Well Green, you have come up with a new teaching which I have never heard, and which I do not think fits the Biblical record. We do find "The sons of Arron" in later history.

1 Chronicles 23:27-28 For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above: 28 Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God;.

Since the Temple furniture would no longer need to be carried about, the Levites would not be needed for that type of service, but they would henceforth minister in the permanent sanctuary, with the priests, but in subordinate positions. See also 1 Chronicles 25:1-7 for some of the rolls of the Levites in music. And 1 Chronicles 26:12, 20, 29-31.

1 Chronicles 25:1-7
1 Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:
2 Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king.
3 Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD.
4 Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth:
5 All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
6 All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.
7 So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.

1 Chronicles 26:20
20 And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.

1 Chronicles 26:29-31
29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.
30 And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand and seven hundred, were officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward in all the business of the LORD, and in the service of the king.
31 Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even among the Hebronites, according to the generations of his fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valour at Jazer of Gilead.

They were ministers, but I don't think they were all ordained priests.

More from Numbers 3:

We find that the Levites - Gershon, Kohath, Merari - ministered in the sanctuary, but they were distinct from the sons of Aaron. They camped on their own sides of the tabernacle, apart from the sons of Aaron. But they ministered in the other work of the sanctuary.

Later in the Bible we find that God still reserved the priesthood to Aaron and his sons, distinct from the Levites.


In David's time, there was still a distinction between the sons of Aaron and the other Levites. They still knew who came from Eleazar and Ithamar.

From 1 Chronicles 24:

It looks like APL found other verses while I was putting mine together.

Which begs the question: What's up with Samuel?

Psalms 99:6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call on his name; they called on the LORD, and he answered them.

Moses was not a son of Aaron either! But was considered a priest. Moses was chosen of God, and spoke with God, "face to face". Samuel, it appears by the circumstances of his birth, and "adoption" by Eli, became a priest also. Samuel in the same class as Moses by Jeremiah, see Jeremiah 15:1.

Moses was not a priest. He was the leader, but not a priest.

Perhaps that example, from the best model of a theocracy that we have, should give us something to think about. Priesthood and leadership don't necessarily go together. Even the law, which required the priests come from Aaron and the kings come from Judah, separated them. Why do we require them together for our leaders today?

It appears to me that the problems is one we create. Moses and Aaron were brothers, same mother, same father, right? That made both of them Levites. God chose Aaron to be the father of the priests, and not Moses. Theirs was a peculiar priesthood service, which made them butchers as well. They were to slaughter all of the animals, and yet this was a special sacrificial service.

Roman Catholic priests are taught that they are performing the same sacrificial service in the Mass. What does this show us?

Are our pastors/evangelists in our church performing a similar service in our preaching? Are we to be compared to the services of the Roman Catholic priest, the Jewish priest - or the work of a prophet?

Thank you all for your participation. I'm enjoying this and learning new things...this is great.

APL and Arnold, you've found some interesting things. It does appear that the primary priesthood was limited to the sons of Aaron, even after Nadab and Abihu died. I hadn't seen it that way before. At least, there does appear to be some evidence to both sides of that question. The rest of the tribe of Levi were given some responsibilities, and it is unclear exactly where the line was drawn with that--but very interesting how they were each positioned around the sanctuary. You have brought out some fascinating details that I had never noticed.

Regarding Samuel, it is clear from other accounts in the Bible that anyone not qualified to be a priest would not have been permitted to serve as one. The Bible does not indicate this, but perhaps Samuel's mother was descended from Aaron. The Bible only gives Elkhanah's lineage, and omits that of Hannah. This is normal. Matriarchal lineages are not usually given. Even in Jesus' case, when Mary's lineage is given it is attributed instead to Joseph, being the male in the patriarchal system. (See the genealogies in Matthew and Luke.)

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

It seems Arnold is correct in that Moses was not a priest; however, Moses did have the God-ordained task of consecrating Aaron and his sons to the priesthood (see e.g. Exodus 40).

That verse in the Psalms might read better with adjustments to the punctuation. Probably the translator(s) didn't pay attention to correlation with prior passages that would have made the roles distinct. A simple comma added would change the meaning for English readers.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

I don't believe this part is supported in the Bible.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

IIRC, both sinner and priest participated intimately in the slaughter and butchering of the animals. Can't look it up now.