הכהן בכת מדבר יהודה

The priests in the Judean Desert Sect enjoyed a position of honor. This came to full expression in the various areas of life of this Sect. The exalted status of the priest is characteristic of Jewish life during the Second Commonwealth. That of the priests of this Sect was even more so. The following factors were responsible for it: 1. the lowering of the status of priests towards the end of the Second Temple. 2. this particular Sect founded by priests. 3. the general thrust of this Sect to live a life of holiness and purity. (Since the priest himself symbolized more than any other group attachment to the observance of holiness and purity). 4. The desire of the Pharisees to arrogate to the "Sage" the priority in the hierarchy of Jewish society. To their thinking, priesthood can achieve the fulness of holiness only in the framework of this Sect. This thinking can be understood in terms of the lowering of prestige of the priest, due to the narrowing of the scope of his functions. The Sect wished to return to the priest all the functions which Scripture had allocated to him. In fact, it attempted to widen the scope of his prerogatives. Thus, in acc. with this Sect, priests would serve in the Temple in 26 rather than in 24 "watches" as was the accepted practice. Also, any lost item, whose owner could not be found, would be transferred to the priest. It is difficult to ascertain from their writings whether the struggle between priest and Levite that began in this period also occurred amongst this Sect. We know, however, with certainty, that this Sect did not transfer to the priests the entire administration of their affairs.