A Revelation Like Never Before | Behind The Altar | Explore The Enigmatic Work Of Priests On Shabbat

The work of the priests during the Sabbath in the Bible was primarily centered around conducting special religious services and offering additional sacrifices that were specific to the Sabbath. Here are some examples from the Torah detailing their duties:

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1. Offering Sacrifices:

The priests had to offer additional sacrifices on the Sabbath, which were above and beyond the daily offerings.

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Numbers 28:9-10 – “On the Sabbath day, make an offering of two lambs a year old without defect, together with its drink offering and a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil. This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.”

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2. Maintaining the Lampstand:

The priests were responsible for maintaining the lampstand in the Tabernacle (and later the Temple), which included ensuring that the lamps were burning continuously, including the Sabbath.

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Exodus 27:20-21 – “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. In the Tent of Meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.”

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3. Showbread:

The priests were also tasked with replacing the showbread on the Table of Presence every Sabbath.

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Leviticus 24:8 – “Every Sabbath day he shall set it in order before the Lord continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant.”

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These activities required work, but they were considered a part of the priests’ sacred duties and were thus not in violation of the Sabbath. The sacrificial system and the maintenance of the Tabernacle/Temple rituals were seen as essential components of the Israelites’ worship to God and were in accordance with divine commandments.