Animal Sacrifices
Animal Sacrifices

Part 1 ... File 4 of 8

A Voice In The Wilderness - Canada   Animal Sacrific Index  

The Aaronic Priesthood

Abraham's grandson Jacob (Israel) had 12 sons. They became the ancestors of the 12 tribes of Israel. From the tribe of Levi came Aaron the first High Priest of the Aaronic (Levitical) Priesthood. The following diagram will illustrate the first few generations of High Priests. (See 1 Chron. 6:1-15, Ezra 7:1-5) 
                                  Levi
                                   |
          .------------------------|---------------------.
        Gershon                  Kohath                Merari                   
                                   |
                    .--------------------------------,--------,---------.
                  Amram                           Izhar     Hebron   Uzziel
                    |
                    |----------------,---------------,
                  AARON            Miriam         Moses
                    |
          The Aaronic Priesthood   
      .--------.----|-------------------------.
     Nadab  Ibihu  ELEAZAR                   Ithamar        
                    |                        |         
                 PHINEHAZ                    |
                    |                        |         
                  ABISHA                     |
                    |                        |
                   Bukki                    ELI
                    Uzzi           Hophni  PHINEHAS
                  Zerahiah                  Ihitub     Ichabod                  
                  Meraioth                   |                                  
                  Amariah                  AHIJAH  
                   Ahitub                 AHIMELECH    
                   ZADOK                  ABIATHAR

The Bible tells us many important facts about the Levitical Priesthood. I mention a few:

Direct descendant of Aaron
To be a priest one had to be a direct descendant of Aaron. (Lev.1:5-11) It was not enough to be of the tribe of Levi. For example even Aaron's brother Moses was not a priest. Moses was a Prophet and Judge, but not a priest. Only direct descendants of Aaron could be priests.

Genealogical Records
Subsequent generations of priests had to trace their ancestry back to Aaron. Special genealogical records were kept by Israel for this purpose. (2 Chron.31:17) Not being able to trace one's ancestry back to Aaron meant being excluded from the priesthood.
Ezra 2: 61: And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name:
62: These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.

Blood Sacrifices
In the worship of the Most High only the Aaronic Priests were allowed to organize animal sacrifices and splash the blood on the altar. Any other person who presumed to do so would be cut off from the congregation of Israel. The following texts spell out this warning:
Leviticus 17: 1: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2: Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, saying,
3: What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
4: And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:
5: To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the LORD.
6: And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the LORD.
7: And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.
8: And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering of sacrifice,
9: And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer it unto the LORD; even that man shall be cut off from among his people.

Take Warning!

What do these terrifying verses mean? They mean exactly what they say: that it is a dangerous thing for any believer, other than an Aaronic Priest, to offer an animal's blood in any place other than at the Door of the Tabernacle (or Temple in Jerusalem). Doing so could risk being cut off from Yahweh's people! And that is the reason why even present-day Jews do not offer animal sacrifices. Because: they risk being cut off from Yahweh's people! Gentile believers take warning! For if the Almighty did not spare His chosen people when they offered illegal sacrifices, He most certainly will not spare Gentile churchmen who do the same thing. They too risk being cut off from the congregation of the redeemed.

     


A Voice In The Wilderness - Canada   Animal Sacrific Index  

Author: Elder: David B. Loughran - Stewarton Bible School - Stewarton Scotland
Elder: Max W. Mader
A Voice In The Wilderness - Canada
Web-Sites - www.avoiceinthewilderness.org & www.avitw.ca
First published 1979 / Placed on the Internet 1996/Updated: 1998/Updated: 2003/Reprinted 2009