Editing Kohen (section)

=== 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.