The Priests

The repentant Israelite who had gone through the gate of the tabernacle with his sacrifice and reached the bronze altar had proceeded as far as he dare go in his approach to God. Beyond that it was the responsibility of the priests to go on his behalf and carry out spiritual tasks in the Holy Place. This they did as representatives for all the people. Theirs was the high privilege of the calling of God to serve him more closely than the congregation of Israel or even then the specially appointed Levites could.

The universal definition of a priest is:

"an authorized minister of a deity who, on behalf of a community, officiates at the altar and in other rites, acting as a mediator between the deity and man."

The Biblical definition of a priest is:

"A chosen officer or prince with the capacity to draw near to God and minister. He alone is responsible for offering the divinely appointed sacrifices to God, for executing the different procedures and ceremonies relating to the worship of God, and for being a representitive between God and man."

A priest is one who makes the sacrifices, performs the rituals and acts as mediator between man and God. This means that he is responsible for offering the divinely appointed sacrifices to God, for executing the different procedures and ceremonies relating to the worship of God, and for being a representitive between God and man.