For the past two days in Chumash, we have been thinking about what it means to be a nation of priests and a kingdom of Kohanim [Goy Kohanim and Mamlechet Kohanim]. People have talked about the Jews ridding themselves of slave mentality, having social justice, implementing a Torah life, being an example of moral behavior for other nations, and how to wholly be holy.
However, I was wondering if anyone had thought of the odd wording. Goy Kohanim and Mamlechet Kohanim. Kohanim are from the tribe of Levi. How can the rest of the nation be a nation of Kohanim? I'm very interested in what you guys think about this.
-Zahava
I think you might be mixing it up. The nation is supposed to be a "Goy Kadosh" because they are supposed to separate themselves and live according to the laws which Hashem provides for them. In order for them to remain a "Goy Kadosh" they need a "Mamlechet Kohanim" because the Kohanim help make up the structure for Bnei Yisrael. They work in the Mishkan which is where Bnei Yisrael go to bring Korbanot to the Kohanim in order to serve Hashem and have a good relationship with Him. So, you can see that the two connect. Maybe it is a little bit strange that the term "Mamlechet Kohanim" is used to describe the structure, however, because there is a lot more to it than just the Kohanim. Nevertheless, they do play a major role in the lives of the nation in their national center.
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah, sorry, that's what I meant. Thanks for the correction.
ReplyDeleteDon't you think though that it is unfair for the kohanim to be the ones to make the jews holy? Kind of like, fine, let them do whatever they need to do and I'll just live life however I want.
And what if a Kohen doesnt want to do the jobs of a kohen? what if he wants to pursue other interests?
Hello my dearest Zed,
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about your question and i'm going to tell you what i think. We know that during that time the Kohanim were looked up to and were put on a high level. They were admired for their servitude to Hashem and for their high spiritual level. I certainly think that the Kohanim were the ones who made the poeple a Mamlechet Kohanim. However,the people were so invested in in the welfare of the Kohanim. For example, tehy always had to bring them food from their lands because the Kohanim were unable to occupy one themselves.In addition, they were very much involved in of their lives and had a relationship with them, especially when going to the Temple to cultivate their relationship with God.Perhaps he holiness of the Kohanim influenced the people, making them a Mamlechet Kohanim.
Well Z, maybe it means that we should be a nation that strives to have the noble characteristics of Kohanim.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I agree with you. What if Joe the Kohen decides that this really isn't the job for him? Can he pretend not to be a kohen? But what I really don't get is how being born a kohen makes you automatically holy. Or at least, makes you somehow better than everyone else because you can preform other stuff that they can't. I mean, that doesn't seem fair. I never get those "being born into things" things. Shouldn't everyone get the equal chance of being able to earn it? And so what if your father earned it, it doesn't mean you should get a free pass.
I agree with Racheli that it it means that we should be a nation that will try to be as good as the Kohanim. I also believe though that when there will be a Beit Hamikdash once we will be a goy kadosh, the mamlechet kohanim therefore means that there will be a Bet Mikdash standing and Kohanim will once again practice their work in the Bet Mikdash.
ReplyDelete