• Priest
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • was of Jehovah’s origination and direction. The record repeatedly assures us of this by saying that Moses and the sons of Israel “kept doing according to all that Jehovah had commanded Moses. They did just so.” “According to all that Jehovah had commanded Moses, that was the way the sons of Israel did all the service. And Moses got to see all the work, and, look? they had done it just as Jehovah had commanded. That was the way they had done.” “And Moses proceeded to do according to all that Jehovah had commanded him. He did just so.”—Ex. 39:32, 42, 43; 40:16.

      According to Egyptologists, in some things the dress of the Egyptian priests was similar to that of the priests of Israel, such as the use of linen; there was a shaving of the bodies of the Egyptian priests, as with the Levites (though the priests of Israel did not—Num. 8:7); there were washings. But do these few similarities prove that they had the same origin, or that one came from the other? Similar materials and methods are used world wide in making clothing, houses and buildings and in performing daily duties, such as washing, but there is great divergence also in style and methods. We do not say that one came from the other, or that the dress or the act has the same religious or symbolic significance.

      In most features of their dress and functions there was no similarity whatsoever between the Israelite and the Egyptian priests. For example, while the Israelite priests served barefooted, the Egyptian priests wore sandals. The robes of the Egyptian priests were entirely different in design and their dress and appurtenances bore symbols of the worship of their false gods. They shaved their heads, which Israel’s priests did not do (Lev. 21:5), and used wigs or wore headgear totally unlike that of Israel’s priests, according to monumental inscriptions found in Egypt. Furthermore, Jehovah made it clear that Israel was not to adopt any of the practices of Egypt or the other nations, either in worship or in judicial practice.—Lev. 18:1-4; Deut. 6:14; 7:1-6.

      The argument made by supporters of the theory that Israel’s priesthood borrowed from Egypt has, therefore, no foundation. We must remember that the idea of sacrifice and priesthood came originally from God and was expressed by faithful men from the beginning, such as Abel and Noah, and was carried out in patriarchal society by Abraham and others. All nations would therefore have an inheritance of this knowledge, though perverted into many forms as they forsook the true God and pure worship. Having the inborn desire to worship, and without the guidance of Jehovah, the pagan nations developed many unrighteous and even degrading rites, all of which brought them into opposition to true worship.

      Disgusting practices of pagan priests

      The Egyptian priests of Moses’ day opposed Moses before Pharaoh, trying to discredit Moses and his God Jehovah by the practice of magic. (Ex. 7:11-13, 22; 8:7; 2 Tim. 3:8) But they were forced to bow in defeat and humiliation. (Ex. 8:18, 19; 9:11) The worshipers of Molech of Ammon sacrificed their sons and daughters by burning them in the fire. (1 Ki. 11:5; 2 Ki. 23:10; Lev. 18:21; 20:2-5) Baal worshipers of the Canaanites followed the same detestable practice, also performing self-laceration and lewd, disgusting immoral rites. (Num. 25:1-3; 1 Ki. 18:25-28; Jer. 19:5) The priests of the Philistine god Dagon and the Babylonian priests of Marduk, Bel and Ishtar practiced magic and divination. (1 Sam. 6:2-9; Ezek. 21:21; Dan. 2:2, 27; 4:7, 9) All of them worshiped images made of wood, stone and metal. Even King Jeroboam of the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel set up priests to direct the worship of golden calves and “goat-shaped demons” to prevent the people from engaging in true worship at Jerusalem.—2 Chron. 11:15; 13:9; see MICAH No. 1.

      Unauthorized priesthoods condemned by God

      Jehovah was unalterably opposed to all these forms and practices, which actually constituted the worship of demons. (1 Cor. 10:20; Deut. 18:9-13; Isa. 8:19; Rev. 22:15) Whenever these gods or the priesthood representing them came into open defiance of Jehovah they were humiliated. (1 Sam. 5:1-5; Dan. 2:2, 7-12, 29, 30; 5:15) Often their priests and prophets suffered death. (1 Ki. 18:40; 2 Ki. 10:19, 25-28; 11:18; 2 Chron. 23:17) And since Jehovah recognized no priesthood aside from that of the house of Aaron during the existence of the Law covenant, it follows that what Aaron’s office foreshadowed, namely, the priesthood of Jesus Christ, who is also the greater High Priest according to the manner of Melchizedek, is the only way of approach to Jehovah. (Acts 4:12; Heb. 4:14; 1 John 2:1, 2) Any priesthood that opposes this God-ordained King-Priest and his underpriesthood, God’s spiritual temple or sanctuary, is to be avoided by true worshipers of God.—Deut. 18:18, 19; Acts 3:22, 23; Rev. 18:4, 24; see HIGH PRIEST.

  • Priests’ Cities
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • PRIESTS’ CITIES

      These were cities in the Promised Land that were set aside as places of residence for the Aaronic priests and their families. Of the forty-eight cities given to the tribe of Levi by Israel’s other tribes, thirteen particularly belonged to the Kohathite priests of Aaron’s family. (Josh. 21:1-42; 1 Chron. 6:54-81) The tribes of Judah and Simeon gave them nine cities and four were given by the tribe of Benjamin. Thus, “all the cities of the sons of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities and their pasture grounds.” (Josh. 21:4, 9-19) These cities were Hebron (a city of refuge), Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, Holon (apparently Hilen), Debir, Ain (Ashan), Juttah, Beth-shemesh, Gibeon, Geba, Anathoth and Almon (Alemeth), all except Juttah and Gibeon again being named at 1 Chronicles 6:54-60.

      David sent word to priests in their various cities to gather together when he was about to bring the ark of Jehovah to Jerusalem. (1 Chron. 13:1-5) And specific reference is made to the appointment of men to distribute contributed portions to their priestly brothers residing in priests’ cities during King Hezekiah’s reign.—2 Chron. 31:11-19.

  • Prisca
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • PRISCA

      (Prisʹca) [old woman]; Priscilla (Pris·cilʹla) [little old woman].

      The shorter form of the name is found in Paul’s writings, the longer form in Luke’s. Such a variation was common in Roman names.

      Priscilla was the wife of Aquila, with whom she is always mentioned. The two showed fine Christian works and hospitality, not only to individuals, but also by having congregation meetings in their home in both Rome and Ephesus.

      Because of Emperor Claudius’ decree, Aquila and his wife left Rome and went to Corinth in 50 C.E. Not long after their arrival Paul joined them in tent-making. (Acts 18:2, 3) They traveled on with Paul to Ephesus, remained there for a time, and were instrumental in ‘expounding the way of God more correctly’ to the eloquent Apollos. (Acts 18:18, 19, 24-28; 1 Cor. 16:19) Returning to Rome for a time (Rom. 16:3-5), they later traveled back to Ephesus. (2 Tim. 4:19; 1 Tim. 1:3) Their personal contact with Paul extended from about 50 C.E. to Paul’s death, some fifteen years or so later, during which association they “risked their own necks” for the apostle’s soul.—Rom. 16:3, 4; see AQUILA.