43 seq.,
obtaining admission into the tribe of Levi by artificial
genealogies. A peculiar side light is thrown upon the course
of development by the fact that the singers who in Ezra's time
were not yet even Levites, afterwards felt shame in being so, and
desired at least externally to be placed on all equality with
priests. They begged of King Agrippa II. to obtain for them the
permission of the synedrium to wear the white priestly dress.
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The copestone of the sacred structure reared by the legislation of
the middle books of the Pentateuch is the high priest. As the
Aaronites are above the Levites so is Aaron himself above his
sons; in his person culminates thc development of the unity of
worship inaugurated by Deuteronomy and the agency of Josiah.
No figure of such incomparable importance occurs anywhere else in
the Old Testament; a high priest of pre-eminent sanctity is still
unknown to Ezekiel even. Even before the exile, it is true, the
temple worship at Jerusalem had become so magnificent and its
personnel so numerous as to render necessary an orderly division
of offices and a gradation of ranks.
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