High-priest

High-priest, the chief of the Jewish priesthood, the dignity being hereditary in the line of Eleazar, the son of Aaron. The high-priest was only allowed to marry a virgin, and one who was of his own tribe. Contact with anything unclean, even the dead bodies of his own parents, was strictly forbidden to him. His functions consisted principally in the general administration of the sanctuary and of all that belonged to the sacred service. He alone was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, and to consult by the Urim and Thummim (q.v.). His costume was of surpassing splendour, purple-red, purple-blue, scarlet, golden, and white being the predominating colours of the ephod, girdle, and breastplate, which he wore above robes of pure whiteness. His revenues were in the main the same as those of the other priests; but, according to the Talmud, he was to be richer than these in virtue of his exalted position, and, if his own means were insufficient, he was to be provided with means by his brethren. This points, however, to post-exilic times, when the high-priest had exchanged his character of primus inter pares for that of priestly head of the nation, thereby becoming invested, in so far as the political subjection of the Jews to a foreign power would admit of it, with the prerogatives of ancient kingly power. Nevertheless, in the eyes of the law, the high-priest was only the equal of other Israelites. It is doubtful at what time the office of Sagan, or vice-high-priest, was created. See PRIEST.