Because the tabernacle, by its three divisions, represented the three degrees of the heavens, the uses performed in it by the priests represented the functions and the offices of the angels. Inmostly considered, all heavenly uses consist in cooperating with the Lord in His Divine work of human salvation. This belongs to the Lord alone, but in performing it He acts, not only immediately from Himself, but also mediately through both angels and men. This He does in order that they may be blessed with the delight of use which is the very joy of heaven. All human uses contribute in some degree to the salvation of souls, but the work of the priesthood does so in a very special sense. This is because it consists in teaching the truth of the Word, and in leading thereby to the good of spiritual life. It is therefore most closely related to the uses of the angels, all of which have this same end in view. Nevertheless, there are in heaven innumerable functions, offices, and occupations. In fact, the variety of uses there is incalculably greater than it is among men on earth. This is because the interiors of the human mind, to the perfection of which all heavenly uses minister, are far more complex than are the externals of the body and the natural mind which provide the basis for all the uses of earthly society. There are in heaven uses which correspond to every profession, business, occupation, and trade known to men. All of these, more or less remotely, contribute to the formation of character, and thus to man's preparation for heaven. Although for the most part, the way they affect the inner spirit of man is not realized by those on earth, it is clearly perceived by the angels. Nothing can be done by the body that does not affect the mind, and for this reason there is a direct correspondence between uses on earth, and those in heaven. For this reason the functions of the angels appear outwardly altogether similar to those of men. In the work of the priesthood however, the inner purpose of all use and its contribution to man's spiritual life openly appears, and is consciously recognized as the end in view. It is concerned directly with worship and spiritual instruction. Among the Jews it consisted in conducting the sacred rites of the tabernacle whereby there was communication with Jehovah.

Because there are three degrees of the human mind, and three corresponding degrees of the heavens, there were established three degrees in the Jewish priesthood. The tribe of Levi was first consecrated to the service of Jehovah, and then the family to which Moses and Aaron belonged was set apart from the other Levites. Aaron was anointed to be high priest, and his sons were ordained to serve as priests under him. The functions of these three priestly degrees represented specifically the uses of the three heavens in their order.

In very ancient times, however, there was no organized priesthood. Instead the priesthood resided in the head of each family or tribe, and was passed down by hereditary succession to every firstborn son. Only as the church declined did the need arise for an organized priesthood. At the time of Moses this had existed in various forms among many nations for countless generations. Among the sons of Israel, however, the more primitive mode had been perpetuated throughout the period of the patriarchs and during the years of captivity in Egypt. Before they came to dwell in the land of Goshen, they were but a single family, and had no need of a separate priesthood. Nevertheless a highly organized priesthood had been established among their ancestors, especially with Eber and his immediate descendants, when animal sacrifices were adopted as the primary means of approach to God. At first these rituals were correspondential, and served as an acceptable instrument of mediation; but gradually men yielded more and more to the loves of self and the world, and their interest in spiritual things waned. Religion was used increasingly for unworthy purposes, and the priesthood became corrupt. Abominable practices were introduced into their worship, and these became the basis for influx from the hells. This came to pass, not only among the ancestors of the Jews, but with all the nations of the ancient world. Everywhere the true worship of Jehovah had been turned into some debased form of idolatry. It was imperative, therefore, that a genuinely representative form of worship should be raised up among the sons of Israel, lest all communication between heaven and earth should be lost.

According to a very ancient law, every firstborn male was to be sanctified to the Lord. This was to be done in recognition of the truth that all life is a Divine gift, and every blessing must be ascribed to God. However, the rite of sanctification among idolatrous nations degenerated into rites of sacrification. Human sacrifice became well-nigh universal, and a strong tendency to adopt it was inherited by the Hebrew people. This practice was so abominable, however, in the sight of heaven, that it could not be permitted. In place of it two less objectionable rites were instituted, namely, the sacrifice of animals, and the sanctification of the firstborn. With the sons of Israel, however, it was commanded that the entire tribe of Levi should be set apart for the use of the priesthood, and by this act all the firstborn of Israel would be redeemed.

At the time of the Exodus there were 22,000 male Levites from one month old and upward.¹ In the eleven other tribes, there were 22,273 firstborn males one month old and upward. It was decreed, therefore, that the 22,000 Levites should be substituted for 22,000 of the firstborn of Israel, while the 273 additional males were to be redeemed with silver by the payment of five shekels apiece for the service of the tabernacle.² It was commanded, however, that only those who were between the ages of thirty and fifty years could enter into the active service of the priesthood.³ The number of these was 8580,⁴ and was divided among the three families descended from Levi as follows: Gershonites 2630,⁵ Kohathites 2750,⁶ and Merarites 3200.⁷

¹ Numbers 3:39.
² Numbers 3:40-51.
³ Numbers 4:1-4.
⁴ Numbers 5:48.
⁵ Numbers 5:40.
⁶ Numbers 5:36.
⁷ Numbers 5:44.