The Work of the Priest In the Tabernacle

The legislation in the Pentateuch assigned numerous duties to the Hebrew priests and Levites. Chief among them were maintaining and transporting the tabernacle (Num. 34) and performing the rituals and liturgies associated with Israelite worship in the sanctuary (Exod. 2829). It is likely that some of these duties were determined by lot and discharged on a rotating basis (cf. 1 Chron. 2324). Bronze Basin or Laver The priests were to wash their hands and feet at the laver upon entering the tent of meeting (tabernacle proper) and before ministering at that altar of burnt offering (Exod. 30:17-21). Altar of Burnt Offering The national festival, daily, and individual sacrifices took place at the altar of burnt offering. Mosaic law instructed the priests to prepare and sacrifice a year-old lamb in the morning and evening each day. This burnt offering was to be accompanied by grain and drink offerings (Exod. 29:38-46; Num. 28:18). The Mosaic legislation prescribing the five basic sacr…