The ointment was made of myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, cassia, and olive oil, compounded by the perfumer or apothecary ( Exodus 30:23-25 Josephus, 'Ant.', III, viii, 3), and not to be imitated nor applied to profane uses ( Exodus 30:31-33).Īfter the Exile anointing was not in use: both high-priests and priests were consecrated by simple investiture. Some texts seem to require anointing for all ( Exodus 30:30 Leviticus 10:7 Numbers 3:3), but Aaron was anointed with oil in great profusion, even on the head ( Exodus 29:7), to which reference is made in Psalm 132:2, where it is said that the precious ointment ran down upon his beard and 'to the skirt of his garment'. Aaron was anointed with oil poured on his head ( Leviticus 8:12) hence he is called 'the priest that is anointed' ( Leviticus 4:3). The consecration of Aaron and his sons during seven days and their vestments are described in Exodus 28 and 29 (cf.

A coadjutor or second priest was mentioned in 2 Kings 25:18.Īaron and his sons were chosen by God to be priests, Aaron being the first high-priest and Eleazar his successor so that, though the Scripture does not say so explicitly, the succession of the eldest son to the office of high-priest became a law.

In the Old Testament ho hiereus ( Numbers 3:6) hiereus ho protos ( 2 Kings 25:18) ho hiereus ho megas ( Leviticus 21:10), are the common forms.

the anointed priest ( Leviticus 4:3): Gr., Archiereus ( Leviticus 4:3), also in later books and New Testament.

Who are the priests in the bible