind and lose all hope. All your other descendants will die in the prime of life. Your two sons Hophni and Phinehas will both die on the same day. This will show you a sign that everything I have said will come true. I will choose a priest who will be faithful to me and do everything I desire him to do. I will give him descendants, who will always serve in the presence of my anointed ones forever. Your descendants who survive will have to go to that priest and ask him for money and food, and beg to be allowed to help the priests, in order to have something to eat.'


He violently takes away his tent, as from a garden. And he lays waste his meeting-place. Jehovah has taken away the memory of feast and Sabbath in Zion. In the passion of his wrath he is against king and priest.


It was not without an oath. Others were made priest without any oath. He became a priest with an oath when God said to him: Jehovah has sworn and he will feel no regret, you are a priest forever. (Psalm 110:4) Jesus became the guarantee of a better covenant.


There have been many priests. This is because they have been prevented from continuing by death. He continues forever and therefore has his priesthood without change.


Also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engravings of a seal: Holy to Jehovah. Fasten it on a blue cord and on the turban. It should be at the front of the turban. It shall be on Aaron's forehead. Aaron will take away the iniquity of the holy things that the sons of Israel consecrate. Concerning their holy gifts it will always be on his forehead that they may be accepted before Jehovah.


Make the robe that is worn with the ephod entirely of violet material. Provide an opening for the head in the center with a reinforced edge like a leather collar all around it to keep it from tearing. Along the hem of the robe weave pomegranates of blue, purple, and red wool with a gold bell between each of them. read more.
A gold bell should alternate with a pomegranate all around the hem of the robe. Aaron should wear it when he serves as priest. The sound of the bells must be heard when he comes into and goes out of Jehovah's presence in the holy place so that he will not die.


Prepare the breast piece for decision-making using a skilled craftsman. Make it like the ephod out of gold, violet, purple, and bright red yarn and out of fine linen yarn. Fold it in half so it is nine inches square. Fasten four rows of precious stones on it. Put red quartz, topaz, and emerald in the first row. read more.
Place turquoise, sapphire, and crystal in the second row. In the third row put jacinth, agate, and amethyst. In the fourth row put beryl, onyx, and gray quartz. Mount them in gold settings. The stones represent the twelve sons of Israel, by name, each stone engraved like a signet ring with the name of one of the twelve tribes. Make chains out of pure gold, twisted like ropes for the breastplate. Make two gold rings for the breastplate. Attach them to the two top corners of the breastplate. Fasten the two gold ropes to the rings at the top corners of the breastplate. Fasten the other ends of the ropes to the two settings on the shoulder straps of the ephod so that the breastplate hangs in front of it. Make two gold rings, and connect them to the other two corners of the breastplate on the inside edge next to the ephod. Make two more gold rings, and fasten them to the bottom of the shoulder straps on the front of the ephod. This will be close to the seam just above the belt of the ephod. Then the breastplate should be fastened by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a violet cord. Attach it just above the belt of the ephod. This will hold the breastplate in place. When Aaron goes into the holy place, he will carry the names of the sons of Israel over his heart as a continual reminder in Jehovah's presence. He must do this by wearing the breast piece for decision-making.


You will celebrate it on the fourteenth day of the second month at dusk. Eat the Passover animal along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Never leave any of the meat until morning or break any of the animal's bones. Follow all the rules for the Passover when you celebrate it. If you are clean and not on a trip and yet do not bother to celebrate the Passover, you must be excluded from the people. You did not bring your offering to Jehovah at the right time. You must suffer the consequences for your sin. read more.
Foreigners living with you may want to celebrate Jehovah's Passover. They must follow these same rules and regulations. The same rules will apply to foreigners and native-born Israelites.' That day the tent of the words of God's Covenant was set up. The column of smoke covered it. The smoke over the tent glowed like fire from evening until morning. The smoke always glowed this way. At night the smoke that covered the tent glowed like fire. When the smoke moved from the tent the Israelites would break camp. Wherever it stopped the Israelites would set up camp. The Israelites would break camp or set up camp at Jehovah's command. They stayed at the place where the column of smoke stayed over the tent. When the smoke stayed over the tent for a long time, the Israelites obeyed Jehovah's command and did not break camp. The same thing happened when the smoke stayed only a few days over the tent: At Jehovah's command they would set up camp, and at his command they would break camp. Sometimes the column of smoke stayed only from evening until morning. They broke camp when the smoke moved in the morning. Day or night, when the smoke moved, they broke camp.


He must dress in a holy linen robe and wear linen undergarments. He must wear a linen belt and turban. These are holy clothes. He should wash his body and put them on.


prepare the ephod with fine linen yarn. Embroider gold, violet, purple, and bright red yarn into the fabric. It should have two shoulder straps attached at the top corners so it can be fastened.


No one takes this honor upon himself. He is called by God, even as Aaron was. Also Christ did not glorify himself to be made a high priest. It was God who said to him: You are my Son; I today have become your father.


The captain of the guard took the high priest Seraiah, the second priest Zephaniah, and the three doorkeepers.


Your descendants who survive will have to go to that priest and ask him for money and food, and beg to be allowed to help the priests, in order to have something to eat.'


When the man mentioned the Ark of God Eli fell backward from his seat beside the gate. He was so old and fat that the fall broke his neck and he died. He was a leader in Israel for forty years.


Every high priest taken from among men is appointed in behalf of men in things relating to God. He may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to exercise compassion towards the ignorant and those going astray, since he is also subject to weakness. That is why he must offer sacrifices, for his own and for the people's sins.


Caiaphas the high priest that year said to them: You know nothing at all. You do not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people. That way the whole nation will not perish. He did not say this from his own understanding. As high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation. read more.
He would die for the nation. He would also gather together the children of God that are scattered abroad.


Jehovah continued: Bring your brother Aaron and his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar to you from all the Israelites. They will serve me as priests. Make sacred clothes for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor.




Eleazar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of the oil for the lamps, the sweet-smelling incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He is in charge of the whole tent and everything in it, the holy place and its contents.


The leader of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest. He was in charge of those who carried out the duties in the Holy Place.


The holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him. They may wear them when they are anointed and ordained.


For seven days the one of his sons who is priest in his stead shall put them on when he enters the tent of meeting to minister in the holy place.


Solomon did not allow Abiathar to be priest any longer. So the word of Jehovah came true concerning the sons of Eli in Shiloh.


The holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him. They may wear them when they are anointed and ordained.




who is at least twenty years old. You and Aaron must register everyone in Israel who is eligible for military duty. List them by divisions.


Every high priest taken from among men is appointed in behalf of men in things relating to God. He may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.


He is able to exercise compassion towards the ignorant and those going astray, since he is also subject to weakness.


Make sacred clothes for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor.


Those who stood near him said, Do you revile the high priest of God?


and perform the ritual to purify the Most Holy Place, the rest of the Tent of Jehovah's presence, the altar, the priests, and all the people of the community.

Aaron will slaughter the goat for the people's offering for sin. He will take the blood inside, go up to the canopy, and sprinkle it on the throne of mercy and in front of it, as he did with the bull's blood. He will pay compensation for the wrongdoing and make peace with Jehovah for all the sins the Israelites committed against the holy place. These sins happened because the Israelites were unclean and because they committed rebellious acts. He will do the same for the Tent of Meeting that is among an unclean people.

When he finishes making peace with Jehovah at the holy place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, he will bring the living goat forward.


He will take some of the bull's blood and sprinkle it with his finger on the east side of the throne of mercy. Then he will sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times in front of the throne of mercy. Aaron will slaughter the goat for the people's offering for sin. He will take the blood inside, go up to the canopy, and sprinkle it on the throne of mercy and in front of it, as he did with the bull's blood.


He will take an incense burner full of burning coals from the altar in Jehovah's presence, and two handfuls of finely ground, sweet-smelling incense. He will bring them up to the canopy.


He must dress in a holy linen robe and wear linen undergarments. He must wear a linen belt and turban. These are holy clothes. He should wash his body and put them on.


Jehovah said: Tell your brother Aaron that he cannot go into the holy place whenever he wants to. If he goes up to the canopy and stands in front of the throne of mercy on the Ark, he will die. This is because I appear in the smoke above the throne of mercy.




He will wash his body in the holy place and put on his other clothes. Then he will come out and sacrifice the burnt offering for himself and for the people to make peace with Jehovah for his own sins and the sins of the people.



Jehovah said: Tell your brother Aaron that he cannot go into the holy place whenever he wants to. If he goes up to the canopy and stands in front of the throne of mercy on the Ark, he will die. This is because I appear in the smoke above the throne of mercy.



This is what Aaron must do in order to come into the holy place: He must take a bull as an offering for sin and a ram as a burnt offering.


When these things are prepared, the priests enter the outer room often to carry on their services. Only the high priest enters the inner room. Once a year he entered with blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people.