Israelite Priesthood’s rise to power | Professor Nathan MacDonald 

Yet another fantastic video! Thank you, Alex. I can't say enough good things about this series of interviews you're presenting. Very knowledgeable and articulate interviewees; and you guide the discussion well with astute and apposite questions. I've wondered about this question of the priesthood for many years, a lot to think about from Prof McDonald's insights.

O Muse, grant me the words to tell Of Israel's priests, in days of old, Whose rise to power, a tale to unfold, In sacred scrolls, their story dwells. From Abraham's seed, a chosen line, God's covenant, divine design. In Egypt's chains, they toiled in pain, But Moses led them, freedom to gain. Through wilderness, they wandered far, Guided by God, a shining star. At Sinai's mount, a covenant made, Priesthood ordained, foundations laid. A tribe set apart, Levi's chosen kin, A sacred duty, a solemn hymn. Aaron, the priest, in garments adorned, Interceding for the people, a bond unbroken. In tabernacle's shadow, incense rose, Holiness wrapped in linen and prose. The Ark of the Covenant, a sacred vessel, A symbol of God's presence, ineffable. As Israel journeyed through desert sands, Priests carried the Ark with steady hands. Their duty, a burden, but honored role, To bridge the mortal with the eternal soul. In Solomon's temple, majestic and grand, The priesthood's power continued to expand. Sacrifices offered, sins atoned, The people's connection to God intoned. Prophets arose, voices strong and clear, Challenging kings, confronting fear. The priesthood's influence, both sage and guide, A spiritual fortress, unyielding and wide. Yet, not without flaws, the priesthood's tale, Moments of glory, others of travail. A people's journey, a complex song, Inscribed on history's scroll, forever long. The Babylonian exile, a time of woe, But from the ashes, the priesthood would grow. A resilient flame, undying fire, Inscribed in scrolls, their deeds inspire. Through centuries, the lineage passed, The Israelite priesthood, destined to last. From Moses to Malachi, a sacred line, Their rise to power, a narrative divine. So, Muse, let the echoes of this tale resound, The Israelite priesthood, profound. In sacred scrolls and ancient lore, Their rise to power forevermore.

Loved it! Love this subject. I’d be very happy to see more interviews w him!

What a wonderful and interesting channel. My goal is to watch every video.

So many questions - 1. since most of the Jews in the aforementioned Persian and Hellenistic periods used to live elsewhere but not in the Holy land, how such a miniscule group as temple priests, supposedly far away in Jerusalem, ended up in defining the entire national and religious narrative? Did the priest sect have any power or influence in the diaspora - assuming that there were no temples there? 2. Indeed, it is known about the Jewish temples elsewhere, though most of the known temples still were within the Holy land boundaries - how does it fit into the Deuteronomic priesthood story, were the priests of these temples belonging to the same sect as the Jerusalem priests of the second temple? 3. The single most puzzling story to me is the whole existence of the Jerusalem temple - it strikingly contradicts the Moses story where the temple doesn't have a permanent location. What is even more puzzling is that the Moses story was probably constructed later than the Davidic story, there was already the Jerusalem temple, so what's the point re-constructing the discarded nomad legend about the traveling tabernacle?

Every locality in the ancient Middle East had one or more temple and priesthood. Has any research been done on the similarities and differences affecting such a widespread and common phenomenon ?

Very interesting.

What is the reason to give the old Latin text such importance? Yes, the Greek texts are as old as the oldest text traditions, but Latin would be much younger, wouldn't it?

Shedding light on the root of all Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and western and middle eastern history. This is addictive.

May I add, how dumb that is to have rituals/routines and not understand what it means. Similarly to parents of poor families that have no choice where their children attend school. I know based on many stories in the Holy Bible that I dont know each and everyone of the many accounts and documents. To me it seems like God has a choice of which type of Angel is allocated for each tast and object and appropriate desguise of human lookalike; to be a hindrance to help or a rescue by a guide on a map of lost someone! To distinguishing Angels as much as Priests and to enable/empower in each incidence to suddenly vanish be gone. Speak for themselves jokingly can not be a smear or a stain or carry the crime but can be there to warn, to camp, to assist and even transport Leaders and or mothers that are struggling giving birth from the birth canal at a rather remote Location . Angels and Priests and Missionaries can even revese time for raped victims if they fear God time can stop still. Unfortunately, too many people believe Angels and Priests and God 's Servants; must be demanded to wear a Uniform and or appear in a traditional form. They eventually are shamed for this expectation and placed by God at an Edge of existence, because it is impossible for their level of maturity (imaturity) to serve God. Quietly in your heart, everyone must acknowlege their Betrayal of God by their priority material and physical appearances over their duty and loyalty to God They were certainly as guilty as the sinners for failing to acknowlege this FACT they rejected and walked away from God checking out foreign women wives, skirts, shirts; rather than being ready to support each other. Without a word, judging someone fir a dress code is wicked and wrongful.

I’m in at the 15 minute mark. Summary: the priests wrote themselves into Israelite history after the destruction of the temple under Nebuchadnezzar in 597 BC. They did this in two ways: 1.) the invention of the tabernacle so (assumption without evidence) the exiled Israelites would have a historical hope that God cannot be conquered; 2.) that they invented (unsubstantiated claim) the covenant of circumcision was unconditional so that exiled Israel would have hope that they still had a relationship with God. I’m not interested in much more unsubstantiated speculation this morning. I find the Documentary Hypothesis tired, useless, and quite frankly, racist. We cannot see beyond and behind the texts that we have with any reliability. DH necessarily leaves us with a fragmented, useless collection of documents to impose our assumptions into. It becomes the ultimate form of Postmodern research. (Note on DH’s racism: developed in Germany in the late 1800s, its core assumption is that Jews are liars about their most sacred texts and have been since the beginning. This is the theological fuel for the Liberal churches antisemitism in the early 20th century.)