There are several forms of Priesthood mentioned in the Torah. The Levitical Priesthood, established at the time of the Torah's revelation on Mount Sinai, designated the tribe of Levi (particularly the family of Aaron) as the bearers of this priesthood. This event marked a pivotal shift from the previously acknowledged line of Priesthood known as the Order of Melchizedek. This ancient priesthood, tracing its roots back to Shem, son of Noah, and subsequently to Abraham, was passed down to the firstborns of Israel until the passing of the Priesthood to the Levitical tribe at the Giving of the Torah.
There are yet two more types of Priesthood that are only touched on by those who study the mystical teachings of the Torah. These two are the Priesthood of the Upper and Lower Gan Eden (known as Heaven). The heavenly Priesthood operates in a very similar but also quite different fashion from the Levitical Priesthood.
These four orders of Priesthood (Melchizedek, Levite, Upper & Lower Gan Eden) were taught in the synagogues and would have been understood by Yeshua and his disciples. It is only proper that we should, too.
The Melchizedek Priesthood
The Order of Melchizedek, as discussed by the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh following Parsha Lech Lecha, is particularly intriguing. This priesthood, which predates the Levitical order, was based on individual merit and righteous conduct rather than birthright. It was passed from Adam to Seth, then to Noah, and Shem, later known as Melchizedek. Abraham's acquisition of this priesthood resulted from his meritorious actions (rescuing Lot and the people of Sodom) and his devout service to Hashem when Shem (Melchizedek) did not. This concept of a merit-based priesthood is also echoed in the context of the teachings found in the book of Hebrews, suggesting that Yeshua was part of this ancient order (Hebrews 7:11-8:6), which was a holy-merit-based Priesthood.
This would not (and could not) go to someone necessarily from the tribe of Levi, but it would be passed down by merit. It would go from the current holder from the Order of Melchizedek to a new holder by merit and blessing. Abraham, having received this merit-based Priesthood, in turn, handed it to his sons, and the common understanding was that the firstborn sons earned and inherited this Priesthood until the giving of the Torah. At the giving of the Torah, the firstborns failed to merit it; thus, it went to the Levites instead (Numbers 3:11-13).
The Levitical Priesthood
The Levitical Priesthood was earned by the purity displayed by the tribe of Levi at the incident of the Golden Calf. This Priesthood was then transformed into an inheritable Priesthood based on the birth of the family line directly from Aaron and his sons after the anointing. This is an eternal covenant between the descendants of Aaron and G-d, and is still very much at play.
This Priesthood also has special privileges where certain rabbinic traditions do not apply to preists in the temple. Some of these include burning a fire offering on Sabbath, slaughtering animals on Sabbath, and wearing mixed wool and linen, among other things. This Priesthood also has some ongoing relevance linked to various customs and laws. Some of the halachic duties related to this Priesthood include:
Honor priests by standing when they enter the room until they sit first.
Give a priest the redemption money for a firstborn son.
Duchaning, in which the priests stand with socks on and bless the community.
In Ashkenazic tradition, Duchaning is on the three main holidays: Pesach, Sukkos, and Shavuos.
In Sephardic tradition, Duchaning is on every Sabbath.
This particular Priesthood is subject to the many laws in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. This one is still recognized but won’t be fully observed in totality until the Temple is rebuilt and the priests and Levites are restored to their duties in the third and final temple (may it be speedily in our days). According to Ezekiel 40-48, this Priesthood will still perform all the sacrifices and offerings when the temple is rebuilt and the sacrificial system is reinstated. This form of Priesthood will always have a clearly important role.
It is also noteworthy that the Apostles and Disciples continued to go to the temple (and the priests) to have sacrifices performed for them. Acts 3:1 and Acts 21:21-28 demonstrate the respect, continued use, and need for purification that they offered. Yeshua also acknowledges the importance of this Priesthood several times.
The Heavenly Priesthoods
We now continue on to the most curious of the Priesthoods: the heavenly Priesthood, which has and will continue to function and is talked about extensively in Hebrews. The Levitical and Order of Melchizedek can operate without interfering with each other while the Priesthood of the Upper Gan Eden (Heavenly) and Lower Gan Eden (Paradise) continue as well, but on completely different but patterned ways of worship.
It is suggested that Moses modeled the earthly Tabernacle and its priesthood on a divine template of the Upper Gan Eden temple & atonements shown to him while on Mount Sinai. The Upper Gan Eden is where the entirely spiritual rituals of atonement occur as we bring our Mitzvot (commands) from the Oral Law (law passed down through breath/spirit) to the heavenly High Priest, who then offers it on the heavenly Sacrificial Altar! Thus, it is vital for Jews, whether they hold that Yeshua is the Messiah or not, to hold onto the stringencies and leniencies of the Oral Law passed down by our sages.
The Ohr HaChaim on Deuteronomy 26:5 states that the High Priest varies and that the Arch Angel Michael was instituted at the time of Solomon’s Beis Hamikdash (Temple). However, this was not always the case. There are other places in which Enoch (Metatron) was the High Priest before Michael. Then in the book of Hebrews, we are told that in the Upper Gan Eden, Yeshua now serves as the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek (due to his merit like Abraham, Shem, Noach, Seth, and Adam). This merit-based priesthood provides the heavenly atonement in the Upper Gan Eden and follows the judgments passed by the heavenly Beis Din (judge tribunal/ heavenly court). Whereas the lower courts, instituted by the Holy Righteous individuals, can and often do differ from the rulings of G-d and the heavenly tribunal.
Several instances of this occur in the Talmud. One example is when the heavenly tribunal sides with R Elezar about the kosher status of an oven, whereas the majority of the Sanhedrin on earth placed him in excommunication (Bava Metzia 59a-b). While these systems of law are mirrors, it is important to note that they are separate. The Priesthood and judgments must never be confused with each other. The results of doing so and either spiritualizing one over the other or making heavenly courts over-rise the earthly (and G-d given) right to the Jewish people¹ to determine the halacha and punishments on earth can lead to Anti-Semitism, Holocaust, and Pogroms. The over-spiritualization of earthly Jewish-led Halachah can lead to more problems and even a lax in the physical in favor of the spiritual.
Man was made with both physical and spiritual (dust of earth, and breath of G-d), and if we negate one for the other then what are we? It is crucial that the physical be transformed for spiritual use, but it must remain in the physical and do the deeds that the spiritual itself cannot. Like a blind man and a lame man who work together to get an apple from a tree. The blind man couldn’t find the apple, but the lame man couldn’t reach it. Only when the two work together can they share in the reward.
Footnotes
¹ Deuteronomy 17:9-12
About the Author
David Costello is the founder of Ahavas Chinam, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the truth of Yeshua to the nations and making disciples. David is building a Jewish community where any Jew, of whatever observance, can come and daven, learn, and live out a Jewish life while maintaining or exploring faith in Moshiach. For more information about Ahavas Chinam, please visit their website at www.AhavasChinam.com
It is interesting you mention two more priesthoods. I always thought the Melchezidek Priesthood ascended with Yeshua. Would it not be true, that since we ar done with , ie, his Body, that male believers are of that order? Shep98270@yahoo.com