Kohanim
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Then the chief priests (Kohanim) and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, ‘What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.’
-John 11:47
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Who are the Kohanim
The Kohanim are the priestly and princely descendants of Aaron, the brother of Moses, chosen by God to serve as priests in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple in Jerusalem. Kohanim received portions of sacrifices, first fruits (Bikkurim), and other offerings (Numbers 18). Although the Levites (including Kohanim) did not inherit land like other tribes, their economic support from offerings afforded them a stable and prominent position. The Kohanim which started with Aaron’s sons continued into the replacement of Levi with the Zadok line after David and continued on after the expulsion of the Zadok line after the Maccabean revolt. Eventually mingling with the Hasmonean dynasty (c. 140–37 BC) viewing themselves as a kind of Melchizedek priest/royalty lineage. By the 1st century AD, the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) often served as a liaison with occupying powers (like Rome), giving the office considerable secular authority. Caiaphas was the highest ranking Kohanim during the time of Jesus.What did the Kohanim Do?
The Kohanim performed daily Temple services and were responsible for conducting offerings, maintaining the sanctity of the Temple, and performing various rituals described in the Torah (especially in Leviticus and Numbers).
In essence they were the elite of the priestly class and viewed their role as the defenders of Torah and God. This is well summarized by the Act of Pinchas.
The Zealous Act of Pinchas
Although originally recorded in the Torah (Numbers 25), the Talmud (Sanhedrin 82a) discusses Pinchas, a Kohen and grandson of Aaron, who killed Zimri (a leader of the tribe of Simeon) and Cozbi (a Midianite woman) to stop a plague affecting Israel due to their public immorality. The rabbis debate the legality and morality of Pinchas’s zealotry. While his act was extraordinary and dangerous, God rewarded him with a “covenant of peace” (Brit Shalom) and priesthood.
This is one of the many reasons and precedents that gave the Kohanim the drive and zeal to kill Messiah Jesus in defense of what they mistakenly and egotistically felt was their job as defenders of the Torah and name of God.
Table of Contents
Shimon HaTzaddik (Simon the Just) & Alexander the Great
Shimon, a revered Kohen Gadol (High Priest), according to Yoma 69a met Alexander the Great, who dismounted and bowed to him. Alexander explained that he saw Shimon in dreams guiding him to victory. This encounter saved the First Temple from destruction by the Macedonians and Samaritans.
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What occurred on that date? It was on that day that the Samaritans [kutim] requested the House of our Lord from Alexander the Macedonian in order to destroy it, and he gave it to them, i.e., he gave them permission to destroy it. People came and informed the High Priest, Shimon HaTzaddik, of what had transpired. What did he do? He donned the priestly vestments and wrapped himself in the priestly vestments. And the nobles of the Jewish People were with him, with torches of fire in their hands. And all that night, these, the representatives of the Jewish people, approached from this side, and those, the armies of Alexander and the Samaritans, approached from that side, until dawn, when they finally saw one another.
When dawn arrived, Alexander said to the Samaritans: Who are these people coming to meet us? They said to him: These are the Jews who rebelled against you. When he reached Antipatris, the sun shone and the two camps met each other. When Alexander saw Shimon HaTzaddik, he descended from his chariot and bowed before him. His escorts said to him: Should an important king such as you bow to this Jew? He said to them: I do so because the image of this man’s face is victorious before me on my battlefields, i.e., when I fight I see his image going before me as a sign of victory, and therefore I know that he has supreme sanctity.
-Yoma 69a
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Modern Kohanim
Traditionally, kohanim trace their status through the father’s lineage, often reflected in surnames like Cohen, Kahan, Katz (Kohen Tzedek), Kohn, and Cahn. While primarily based on tradition, some genetic studies have suggested that many self-identified kohanim share certain Y-chromosome markers, supporting claims of common ancestry.
Read "Pharisees"
Read more about the 2nd Temple Pharisees.
Read "Sadducees"
Read more about the 2nd Temple Sadducees and their politics.
Read "Hasmonean"
Read more about the Hasmoneans and their role in 2nd Temple life.