Editing Kohen (section)

==Ancient roles==
=== Laws and duties ===
Priestly duties involved offering the Temple [[Korban|sacrifices]], and delivering the [[Priestly Blessing]]. When the Temple existed, most sacrifices and offerings could only be conducted by priests. Non-priest Levites (i.e. those who descended from [[Levi]] but not from Aaron) performed a variety of other Temple roles, including [[Shechita|ritual slaughter]] of sacrificial animals, song service by use of voice and musical instruments, and various tasks in assisting the priests in performing their service.

The kohanim were not granted any ancestral land to own.<ref>{{Bibleverse|Numbers|18:20|HE}}</ref> Instead, they were compensated for their service to the nation and in the Temple through the [[twenty-four kohanic gifts]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cohen-levi.org/temple_studies/order_of_the_temple_service.htm |title=Order of the Temple Service |work= Temple Studies |publisher=Cohen-levi.org |access-date=2013-02-18 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702160007/http://www.cohen-levi.org/temple_studies/order_of_the_temple_service.htm |archive-date= Jul 2, 2013 }}</ref> Most of these gifts are related to Temple sacrifices, or else the agricultural produce of the [[Land of Israel]] (such as [[terumah]]). A notable gift which is given even in the [[Jewish diaspora]] is the five [[shekel]]s of the ''[[pidyon haben]]'' ceremony.

===Vestments===
{{See also|Biblical clothing}}
[[Image:LEV 8- High priest in robes and breastplate.jpg|thumb|The high priest in his golden garments (the chain [[censer]] depicted is anachronistic).]]
[[Image:Kohenbreastplate.jpg|thumb|The [[priestly breastplate]] of the high priest.]]
[[File:Jewish priests.jpg|thumb|Kohen, [[High Priest of Israel|''Kohen Gadol'']] and a [[Levite]] (Charles Foster, 1873)]]

The [[Torah]] provides for specific vestments to be worn by the priests when they are ministering in the [[Tabernacle]]: "And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for dignity and for beauty".<ref>{{bibleverse|Exodus|28:2|HE}}</ref>  These garments are described in {{bibleverse|Exodus|28|HE}}, {{bibleverse|Exodus|39|HE}} and {{bibleverse|Leviticus|8|HE}}. The high priest wore eight holy garments (''bigdei kodesh''). Of these, four were of the same type worn by all priests and four were unique to the high priest.

Those vestments which were common to all priests were:
* [[Priestly undergarments]] (Hebrew ''michnasayim'', breeches): [[linen]] pants reaching from the waist to the knees "to cover their nakedness" ({{bibleverse|Exodus|28:42|HE}})
* [[Priestly tunic]] (Hebrew ''ketonet'', tunic): made of pure linen, covering the entire body from the neck to the feet, with sleeves reaching to the wrists. That of the high priest was embroidered, those of the priests were plain.<ref>{{bibleverse|Exodus|28:39-40|HE}}</ref>
* [[Priestly sash]] (Hebrew ''avnet'', sash): that of the high priest was of fine linen with "[[embroidery|embroidered work]]" in blue and purple and scarlet ({{bibleverse|Exodus|28:39|HE}}, {{bibleverse-nb||Exodus|39:29|HE}}); those worn by the priests were of white, twined linen.
* [[Priestly turban]] (Hebrew ''mitznefet''): that of the high priest was much larger than that of the priests and wound so that it formed a broad, flat-topped turban; that for priests was wound so that it formed a cone-shaped turban, called a ''migbahat''.

The vestments that were unique to the high priest were:
* [[Priestly robe (Judaism)|Priestly robe]] (''me'il''): a sleeveless, blue robe, the lower hem of which was fringed with small golden bells alternating with [[pomegranate]]-shaped tassels in blue, purple, and scarlet—''[[tekhelet]]'', ''[[Tyrian purple|argaman]]'', ''[[tolaat shani]]''.
* [[Ephod]]: a richly embroidered vest or apron with two [[onyx]] [[engraved gem]]stones on the shoulders, on which were engraved the names of the tribes of Israel
* [[Priestly breastplate]] (Hebrew ''hoshen''): with twelve precious and semi-precious stones, each engraved with the name of one of the tribes; a pouch in which he probably carried the [[Urim and Thummim]] (objects of unclear nature used for divination). The ''hoshen'' was fastened to the Ephod.
* [[Priestly golden head plate|Priestly headplate]] (Hebrew ''tzitz''): worn on the front of the turban, and inscribed with the words: "[[Q-D-Š|Holy]] unto [[YHWH]]".
[[File:Macoy Masonic Hebrew with text 1868 p134.jpg|thumb|''Qodeš l-Yahweh'' ([[Paleo-Hebrew alphabet]]), "Holy to [[Yahweh]]", an inscription worn on the forehead of the [[High Priest of Israel]]]]
In addition to the above "golden garments", the [[High Priest of Israel|high priest]] also had a set of white "linen garments" (''bigdei ha-bad'') which he wore only for the [[Yom Kippur Temple service]].<ref>{{bibleverse|Leviticus|16:4|HE}}</ref> The linen garments were only four in number, corresponding to the garments worn by all priests (undergarments, tunic, sash and turban), but made only of white linen, with no embroidery. They could be worn only once, new sets being made each year.

A priest would serve barefoot in the Temple, and would immerse in a [[mikvah]] before vesting, and wash his hands and his feet before performing any sacred act. The [[Talmud]] teaches that priests were only fit to perform their duties when wearing their priestly vestments,<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Zevachim.17b.6 Zevachim 17b]</ref> and that the vestments achieve [[Atonement in Judaism|atonement]] for [[sin]], just as [[korbanot|sacrifices]] do.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Zevachim.88b.5 Zevachim 88b]</ref>

According to the [[Talmud]], the wearing of the [[Priestly golden head plate]] [[Atonement in Judaism|atoned]] for the [[sin]] of arrogance on the part of the [[Children of Israel]] ([[Babylonian Talmud|B]].[[Zevachim]] 88b) and she also symbolizes that the high priest bears the lack of all the offerings and gifts of the sons of Israel. And it must be constantly on his head for the good pleasure of God towards them ({{bibleverse||Exodus|28:38|HE}}).
*According to the Talmud, the wearing of the [[Priestly turban]] [[Atonement in Judaism|atoned]] for the [[sin]] of haughtiness on the part of the Children of Israel (B. [[Zevachim]] 88b).
*According to the Talmud, the wearing of the Priestly [[ephod]] [[atonement in Judaism|atoned]] for the [[thou shalt have no other gods before me|sin of idolatry]] on the part of the [[Israelites]].<ref>[[Babylonian Talmud]], ''[[Zevachim]]'' 88:B</ref>
*According to the Talmud, the wearing of the [[Priestly sash]] [[Atonement in Judaism|atoned]] for "[[sin]]s of the heart" (impure thoughts) on the part of the Children of Israel.<ref>[[Zevachim]] 88b</ref>
*According to the Talmud, the wearing of the [[Priestly tunic]] and the rest of the priestly garments [[Atonement in Judaism|atoned]] for the [[sin]] of bloodshed on the part of the Children of Israel (B.[[Zevachim]] 88b).
*According to the Talmud, the [[Priestly undergarments]] [[Atonement in Judaism|atone]] for the [[sin]] of sexual transgressions on the part of the Children of Israel (B.Zevachim 88b).

=== Torah instruction ===
{{Main|The Torah instruction of the Kohanim}}
[[File:צוות כהנים עוסקים בלימוד הלכות טומאה וטהרה.jpg|thumb|200px|A group of kohanim studying the [[Mishna]]yot laws of [[Keilim]] in anticipation of the rebuilding of the [[Beit Hamikdash]]]]

Numerous Biblical passages attest to the role of the priests in teaching [[Torah]] to the people and in issuing judgment. Later rabbinic statements elaborate on these roles. However, the priest's religious authority is not automatic: even a [[mamzer|bastard]] who is a scholar takes precedence over an ignorant [[High Priest of Israel|high priest]].<ref>[[Mishnah]] Horayot 3:8</ref>

=== High Priest ===
{{Main|High Priest of Israel}}
In every generation when the Temple was standing, one kohen would be singled out to perform the functions of the High Priest (Hebrew ''kohen gadol''). His primary task was the [[Yom Kippur|Day of Atonement]] service. Another unique task of the high priest was the offering of a daily meal sacrifice; he also held the prerogative to supersede any priest and offer any offering he chose. Although the [[Torah]] retains a procedure to select a High Priest when needed, in the absence of the Temple in Jerusalem, there is no High Priest in Judaism today.

=== Twenty-four kohanic divisions ===
{{Main|Priestly divisions}}
According to {{bibleverse|1|Chronicles|24:3–5|HE}}, King [[David]] divided the priests into 24 [[priestly divisions]] (Heb. משמרות, ''mishmarot''). Each division would perform the Temple service for one week in a 24-week cycle, with all divisions eligible to serve on holidays. According to the [[Talmud]], this was an expansion of a previous division, by Moses, into 8 (or 16) divisions.<ref>Taanit 27a</ref>

Following the destruction of the [[Second Temple]], and the displacement to the [[Galilee]] of the bulk of the remaining Jewish population after the [[Bar Kokhba revolt]], Jewish tradition in the [[Talmud]] and poems from the period record that the descendants of each priestly watch established a separate residential seat in towns and villages of the Galilee, and maintained this residential pattern for at least several centuries in anticipation of the reconstruction of the Temple and reinstitution of the cycle of priestly courses. In subsequent years, there was a custom of publicly recalling every [[Shabbat]] in the synagogues the courses of the priests, a practice that reinforced the prestige of the priests' lineage.<ref>[[Robert Bonfil]], ''Jews in Byzantium: Dialectics of Minority and Majority Cultures'', Brill: Leiden 2012, p. 42 {{ISBN|9789004203556}}</ref> Following this destruction, it seems that most of them joined the [[Synagogal Judaism|Synagogal Jewish movement]] ; before being gradually converted towards [[Rabbinic Judaism]] and [[Christianity]].<ref name=":5" />

=== Qualifications and disqualifications ===
{{Main|Kohanic disqualifications}}
Although kohanim may assume their duties once they reached physical maturity, the fraternity of kohanim generally would not allow young kohanim to begin service until they reached the age of twenty<ref>Talmud Bavli [[Hullin]] [https://www.sefaria.org/Chullin.24b.5 24b], [[Mishneh Torah]], Hilchoth Klei HaMiqdash 5:15</ref> or thirty.<ref>{{Alhatorah|Deuteronomy|18:8|Chizkuni}}; similar to [[Levites]] who began working at age 30 ({{bibleverse|Numbers|4:3,30|HE}})</ref> There was no mandatory retirement age. Only when a kohen became physically infirm could he no longer serve.<ref>[[Mishneh Torah]], Hilchoth Biath HaMiqdash 7:12, and Hilchoth Klei HaMiqdash 3:8 (Chullin 24b mentions no disqualification due to age)</ref>

A kohen may become disqualified from performing his service for a host of reasons, including [[Tumah|ritual impurity]],<ref>{{Bibleverse|Leviticus|22:3-9|HE}}</ref> prohibited marriages, and certain physical blemishes.<ref>{{Bibleverse|Leviticus|21:17-23|HE}}</ref> The kohen is never permanently disqualified from service, but may return to his normal duties once the disqualification ceases.