PRIESTS AND RABBI’S?
This answer is based off of
my study and understanding of the Torah being a composite. Meaning that it is
written and woven together from several different sources known as the J(Y)or
Yahwistic source(Yahowah), the E or Elohistic source(Elohim-gods or mighty
ones), the D or Deutoronomic(The WORD) source and the P or Priestly
source(Sacrifice and Ritual).
According to our modern
Torah, The Eternal Creator gave Moshe Instructions to select Aaron and his sons
to serve as Kohanim(Shemot Chapt25:1 through chapt29:37 esp 29:9), the restof
the tribe were assigned different task in the sancturary but in sanctity and
rank they were on a lower level than Aaronite Levites(see Numbers chapt,
3,4,8,& 18).
Ezrah and Nehemiah and Chronicles give info about the Levites at
the end of the biblical period-They were guards, singers and instrumentalist.
But the problem to this is
that the distinction between Aaronide Kohanim
and Levite of lower rank in only
found in the late books(study the J,E,D and P Theory) as mentioned and in the
priestly code. It cannot be found in other documents of the Torah, or in the
books of Yahushua, Judges, Shamuel or Kings.
In 1Shamuel 2:24, the Kohanim
at Shiloh and Yerushalem in 1Kings 2:35 are not designated in these sources as
descendants of Aaron. In Deutoronmy(seems to be most authoritative book in the
Torah) Levitical priests(the Priests the Levites) are one and the same.
Sometimes "Levite" is plainly identical with Kohane(Deut 18:6).
Interesting as it is, Ezekial
uses the Term Levitical priest, but it is in reference and distinction to the
Descendants of Zadok, the 1st priest of Shalome's Temple, and the other
Levites.
According to Ezekial the
other Priest had forsaken the Creator for Sin and Idolatry and were barred from
Sacrificial duties and reduced to perform menial tasks of the Sanctuary. Only
Zadokites are to serve at the alter(Exekial 44:10)...Yet even more interesting,
Zadok is later mentioned for the 1st time by Ezra and the Chronicle writer as
being a descendant of Aaron and of his oldest surviving son Eleazer(see Ezra
7:2; 1Chronicle 5:27)
Therefore on the basis of
these facts and understanding the J,E,D,P theory, I as well as biblical
scholars have concluded that there is NO distinction between the term
"Kohane" and "Levite" prior to the reform of King Yoshiah
in 621 b.c.e, that is based on the book of Deutoronomy(see Deut 12; 2Kings 22
and 23).
After the return from
Babylonian exile, the Kohanim re-attained greater power and prestige than
before, since there was no longer Yahudahite rivalry or struggle for the
Kingship position. The Priest as originally ordained within the Torah, became the Chief representative of the
Hebrews and Yahudaim(So called Jews or Ethnic mixture of Babyloniansm,
Edomites, Judeans and Syrians etc), both politically, constodians and Teachers
of Torah. They constituted an Aristocracy.. Yet many priest went corrupt and
sided with Heathen leaders such as Antiochus IV(2nd century BCE) and the High
priest-hood fell into the hands of satanic led individuals who kissed up to the
King(s_...Yet it was also priest who led a revolt against Syrian oppression.
The Hasmonians won the support of the Hebrew peoples against other more liberal
factions(i.e progenitors to the anti-prophetic priestly movement of the
Pharisees). After the the War was won, Shimon the Maccabee(which is an acronym
for M-Mi, c(k)-kmwk, B-balym Y(Yahowah)-Who is like unto the Mighty Yahowah)
assumed the High Priesthood. However many unrighteous successors held that
office. Later Hasmoneon rulers lead the people up until Alexander Yannai was
overthrown and the new gentile lead puppet Leadership emerged...That of the
Laymen, who were considered by gentiles to respected learned men. They began to
challenge the spiritual authority of the Hebrew Nabi an d Priests who inherited
the Traditions of ancient Israel under the leadership of the Teachers of
Righteousness and the Essenes.
These Laymen became to be known as
Pharisee(Perushim-seperatist)...They interpreted the Torah according to a type
of democracy and often progressive manner, usually twisting and changing the
Torah to fit their own gentile purposes. Under the Roman-gentile rule, they
were favored by the rulers and thus became the dominate Face within the 1st
century Israel Religious control.
The Priestly leadership, Became different factions. One was an
anti-Prophetic Compromised leadership known to be Saducee(from their supposed
ancestor Zadok). Their approach to the Torah was conservative and oftern
Severe.
The other major Priestly
faction were the Essenes(Nazarenes,
Ebionites, Osseans etc), who continued in the True Traditions of Israel and
maintained the Prophetic Priestly traditions. These are groups testified by Historians
to be Israelite by Birth, the other factions(Saducee and Pharisee) were mixed
with Israelites, Gentiles and Idumeans.
After the destruction of the Second Temple(of Herod-selah), THe
priestly leadership ceased to exist in Palestine(but not in other areas where
the Hebrews fled as evidence of the Kohanim leadership amongst African Hebrew
Tribes through-out Africa)
Hebrew learning and
Leadership began to be taught at Yeshiva's. The Pharisee became known to be
Rabbinical Judaism and their leadership became to be Rabbi's (not neccessarily
Spiritual) in Synagogues or Hebrew-Jewish houses of Worship, to address
community issues and Talmudic or Oral Halacha. The Hebrew Israelites who were
dispersed within the African Nations continued the Kohanim Leadership, the True
Leadership.
A Rabbi is basically a
Scholar and Teacher(Rabbi means My Master, as in grand/Master Teacher) of the
Talmud. Yet Spiritual quality is not neccassarily prequisite in most european
Yeshiva to be ordained(Judaism 101).
A Rabbi in the judeo-pharisee
terminology is not a priest but can be of Priestly descent, if they area
Israelites of the Tribe of Lehwi, but a
Priest is not neccessarily a Rabbi, unless They are ordained by a Yeshiva. Yet
outside of Rabbinical Judaism, Rabbi is from a Hebrew root word with means,
great or master), In Traditional Hebrew, Any teacher or Kohan who is equipped
to Teacher or Train up the people can be considered a Rabbi or Rabbah.
However, with the power to
redefine for the guidance of A Re-Newed Israelite nation, In Hebrew Israelite
Terminology, A Rabbi-Kohane is a well trained Chief Spiritual Leader in the
knowledge and culture of the the Torah and scholarship who is qualified to
Teach Torah, Make Spiritual as well as Political(Israelite)
descisions/Judgements(Halacha) as it pertains to the Community of Israelites,
and stand before YHWH to represent the peoples. He/She is a
Mashiakh(anointed-one) of Yisrael. also one who is a Nabi, or our future King
of Yisrael is a Mashiakk also. A Rabbi-Kohan
is quivelaent to a High-Priest. We can also have Rabbi-Morehs(Chief Teachers)
etc…
This is Halacha for the Torah
Covenant Community