Kohen (Hebrew: כֹּהֵן, romanized: kōhēn, pronounced [koˈ(h)en]; pl. כֹּהֲנִים, kōhănīm, [ko(h)aˈnim]) is the Hebrew word for "priest", used in reference to the Aaronic priesthood, also called Aaronites or Aaronides.[1] They are traditionally believed, and halakhically required, to be of direct patrilineal descent from the biblical Aaron (also Aharon), brother of Moses, and thus belong to the Tribe of Levi.[2]
During the existence of the Temple in Jerusalem (and previously the Tabernacle), kohanim performed the Temple sacrificial offerings, which were only permitted to be offered by them. Following its destruction, it seems that most of them joined the Synagogal Jewish movement before adopting gradually Rabbinic Judaism, other types of Judaism, Christianity or Islam.[3] Today, kohanim retain a lesser though distinct status within Rabbinic and Karaite Judaism, including certain honors and restrictions.
The non-Jewish priest Melchitzedek, however, is described as worshipping the same God as Abraham.[13] Later Jewish sources even discuss the possibility that Melchitzedek's family could have served as priests for the future Jewish nation, though in the end this did not happen.[14]
shortly after the Sinai revelation, Aaron and his sons were chosen to be the priests.[18] The exclusive possession of the priesthood by Aaron's descendants was known as the priestly covenant. Many commentators assert that the firstborns lost their status due to their participation in the golden calf sin.[17] A number of reasons have been suggested for why Aaron and his descendants were chosen instead:[19]
- Due to Aaron's role in the Exodus, alongside Moses
- As reward for greeting Moses cheerfully (Exodus 4:14), willingly subordinating himself to Moses in the Exodus, even though he (Aaron) was the elder of the two brothers
- Because Aaron possessed a higher level of prophecy than anyone at the time except Moses himself
- The Tribe of Levi, and possibly even Aaron's own family within that tribe, maybe have been chosen for Divine service even before the Exodus.
- Because Moses himself was unsuitable to serve as priest, either for general reasons (e.g., the priestly duties would not have left Moses enough time for leadership and Torah instruction) or as punishment for trying to avoid his Divine mission in Exodus 4:13
- Because Moses had a non-Israelite wife (Tzipporah), while Aaron's wife Elisheba was not only Israelite but noble (the sister of Nahshon prince of Judah), and thus more suitable to found the priestly family
Moses, too, performed sacrificial services before the completion of Aaron's consecration,[25] and arguably is once called a "priest" in the Bible,[26] but his descendants were not priests.[27]
Since Aaron was a descendant of the Tribe of Levi, priests are sometimes included in the term Levites, by direct patrilineal descent. However, not all Levites are priests.
During the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and until the Holy Temple was built in Jerusalem, the priests performed their priestly service in the portable Tabernacle.[28]
Birkat Kohanim: The Priestly Blessing
The Priestly Blessing was used by Leonard Cohen in his farewell blessing during "Whither Thou Goest", the closing song on his concerts. Leonard Cohen himself was from a kohen family. He also used the drawing of the Priestly Blessing as one of his logos.
The High Priest
The first high priest was Aaron himself, the ancestor of all priests; he was appointed to this role by Yahweh according to Exodus 28:1–2 and 29:4–5.
Other notable high priests in the Bible include Aaron's son Eleazar, Eleazar's son Phinehas, Eli, and Zadok.
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.[17]