כֹּהֵן

1. priest-king: e.g. Melchizedek 1 Mos 14,18 (E ?), compare Sl 110,4 (the Messianic priest-king like Melchizedek); Zak 6,13 (Messianic priest and king); Israel מַמְלֶכֶת כֹּהֲנִים 2 Mos 19,6 (E) a kingdom of priests (priests and kings at once in their relation to the nations); compare Es 61,6 (of Israel ministering as a priest); or a chieftain (exercising priestly functions) כֹּהֵן מִדְיָן 2 Mos 2,16; 2 Mos 3,1; 2 Mos 18,1 (all J E); so also probably the sons of David 2 Sam 8,18, his grandson 1 Kong 4,5, and Ira the Jairite 2 Sam 20,26, who as princes performed priestly functions. With these we may class the כהנים 2 Mos 19,22; 2 Mos 19,24 (J).

2. priests of other religions than ׳י 's: Potiphera אֹן ׳כ 1 Mos 41,45; 1 Mos 41,50 (E), 1 Mos 46,20 (P); Egyptian כהנים 1 Mos 47,22 (twice in verse); 1 Mos 47,26 (J); דָגוֺן ׳כ 1 Sam 5,5 Philistine כהנים וקסמים 1 Sam 6,2 כֹּהֲנָיו his priests: e.g. of Baal 2 Kong 10,19 = of Ahab 2 Kong 10,11 of Chemosh Jer 48,7 of Malcam Jer 49,3 Mattan was הבעל ׳כ 2 Kong 11,18 = 2 Kron 23,17 הכמרים עם הכהנים Sef 1,4 Josiah burned the bones of the priests of the Baalim and Asherim 2 Kron 34,5.

3. priests of special orders in Israel:
\ \ a. Micah in the hill-country of Ephraim consecrated his own son וַיְהִילֿוֺ לְכֹהֵן Dom 17,5 but so soon as he could secure Jonathan ben Gershom, a descendant of Moses (see VB Dom 18,30), he consecrated him, לכהן ׳היה ל Dom 17,10; Dom 17,12; Dom 17,13; Dom 18,4; Dom 18,19 הַכֹּהֵן vDom 18,6 vDom 18,17 vDom 18,18 vDom 18,20 vDom 18,24 vDom 18,27. He was captured by the Danites, and he and his line became priests at Dan until the Exile, vDom 18,19 vDom 18,19 vDom 18,30.
\ \ b. Jeroboam עשׂה כהנים 1 Kong 12,31 of those not מבני לוי, as (הַ)בָּמוֺת ׳כ priests of (the) high places 1 Kong 12,32; 1 Kong 13,2; 1 Kong 13,33 (twice in verse) = לבמות ׳כ 2 Kron 11,15 Amaziah (of this class) was ביתאֿל ׳כ Amos 7,10 see also 2 Kron 13,9 called by Chronicler לְלֹא אלהים ׳כ v2 Kron 13,9 yet Hosea rebukes them as priests of ׳י Hos 4,4; Hos 4,9; Hos 5,1; Hos 6,9 at the Exile they were deported by the Assyrians 2 Kong 17,27; 2 Kong 17,28.
\ \ c. the people imported into Samaria made some of themselves במות ׳כ to worship ׳י the God of the land 2 Kong 17,32.

4. priests in Israel הכהנים who bore the ark and the trumpets Jos 3,13; Jos 3,14; Jos 3,15; Jos 3,17; Jos 4,3; Jos 4,9; Jos 4,10; Jos 4,17; Jos 4,18 (twice in verse); Jos 6,4 (twice in verse); Jos 6,6 (twice in verse); Jos 6,8; Jos 6,9; Jos 6,12; Jos 6,13; Jos 6,16 (all J E), 1 Kong 8,3; 1 Kong 8,6; 1 Kong 8,10; 1 Kong 8,11 Eli was הכהן 1 Sam 1,9; 1 Sam 2,11 יהוה ׳כ 1 Sam 14,3 and his sons ליהוה ׳כ 1 Sam 1,3 a מִשְׁפַּט הַכֹּהֲנִים 1 Sam 2,13 mentions the ministering priest הכהן and the ׳נַעַר הַכ 1 Sam 2,13; 1 Sam 2,14; 1 Sam 2,15 (twice in verse), Ahijah was ׳הַכּ in time of Saul 1 Sam 14,19 (twice in verse); 1 Sam 14,36 Abimelech ׳הַכּ at Nob, a priestly center, 1 Sam 21,2; 1 Sam 21,3; 1 Sam 21,5; 1 Sam 21,6; 1 Sam 21,7; 1 Sam 21,10; 1 Sam 22,11 where were many ׳כֹּהֲנֵי י 1 Sam 22,17 (twice in verse); 1 Sam 22,21, all slain by Saul except Abiathar son of Ahimelech 1 Sam 22,11; 1 Sam 22,18 (twice in verse); 1 Sam 22,19, who became ׳הַכּ 1 Sam 23,9; 1 Sam 30,7; 1 Kong 1,7; 1 Kong 1,19; 1 Kong 1,25; 1 Kong 1,42; 1 Kong 2,22; 1 Kong 2,26 Zadok later was ׳הַכּ 2 Sam 15,27; 1 Kong 1,8; 1 Kong 1,26; 1 Kong 1,32; 1 Kong 1,34; 1 Kong 1,38; 1 Kong 1,39; 1 Kong 1,44; 1 Kong 1,45; 1 Kong 2,35; 1 Kong 3,2; 1 Kron 16,39; 1 Kron 24,6: so that the two were (ה)כהנים 2 Sam 8,17 = 1 Kron 18,16 (read ׳וְאֶבְיָתָר בֶּןאֿח 2 Sam 8,17 ᵑ6 We Dr, and correct 1 Kron 18,16 accordingly) 2 Sam 15,35 (twice in verse); 2 Sam 17,15; 2 Sam 19,12; 2 Sam 20,25; 1 Kong 4,4 Solomon removed Abiathar 1 Kong 2,27 and Zadok was anointed לְכֹהֵן according to 1 Kron 29,22 compare prediction of rejection of house of Eli and selection of נֶאֱמָן ׳כ 1 Sam 2,28; 1 Sam 2,35 Jehoiada ׳הַכּ led the revolution against Athaliah 2 Kong 11,9 (twice in verse); 2 Kong 11,10; 2 Kong 11,15 (twice in verse); 2 Kong 11,18; 2 Kong 12,3; 2 Kong 12,8; 2 Kong 12,10 = 2 Kron 22,11; 2 Kron 23,8 (twice in verse); 2 Kron 23,9; 2 Kron 23,14 (twice in verse); 2 Kron 24,2; 2 Kron 24,20; 2 Kron 24,25, perhaps also Jer 29,26 הכהנים sustaining him in his reforms 2 Kong 12,5; 2 Kong 12,6; 2 Kong 12,7; 2 Kong 12,8; 2 Kong 12,9; 2 Kong 12,10; 2 Kong 12,17 Uriah was ׳הַכּ in the reign of Ahaz 2 Kong 16,10; 2 Kong 16,11 (twice in verse); 2 Kong 16,15; 2 Kong 16,16; Es 8,2 Hilkiah of Josiah 2 Kong 22,10; 2 Kong 22,12; 2 Kong 22,14; 2 Kong 23,24; 2 Kron 34,14; 2 Kron 34,18. Other individual priests are named, e.g.: Pashhur of Jehoiachin Jer 20,1 Zephaniah of Zedekiah Jer 21,1; Jer 29,25; Jer 29,26; Jer 29,29; Jer 37,3 ׳הַכּ is Ezekiel's title Ezk 1,3. Priests are classed with officials of state: prophets and priests 2 Kong 23,2; Es 28,7; Jer 5,31; Jer 6,13; Jer 8,10; Jer 14,18; Jer 23,11; Jer 23,33; Jer 23,34; Jer 26,7; Jer 26,8; Jer 26,11; Jer 26,16; Jer 29,1; Klg 2,20; Klg 4,13 priests and elders Klg 1,19; Klg 4,16 king and priest Klg 2,6 kings, priests, and prophets Jer 13,13 kings, princes, and priests Jer 1,18 princes, eunuchs, and priests Jer 34,19 priest, sage, and prophet Jer 18,18 chiefs, priests, and prophets Mik 3,11 prophets, priests, and elders Ezk 7,26 kings, princes, priests, and prophets Jer 2,26; Jer 4,9; Jer 8,1; Jer 32,32 princes, judges, prophets, and priests Sef 3,4 seeming to exclude any other officials. Apparently in the same generic sense הכהנים Jer 1,1; Jer 2,8; Jer 27,16; Jer 28,1; Jer 28,5; Jer 29,25; Jer 31,14 כַּכֹּהֵן Es 24,2 כהנים Job 12,19 כהניה Klg 1,4; Ezk 22,26 כהניו Sl 78,64. Moses and Aaron among his priests Sl 99,6 includes Moses (against P). Zion's priests clothed with righteousness and salvation Sl 132,9; Sl 132,16 = 2 Kron 6,41, probably here also.

5. Levitical priests הַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם 5 Mos 17,9; 5 Mos 17,18; 5 Mos 18,1; 5 Mos 24,8; 5 Mos 27,9; Jos 3,3; Jos 8,33 (all D), Jer 33,18 (inverted), vJer 33,21 (neither in ᵐ5), 2 Kron 5,5 (= ׳הַכּ ׳וְהַלּ 1 Kong 8,4: Chronicler retains original Deuteronomic reading), Ezk 43,19; Ezk 44,15 (compare 6); בְּנֵי לִוֵי ׳הַכּ 5 Mos 21,5; 5 Mos 31,9 ׳לל ׳לקח לכ Es 66,21 take for priests, for Levites (of the nations in Messianic age). Doubtless of same class are: הַכֹּהֲנִים 5 Mos 18,3; 5 Mos 19,17; Jos 3,6; Jos 3,8; Jos 4,11 (D); and הַכֹּהֵן, the priest officiating on a particular occasion 5 Mos 18,3; 5 Mos 20,2 or holding a particular dignity 5 Mos 17,12; 5 Mos 26,3; 5 Mos 26,4. The כהנים of the other cities of Judah, הבמות ׳כ, who were not allowed to minister in Jerusalem 2 Kong 23,8 (twice in verse); 2 Kong 23,9; 2 Kong 23,20, may be an attempt to enforce an exclusion from the priesthood of all but Levitical priests.

6. Zadokite priests: Ezekiel distinguishes among הכהנים הלוים those of the seed of Zadok, בְּנֵי צָדוֺק; all but the latter excluded by him from priesthood Ezk 40,46; Ezk 43,19; Ezk 44,15; Ezk 48,11 the priests of his code being all Zadokites Ezk 40,45; Ezk 40,46; Ezk 42,13; Ezk 42,14; Ezk 43,24; Ezk 43,27; Ezk 44,21; Ezk 44,22; Ezk 44,30 (twice in verse); Ezk 44,31; Ezk 45,4; Ezk 45,19; Ezk 46,2; Ezk 46,19; Ezk 46,20; Ezk 48,10; Ezk 48,13.

7. Aaronic priests. In H. it is taken for granted that a priest is of the seed of Aaron; the plural is never used; כֹּהֵן is used for any priest 3 Mos 21,9; 3 Mos 22,10; 3 Mos 22,11; 3 Mos 22,12; 3 Mos 22,13 הַכֹּהֵן for Aaron 3 Mos 21,21, and for the official priest (acting for the priesthood, almost collective) 3 Mos 17,5; 3 Mos 17,6; 3 Mos 22,14; 3 Mos 23,10; 3 Mos 23,11; 3 Mos 23,20 (twice in verse); 3 Mos 27,8 (3 t. in verse); 3 Mos 27,11; 3 Mos 27,12 (twice in verse); 3 Mos 27,14 (twice in verse); 3 Mos 27,18; 3 Mos 27,21; 3 Mos 27,23. The priests of P are בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן 3 Mos 1,5; 3 Mos 1,8; 3 Mos 1,11; 3 Mos 2,2; 3 Mos 3,2; 3 Mos 21,1; 4 Mos 3,3; 4 Mos 10,8; Jos 21,19 so in Chronicles 2 Kron 13,9; 2 Kron 13,10; 2 Kron 26,18; 2 Kron 29,21; 2 Kron 31,19; 2 Kron 35,14 (twice in verse); הַכֹּהֵן is used of Aaron 22 t., Eleazar 29 t., Phinehas Jos 22,30 and elsewhere; 180 t. of ministering priests, or generic of the priests; הכהנים 3 Mos 6,22; 3 Mos 7,6; 3 Mos 13,2; 3 Mos 16,33; כהן 3 Mos 6,16. Chronicles distinguishes הַכֹּהֲנִים וְהַלְוִיִּם 1 Kron 13,2; 1 Kron 15,11; 1 Kron 15,14; 1 Kron 23,2; 1 Kron 24,6; 1 Kron 24,31; 1 Kron 28,13; 1 Kron 28,21; 2 Kron 8,15; 2 Kron 11,13; 2 Kron 13,9; 2 Kron 13,10; 2 Kron 23,4; 2 Kron 24,5; 2 Kron 29,4; 2 Kron 30,15; 2 Kron 30,25; 2 Kron 31,2 (twice in verse); 2 Kron 31,4; 2 Kron 31,9; 2 Kron 34,30; 2 Kron 35,8; 2 Kron 35,18 (the variants without וְ 2 Kron 23,18; 2 Kron 30,27 are due to copyists' errors), Ezr 1,5; Ezr 2,70; Ezr 3,8; Ezr 3,12; Ezr 6,20; Ezr 7,7; Ezr 8,29; Ezr 8,30; Ezr 9,1; Neh 7,72; Neh 8,13; Neh 11,3; Neh 12,1; Neh 12,30; Neh 12,44 (twice in verse); Neh 13,30 הלוים והכהנים 2 Kron 19,8; 2 Kron 30,21 priests, Levites, and others 1 Kron 9,2; Ezr 10,5; Neh 10,1; Neh 10,29; Neh 10,35; Neh 11,20 בְּנֵי לֵוִי antith. to ׳הַכּ Ezr 8,15 הכהן בן אהרן עם הלוים Neh 10,39 (ה)כהנים in Chronicles 67 t. has the same reference, as also כֹּהֲנֵינוּ Ezr 9,7; Neh 9,32; Neh 9,34 כֹּהֵן Ezr 2,63 = Neh 7,65 ליחוה ׳כ 2 Kron 26,17 כהניו His (God's) priests 2 Kron 13,12 מוֺרֶה ׳כ teaching priest 2 Kron 15,3 הַכֹּהֵן is used of Jehoiada in time of David 1 Kron 27,5, and Azariah in the reign of Uzziah 2 Kron 26,17. In the literature of the restoration הַכֹּהֵן is used of Ezra, Ezr 7,11; Ezr 10,10; Ezr 10,16; Neh 8,2; Neh 8,9; Neh 12,26 Uriah Ezr 8,33 Eliashib Neh 13,4 Shelemiah Neh 13,13 הכהנים Joel 1,9; Joel 1,13; Joel 2,17; Hag 2,11; Hag 2,12; Hag 2,13; Zak 7,5; Mal 1,6; Mal 2,1 priests and prophets Zak 7,3 כהן Mal 2,7.

8. the high priest: הַכֹּהֵן is frequently used (see 4) to designate the priest who was at the head of priestly affairs. The adjective הַגָּדוֺל first appears of Jehoiada 2 Kong 12,11, then of Hilkiah 2 Kong 22,4; 2 Kong 22,8; 2 Kong 23,4; 2 Kong 2,9 after the exile, of Joshua Hag 1,1; Hag 1,12; Hag 1,14; Hag 2,2; Hag 2,4; Zak 3,1; Zak 3,8; Zak 6,11, and Eliashib Neh 3,1; Neh 3,20; Neh 13,28. But P uses it of Aaron and his eldest descendants who are anointed with holy oil 3 Mos 21,10 (H; הַגָּדוֺל מֵאֶחָיו ׳הכ), 4 Mos 35,25; 4 Mos 35,28 (twice in verse); Jos 20,6, and so הַמָּשִׁיחַ ׳הַכּ 3 Mos 4,3; 3 Mos 4,5; 3 Mos 4,16; 3 Mos 6,15, compare 3 Mos 16,32. הָראֹשׁ ׳כ is used of Seraiah 2 Kong 25,18 = Jer 52,24 and, in Chronicler, of Amariah 2 Kron 19,11, Jehoiada 2 Kron 24,11, Azariah 2 Kron 26,20; 2 Kron 31,10 of Aaron, Ezr 7,5. (We also supposes הרואה in 2 Sam 15,27 to be a corruption of הראשׁ, which he regards as post-exilic insertion. The test is corrupt [see Dr^{Sm. 1.c}.]; but this correction is improbable. Lists of high priests occur 1 Kron 5,30-41; 1 Kron 6,35–38.) A priest of second rank ((ה)מִשְׁנֶה כֹּהֵן) appears in 2 Kong 23,4 (construct plural incorrect), 2 Kong 25,18 = Jer 52,24 ׳זִקְנֵי הַכּ 2 Kong 19,2 = Es 37,2; Jer 19,1 ׳שָׂרֵי הַכּ 2 Kron 36,14; Ezr 8,24; Ezr 8,29; Ezr 10,5 ׳רָאשֵׁי הַכּ Neh 12,7.