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== Individuals and history ==
[[File:Nuremberg chronicles f 29v 2.png|thumb|Illustration of Aaron's lineage from the 1493 [[Nuremberg Chronicle]]]]
{{See also|Priestly covenant}}
===Pre-Israelite priests===
The early books of the Bible mention several [[pagan]] priests, such as [[Potipherah]],<ref>{{Bibleverse|Genesis|41:45,50|HE}}, 46:20</ref> the other priests of Egypt,<ref>{{Bibleverse|Genesis|47:22,26|HE}}</ref> and [[Jethro]].<ref>{{Bibleverse|Exodus|2:16|HE}}, 3:1, 18:1</ref>
The non-Jewish priest [[Melchitzedek]], however, is described as worshipped the same God as [[Abraham]].<ref>{{Bibleverse|Genesis|14:18-20,22|HE}}</ref> 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.<ref>[[Leviticus Rabbah]] 25:6; [[Babylonian Talmud]], [https://www.sefaria.org/Nedarim.32b.7 Nedarim 32b]</ref>
Arguably, Moses himself is called a priest in {{Bibleverse|Psalms|99:6|HE}}. If so, it would be consistent with his performing sacrificial services in some Biblical stories,<ref>{{Bibleverse|Exodus|24:6|HE}}, {{Bibleverse-nb|Exodus|40:31|HE}}; {{Bibleverse|Leviticus|8|HE}}</ref> but his descendants were not priests.▼
Jewish priests are first mentioned in {{Bibleverse|Exodus|19|HE}}. Here God offered the entire Jewish people the opportunity to become a symbolic "kingdom of priests and a holy nation".<ref>{{Bibleverse|Exodus|19:6|HE}}</ref> More practically, though, in this chapter "the priests who approach the Lord" were warned to stay away from [[Mount Sinai]] during the revelation of the [[Ten Commandments]],<ref>{{Bibleverse|Exodus|19:22,24|HE}}; see also {{Bibleverse|Exodus|24:5|HE}} where "the Israelite youths" offered sacrifices after this revelation.</ref> The identity of these priests is not specified. According to many later Jewish sources, the firstborn son in each family served as priests, starting in the period of the [[Biblical patriarchs|patriarchs]].<ref name=aht>[https://alhatorah.org/Selection_of_the_Priests_and_Levites/2 Selection of the Priests and Levites]</ref>
Since Aaron was a descendant of the [[Tribe of Levi]], priests are sometimes included in the term [[Levite]]s, by direct patrilineal descent. However, not all Levites are priests.▼
Nevertheless, shortly after the Sinai revelation, [[Aaron]] and his sons were chosen to be the priests.<ref>{{Bibleverse|Exodus|28:1|HE}}, {{Bibleverse-nb|Exodus|29:9|HE}}; {{Bibleverse|Numbers|18:19|HE}}; etc.</ref> 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;<ref name=aht/> Aaron may have been chosen for the priesthood due to having possessed a higher level of prophecy than anyone at the time except Moses himself.<ref>{{Alhatorah|Exodus|28:1|Abarbanel}}</ref>
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▲Since Aaron was a descendant of the [[Tribe of Levi]], priests are sometimes included in the term [[Levite]]s, by direct patrilineal descent. However, not all Levites are priests.
During the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and until the [[Temple in Jerusalem|Holy Temple]] was built in [[Jerusalem]], the priests performed their priestly service in the portable [[Tabernacle (Judaism)|Tabernacle]].<ref>{{bibleverse|Numbers|1:47–54|HE}}, {{bibleverse-nb|Numbers|3:5–13|HE}}, {{bibleverse-nb|Numbers|3:44–51|HE}}, {{bibleverse-nb|Numbers|8:5–26|HE}}</ref>
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