Consult Yahweh, Through His Priesthood, In Determining Difficult Legal Matters
27:12
Yahweh said to Moshe, Get you up into this mountain of `Avarimen, and see the land which I have given to the children of Yisra'el. 27:13When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aharon your brother was gathered; 27:14because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Tzin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the waters before their eyes. (These are the waters of Merivah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Tzin.)27:15
Moshe spoke to Yahweh, saying, 27:16Let Yahweh, the Mighty One of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, 27:17who may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in; that the congregation of Yahweh not be as sheep which have no shepherd.27:18
Yahweh said to Moshe, Take you Yah'shuah the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; 27:19and set him before El`azar the Kohen, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. 27:20You shall put of your honor on him, that all the congregation of the children of Yisra'el may obey. 27:21He shall stand before El`azar the Kohen, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before Yahweh: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Yisra'el with him, even all the congregation.27:22
Moshe did as Yahweh commanded him; and he took Yah'shuah, and set him before El`azar the Kohen, and before all the congregation: 27:23and he laid his hands on him, and gave him a charge, as Yahweh spoke by Moshe.It is evident from 27:21 that both the leader of the congregation, and the congregation itself, are to consult Yahweh on difficult matters, making this consultation through the High Priest.
Yahweh's Priests Are His Judicial Officers Over His Congregation
17:8
If there arise a matter too hard for you in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within your gates; then shall you arise, and get you up to the place which Yahweh your Mighty One shall choose; 17:9and you shall come to the Kohanim the Levites, and to the judge who shall be in those days: and you shall inquire; and they shall show you the sentence of judgment. 17:10You shall do according to the tenor of the sentence which they shall show you from that place which Yahweh shall choose; and you shall observe to do according to all that they shall teach you: 17:11according to the tenor of the law which they shall teach you, and according to the judgment which they shall tell you, you shall do; you shall not turn aside from the sentence which they shall show you, to the right hand, nor to the left. 17:12The man who does presumptuously, in not listening to the Kohen who stands to minister there before Yahweh your Mighty One, or to the judge, even that man shall die: and you shall put away the evil from Yisra'el. 17:13All the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.Yahweh has given his priests the responsibility of being judicial officers over his congregation, whose judgement in a matter must be respected by those in the congregation.
Priests To Accurately Preserve Yahweh's Law
17:14
When you are come to the land which Yahweh your Mighty One gives you, and shall possess it, and shall dwell therein, and shall say, I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are round about me; 17:15you shall surely set him king over you, whom Yahweh your Mighty One shall choose: one from among your brothers shall you set king over you; you may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. 17:16Only he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Mitzrayim, to the end that he may multiply horses; because Yahweh has said to you, You shall henceforth return no more that way. 17:17Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart not turn away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. 17:18It shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the Kohanim the Levites: 17:19and it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life; that he may learn to fear Yahweh his Mighty One, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them; 17:20that his heart not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he not turn aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children, in the midst of Yisra'el.It is evident that Yahweh charged the Aharonic priesthood with the responsibility of accurately preserving the book of the law. For it is their copy that was to act as the base copy of a copy that a king of Yisrael was to use for the purpose of studying Yahweh's law, and walking faithfully in it.
All Assistants To Priests Should Be Accorded Equal Treatment With Respect To Their Provisions
18:1
The Kohanim the Levites, even all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion nor inheritance with Yisra'el: they shall eat the offerings of Yahweh made by fire, and his inheritance. 18:2They shall have no inheritance among their brothers: Yahweh is their inheritance, as he has spoken to them. 18:3This shall be the Kohanim's due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep, that they shall give to the Kohen the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw. 18:4The first-fruits of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep, shall you give him. 18:5For Yahweh your Mighty One has chosen him out of all your tribes, to stand to minister in the name of Yahweh, him and his sons for ever. 18:6If a Levite come from any of your gates out of all Yisra'el, where he sojourns, and come with all the desire of his soul to the place which Yahweh shall choose; 18:7then he shall minister in the name of Yahweh his Mighty One, as all his brothers the Levites do, who stand there before Yahweh. 18:8They shall have like portions to eat, besides that which comes of the sale of his patrimony.
Priests Must Ensure That The Justice Process Is Not Abused
19:16
If an unrighteous witness rise up against any man to testify against him of wrong-doing, 19:17then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before Yahweh, before the Kohanim and the judges who shall be in those days; 19:18and the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness is a false witness, and has testified falsely against his brother; 19:19then shall you do to him, as he had thought to do to his brother: so shall you put away the evil from the midst of you. 19:20Those who remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil in the midst of you. 19:21Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.It is evident that priests have the responsibility of ensuring not only that justice is done, but also that the justice process is not abused by unrighteous people. Therefore priests, and their assistants, must diligently search out matters prior to reaching judicial decisions concerning them.
Priests Should Strengthen Yahweh's People In The Face Of Difficult Circumstances
20:1
When you go forth to battle against your enemies, and see horses, and chariots, and a people more than you, you shall not be afraid of them; for Yahweh your Mighty One is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Mitzrayim. 20:2It shall be, when you draw near to the battle, that the Kohen shall approach and speak to the people, 20:3and shall tell them, Hear, Yisra'el, you draw near this day to battle against your enemies: don't let your heart faint; don't be afraid, nor tremble, neither be you scared of them; 20:4for Yahweh your Mighty One is he who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.It is the duty of the priests to strengthen Yahweh's people in Yahweh whenever they are faced with difficult circumstances, such as war. Priests must therefore be people of FAITH, capable of strengthening Yahweh's congregation in Yahweh whenever they are faced with difficult circumstances. For it is Yahweh's will that prevails, and he desires good for his people.
Priests Should Be Close To Yahweh To Facilitate Transmitting Yahweh's Will In Judicial Matters
21:5
The Kohanim the sons of Levi shall come near; for them Yahweh your Mighty One has chosen to minister to him, and to bless in the name of Yahweh; and according to their word shall every controversy and every stroke be.Priests have the duty of determining every controversy or dispute. They must therefore be very close to Yahweh to seek his will whenever difficult controversies or matters arise, requiring Yahweh's will to be communicated in the determination of the matter.
Priests Must Adjure Yahweh's People To Walk Faithfully In His Word
27:9
Moshe and the Kohanim the Levites spoke to all Yisra'el, saying, Keep silence, and listen, Yisra'el: this day you are become the people of Yahweh your Mighty One. 27:10You shall therefore obey the voice of Yahweh your Mighty One, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command you this day.It is the duty of priests to adjure Yahweh's people to walk faithfully in Yahweh's word.
Priests To Accurately Preserve And Teach Yahweh's Law
31:9
Moshe wrote this law, and delivered it to the Kohanim the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and to all the Zakenim of Yisra'el. 31:10Moshe commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the set time of the year of release, in the feast of booths, 31:11when all Yisra'el is come to appear before Yahweh your Mighty One in the place which he shall choose, you shall read this law before all Yisra'el in their hearing. 31:12Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones, and your sojourner who is within your gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear Yahweh your Mighty One, and observe to do all the words of this law; 31:13and that their children, who have not known, may hear, and learn to fear Yahweh your Mighty One, as long as you live in the land where you go over the Yarden to possess it.It is the duty of priests to both preserve accurately and to teach accurately Yahweh's law. The priests must faithfully teach Yahweh's people his law that they may faithfully walk in it, doing all of Yahweh's words.
Yahweh Sometimes Speaks To His Priests Through His Judges For His People
3:1
Yah'shuah rose up early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to the Yarden, he and all the children of Yisra'el; and they lodged there before they passed over. 3:2It happened after three days, that the officers went through the midst of the camp; 3:3and they commanded the people, saying, When you see the ark of the covenant of Yahweh your Mighty One, and the Kohanim the Levites bearing it, then you shall remove from your place, and go after it. 3:4Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: don't come near to it, that you may know the way by which you must go; for you have not passed this way heretofore.3:5
Yah'shuah said to the people, Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow Yahweh will do wonders among you. 3:6Yah'shuah spoke to the Kohanim, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. They took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.3:7
Yahweh said to Yah'shuah, This day will I begin to magnify you in the sight of all Yisra'el, that they may know that, as I was with Moshe, so I will be with you. 3:8You shall command the Kohanim who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When you are come to the brink of the waters of the Yarden, you shall stand still in the Yarden.3:9
Yah'shuah said to the children of Yisra'el, Come here, and hear the words of Yahweh your Mighty One. 3:10Yah'shuah said, Hereby you shall know that the living Mighty One is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Kana`ani, and the Chittite, and the Chivvi, and the Perizzi, and the Girgashi, and the Amori, and the Yevusi. 3:11Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Sovereign of all the earth passes over before you into the Yarden. 3:12Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Yisra'el, for every tribe a man. 3:13It shall come to pass, when the soles of the feet of the Kohanim who bear the ark of Yahweh, the Sovereign of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Yarden, that the waters of the Yarden shall be cut off, even the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand in one heap.3:14
It happened, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over the Yarden, the Kohanim who bore the ark of the covenant being before the people; 3:15and when those who bore the ark were come to the Yarden, and the feet of the Kohanim who bore the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (for the Yarden overflows all its banks all the time of harvest,) 3:16that the waters which came down from above stood, and rose up in one heap, a great way off, at Adam, the city that is beside Tzaretan; and those that went down toward the sea of the `Aravah, even the Salt Sea, were wholly cut off: and the people passed over right against Yericho. 3:17The Kohanim who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Yarden; and all Yisra'el passed over on dry ground, until all the nation were passed clean over the Yarden.4:1
It happened, when all the nation were clean passed over the Yarden, that Yahweh spoke to Yah'shuah, saying, 4:2Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, 4:3and command you them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of the Yarden, out of the place where the Kohanim' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the lodging-place, where you shall lodge this night.4:4
Then Yah'shuah called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Yisra'el, out of every tribe a man: 4:5and Yah'shuah said to them, Pass over before the ark of Yahweh your Mighty One into the midst of the Yarden, and take you up every man of you a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Yisra'el; 4:6that this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask in time to come, saying, What do you mean by these stones? 4:7then you shall tell them, Because the waters of the Yarden were cut off before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh; when it passed over the Yarden, the waters of the Yarden were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Yisra'el forever.4:8
The children of Yisra'el did so as Yah'shuah commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Yarden, as Yahweh spoke to Yah'shuah, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Yisra'el; and they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. 4:9Yah'shuah set up twelve stones in the midst of the Yarden, in the place where the feet of the Kohanim who bore the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there to this day. 4:10For the Kohanim who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Yarden, until everything was finished that Yahweh commanded Yah'shuah to speak to the people, according to all that Moshe commanded Yah'shuah: and the people hurried and passed over. 4:11It happened, when all the people had completely passed over, that the ark of Yahweh passed over, with the Kohanim, in the presence of the people.4:12
The children of Re'uven, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Menashshe, passed over armed before the children of Yisra'el, as Moshe spoke to them: 4:13about forty thousand ready armed for war passed over before Yahweh to battle, to the plains of Yericho.4:14
On that day Yahweh magnified Yah'shuah in the sight of all Yisra'el; and they feared him, as they feared Moshe, all the days of his life. 4:15Yahweh spoke to Yah'shuah, saying, 4:16Command the Kohanim who bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of the Yarden. 4:17Yah'shuah therefore commanded the Kohanim, saying, Come you up out of the Yarden. 4:18It happened, when the Kohanim who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh were come up out of the midst of the Yarden, and the soles of the Kohanim' feet were lifted up to the dry ground, that the waters of the Yarden returned to their place, and went over all its banks, as before.4:19
The people came up out of the Yarden on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the east border of Yericho. 4:20Those twelve stones, which they took out of the Yarden, did Yah'shuah set up in Gilgal. 4:21He spoke to the children of Yisra'el, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? 4:22Then you shall let your children know, saying, Yisra'el came over this Yarden on dry land. 4:23For Yahweh your Mighty One dried up the waters of the Yarden from before you, until you were passed over, as Yahweh your Mighty One did to the Sea of Suf, which he dried up from before us, until we were passed over; 4:24that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of Yahweh, that it is mighty; that you may fear Yahweh your Mighty One forever.It should be noted from Yahweh's dealing with Yah'shuah, and with Yah'shuah's dealings with the Kohanim, that Yahweh sometimes speaks to his Kohanim through the judge that he has appointed over his people, his congregation. Just as he spoke to his Kohanim through his judge Moshe, so he continued to speak to them through his judge Yah'shuah.
The important thing for the Kohanim to note is that it is Yahweh who is speaking to them, and that they are executing Yahweh's word as it comes to them via the judge that Yahweh has appointed over his congregation.
Yahweh's Priests Have A Very High Status In His Congregation
6:1
Now Yericho was tightly shut up because of the children of Yisra'el: none went out, and none came in. 6:2Yahweh said to Yah'shuah, Behold, I have given into your hand Yericho, and the king of it, and the mighty men of valor. 6:3You shall compass the city, all the men of war, going about the city once. Thus shall you do six days. 6:4Seven Kohanim shall bear seven shofarot of rams' horns before the ark: and the seventh day you shall compass the city seven times, and the Kohanim shall blow the shofarot. 6:5It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the shofar, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall go up every man straight before him.6:6
Yah'shuah the son of Nun called the Kohanim, and said to them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven Kohanim bear seven shofarot of rams' horns before the ark of Yahweh. 6:7They said to the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let the armed men pass on before the ark of Yahweh. 6:8It was so, that when Yah'shuah had spoken to the people, the seven Kohanim bearing the seven shofarot of rams' horns before Yahweh passed on, and blew the shofarot: and the ark of the covenant of Yahweh followed them. 6:9The armed men went before the Kohanim who blew the shofarot, and the rearward went after the ark, the Kohanim blowing the shofarot as they went. 6:10Yah'shuah commanded the people, saying, You shall not shout, nor let your voice be heard, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall you shout. 6:11So he caused the ark of Yahweh to compass the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.6:12
Yah'shuah rose early in the morning, and the Kohanim took up the ark of Yahweh. 6:13The seven Kohanim bearing the seven shofarot of rams' horns before the ark of Yahweh went on continually, and blew the shofarot: and the armed men went before them; and the rearward came after the ark of Yahweh, the Kohanim blowing the shofarot as they went. 6:14The second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days. 6:15It happened on the seventh day, that they rose early at the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on the day they compassed the city seven times. 6:16It happened at the seventh time, when the Kohanim blew the shofarot, Yah'shuah said to the people, Shout; for Yahweh has given you the city. 6:17The city shall be devoted, even it and all that is therein, to Yahweh: only Rachav the prostitute shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 6:18But as for you, only keep yourselves from the devoted thing, lest when you have devoted it, you take of the devoted thing; so would you make the camp of Yisra'el accursed, and trouble it. 6:19But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are holy to Yahweh: they shall come into the treasury of Yahweh.6:20
So the people shouted, and the Kohanim blew the shofarot; and it happened, when the people heard the sound of the shofar, that the people shouted with a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. 6:21They utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, both young and old, and ox, and sheep, and donkey, with the edge of the sword. 6:22Yah'shuah said to the two men who had spied out the land, Go into the prostitute's house, and bring out there the woman, and all that she has, as you swore to her. 6:23The young men the spies went in, and brought out Rachav, and her father, and her mother, and her brothers, and all that she had; all her relatives also they brought out; and they set them outside of the camp of Yisra'el. 6:24They burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein; only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of Yahweh. 6:25But Rachav the prostitute, and her father's household, and all that she had, did Yah'shuah save alive; and she lived in the midst of Yisra'el to this day, because she hid the messengers, whom Yah'shuah sent to spy out Yericho.6:26
Yah'shuah charged them with an oath at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before Yahweh, that rises up and builds this city Yericho: with the loss of his firstborn shall he lay the foundation of it, and with the loss of his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it. 6:27So Yahweh was with Yah'shuah; and his fame was in all the land.It is evident from Yahweh's dealings with his Kohanim over his congregation that his Kohanim indeed have a very high status within his congregation. For it is his Kohanim that he used to signal the parting of the waters of the Yarden. And it is his Kohanim that he used to signal the destruction of Yericho. Yahweh's Kohanim have a very high status in Yahweh's congregation.
Priests Have A Leading Role In Judicial And Legal Matters
14:1
These are the inheritances which the children of Yisra'el took in the land of Kana`an, which El`azar the Kohen, and Yah'shuah the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the children of Yisra'el, distributed to them, 14:2by the lot of their inheritance, as Yahweh commanded by Moshe, for the nine tribes, and for the half-tribe.It is evident that the land of Yisrael was divided among the various families within Yisrael according to Yahweh's word by Moshe. And in this regard Yahweh gave the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest, Elazar, the leading role in this undertaking, assisted by Yahweh's judge over his people, and the chief men over the people. Yahweh's priests therefore have a leading role in judicial and legal matters.
Who Is The Priest To Walk Before Yahweh's Messiah Forever?
2:35
I will raise me up a faithful Kohen, that shall do according to that which is in my heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before my anointed forever. 2:36It shall happen, that everyone who is left in your house shall come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread, and shall say, Please put me into one of the Kohanim' offices, that I may eat a morsel of bread.Who is the faithful Kohen or priest that Yahweh has prophesied will walk before his anointed forever?
Tzadok, A Priest Who Was Also A Seer
15:27
The king said also to Tzadok the Kohen, "Aren't you a seer? Return into the city in shalom, and your two sons with you, Achima`atz your son, and Yonatan the son of Avyatar. 15:28Behold, I will stay at the fords of the wilderness, until word comes from you to inform me."It should be noted that Tzadok was not just a Kohen, but was also a seer or prophet. It is therefore evident that Yahweh sometimes gives his priests spiritual gifts in addition to their office of priests.
Yahweh's Priests To The Nations
61:1
The Spirit of the Sovereign Yahweh is on me; because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble; he has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 61:2to proclaim the year of Yahweh's favor, and the day of vengeance of our Mighty One; to comfort all who mourn; 61:3to appoint to those who mourn in Tziyon, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified.61:4
They shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. 61:5Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vine-dressers. 61:6But you shall be named the Kohanim of Yahweh; men shall call you the ministers of our Mighty One: you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory shall you boast yourselves. 61:7Instead of your shame you shall have double; and instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be to them. 61:8For I, Yahweh, love justice, I hate robbery with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 61:9Their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which Yahweh has blessed.61:10
I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh, my soul shall be joyful in my Mighty One; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 61:11For as the eretz brings forth its bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Sovereign Yahweh will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.The language of Isaiah 61 indicates that the people that are being spoken about are Yisraelites.
61:6 shows that these people will be called the Kohanim or priests of Yahweh, the ministers of the Mighty One. And just as the priests of Yisrael, the Aharonic household, ate the wealth of the tribes of Yisrael, so also will the priests of Yahweh to the nations, Yisraelites, eat the wealth of the nations among whom they will minister.
It would also appear that just as the Aharonic priesthood ate of the tithes of the people of Yisrael, the tithe of the tithe of the Levites, so also is it likely that the priests of Yahweh to the nations will eat of the tithes of the nations.
It should be remembered from Shemot (Exodus) 19:6 that Yahweh promised to make the children of Yisrael a kingdom of priests. Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 61 shows that this promise of Yahweh will indeed be fulfilled, for those of the kingdom of Yisrael will indeed be priests of Yahweh sent out to serve among the nations of the world.
It should also be noted that the priesthood of the children of Yisrael is as that of Melchizedek. For as Melchizedek was both king and priests, the priesthood of the children of Yisrael will also be a kingdom, for Yisrael will indeed be a kingdom of priests as Yahweh promised them in Exodus 19:6.
Returned Yisraelite Exiles To Be Sent Back To The Lands Of Their Exile As Yahweh's Priests
66:6
A voice of tumult from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of Yahweh that renders recompense to his enemies. 66:7Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man-child. 66:8Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be brought forth at once? For as soon as Tziyon travailed, she brought forth her children. 66:9Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? Says Yahweh: shall I who cause to bring forth shut the womb? Says your Mighty One. 66:10Rejoice you with Yerushalayim, and be glad for her, all you who love her: rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn over her; 66:11that you may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that you may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. 66:12For thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will extend shalom to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream: and you shall suck of it; you shall be borne on the side, and shall be dandled on the knees. 66:13As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you; and you shall be comforted in Yerushalayim. 66:14You shall see it, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like the tender grass: and the hand of Yahweh shall be known toward his servants; and he will have indignation against his enemies.66:15
For, behold, Yahweh will come with fire, and his chariots shall be like the whirlwind; to render his anger with fierceness, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 66:16For by fire will Yahweh execute judgment, and by his sword, on all flesh; and the slain of Yahweh shall be many. 66:17Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go to the gardens, behind one in the midst, eating pig's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, they shall come to an end together, says Yahweh. 66:18For I know their works and their thoughts: the time comes, that I will gather all nations and languages; and they shall come, and shall see my glory. 66:19I will set a sign among them, and I will send such as escape of them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tuval and Yavan, to the isles afar off, who have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations. 66:20They shall bring all your brothers out of all the nations for an offering to Yahweh, on horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and on mules, and on dromedaries, to my holy mountain Yerushalayim, says Yahweh, as the children of Yisra'el bring their offering in a clean vessel into the house of Yahweh. 66:21Of them also will I take for Kohanim and for Levites, says Yahweh. 66:22For as the new heavens and the new eretz, which I will make, shall remain before me, says Yahweh, so shall your seed and your name remain. 66:23It shall happen, that from one new moon to another, and from one Shabbat to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, says Yahweh. 66:24They shall go forth, and look on the dead bodies of the men who have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring to all flesh.66:19 shows that Yahweh will send those Yisraelites who will have escaped from the nations and languages back to those nations. The job of these escaped Yisraelites will be to declare Yahweh's glory among the nations. In other words, the escaped Yisraelites will be servants of Yahweh!
Yisraelites Exist Among The Various Nations
66:20 shows that in the process of these Yisraelite servants of Yahweh declaring Yahweh's glory among the nations, they will also bring their BRETHREN out of the nations as an offering to Yahweh. Indicating that there are Yisraelites among the various nations and languages.
Aharon's Children Are Scattered Among The Nations
66:21 clearly shows that out of these returned Yisraelites Yahweh would take some of them to be Kohanim or priests and Levites. In other words, there are Aharonic priests and Levites scattered among the nations and languages.
Aharonic Priesthood To Be Active After Yahweh's Judgement On The Nations
It should also be noted that as Yahweh would indeed take for Aharonic priests and Levites from among the returned Yisraelites, taking them after his judgement on the nations and languages, the Aharonic priesthood and Levitical duties will indeed be performed after Yisrael's restoration. In other words, the Aharonic priesthood and Levitical duties remain valid within Yisrael, and will continue to remain valid within Yisrael even after Yahweh's future judgement on the nations and languages.
66:22 reiterates that the seed and name of Yisrael would remain before Yahweh. Yisrael as a nation will stand before Yahweh for all time. Implying that the Aharonic priesthood and Levitical duties will remain valid within Yisrael as long as the generations of Yisrael continue, even as was spoken by Yahweh through Moshe.
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