Isn’t the Priesthood in the OT proof that God uses only men?
Q: Isn’t the fact that God only chose men for the Priesthood in the Old Testament proof that God only uses men in leadership? After all the Priesthood is equivalent to the Pastorhood in the church.
A: Although God originally started with only one tribe in Israel for the Priesthood and only the men from that one tribe were eligible, his intention was not for the Priesthood to stay with only one tribe and only the men. In Exodus 19:5-8, God makes a covenant with the nation of Israel. He says that if they obey his covenant, he will make them a holy nation and a kingdom of priests to him. In verse 6, God says that Moses is to speak to the “sons of Israel”. The Hebrew word here means in the widest sense that includes the entire nation of Israel. So the priesthood was not meant to stay with only one tribe and with only the men. The priesthood was meant to extend to the entire nation.
We too as the church have been given the privilege of being a kingdom of priests. This is not limited to the men, but women as well are part of the priesthood. The historic Christian teaching is that the priesthood of the believers extends to every member of the body of Christ. So the OT priesthood that merely started with men cannot be used to exclude women from teaching the bible to the body of Christ because even the OT priesthood was never meant to stay with males alone.
12 thoughts on “Isn’t the Priesthood in the OT proof that God uses only men?”
Also remember Israel wanted Kings to rule over them like the other nations. God said no but they kept on asking and so God gave them what they wanted and we know all about the bad Kings as well as that one Queen that got throwed out the window to boot!
Yet there was only one female priest you can say that saved her whole people and that was Queen Esther! To Israel she was just a beautiful woman for her body, and God is like (more or less) if you won’t treat her like a queen, a daugther/child of the Living God, then I will show you a nation who will and she will be the one who will save my nation Israel that I have made! So God uses a women here not a man. Maybe it was to show us men not to put God to the test!
Also I like your understanding about the OLD TESTAMENT priesthood that it wasn’t to stay male. But for the sake of arguement from the opposing complementarian side, we are not under Law and in the New Covenant/Body Of Christ we are ALL a royal priesthood, Heirs, doesn’t that sound Great?! Male & Female working together as One with Christ as are One an Only High-Priest!
Yes, people want kings over them. And I’m sure that has something to do with why comps always appeal to the OT to justify male supremacy. They think that God shows his will by using majorities (males were in the majority in the areas they always cite), but ignore God’s choosing of the younger over the elder, the weak over the strong, the small stiffnecked nation of Israel over other more powerful nations. This is the only way they can dismiss those pesky “exceptions” to their man-made rules.
And of course we know that “in Christ there is no male or female, slave or free, Jew or Gentile”, meaning appeals to the OT are irrelevant. (As for the argument that the verse I quoted only applies to salvation, then we could justify discrimination against slaves and Gentiles in any area besides salvation too.)
I never thought about that, but your right about the kings. That had to influnces the people greatly thinking God only uses men! God does step in at key points with the nation of Israel to get them out of darkness. The nation was into idols many times and when it got to a certain God steps in. I see in Scripture and even in the old testament man wants to do things his way but God steps in an shows His way which is best!
But we must note just because something was written in scripture doesn’t mean God approved of it like for example: solomn with his 8,000 wifes! or jacob with his two wifes! It seems God is always working with mankind even in our sinfulness and freewill that he gave us, but God proves that doing things HIS way is better!
Isaiah 3:12 (King James Version)
12As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.
THE OPPOSING SIDE IS TRYING TO USE VERSES LIKE ISAIAH 3:12 ABOVE TO STOP WOMEN FROM TEACHING, BUT IS THAT THE CONTEXT?
I HAVE SOME INFO ON ISA. 3:12 BELOW, ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS VERSE WOULD BE GREAT!
(Commantary # 1)
V. 13, even while the Lord is judging them with women and children, He pleads with His people to return to Him. Romans 2 tells us that there is a point of no return when the evil of a people is full and no amount of pleading will change the judgment (cf. Jer 15:1). But evidently the point has not arrived yet for these people; He is pleading with them to return.
(Commantary # 2) (More detail, look at the whole cha.!!!) The link is below
Chapter 3 Next »
CHAPTER 3
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/jamieson/jfb.x.xxiii.iv.html
Isa 3:1-26.
1. For—continuation of Isa 2:22.
Lord of hosts—therefore able to do as He says.
doth—present for future, so certain is the accomplishment.
stay … staff—the same Hebrew word, the one masculine, the other feminine, an Arabic idiom for all kinds of support. What a change from the previous luxuries (Isa 2:7)! Fulfilled in the siege by Nebuchadnezzar and afterwards by Titus (Jer 37:21; 38:9).
2. Fulfilled (2Ki 24:14).
prudent—the Hebrew often means a “soothsayer” (De 18:10-14); thus it will mean, the diviners, on whom they rely, shall in that day fail. It is found in a good sense (Pr 16:10), from which passage the Jews interpret it a king; “without” whom Israel long has been (Ho 3:4).
ancient—old and experienced (1Ki 12:6-8).
3. captain of fifty—not only captains of thousands, and centurions of a hundred, but even semi-centurions of fifty, shall fail.
honourable—literally, “of dignified aspect.”
cunning—skilful. The mechanic’s business will come to a standstill in the siege and subsequent desolation of the state; artisans are no mean “stay” among a nation’s safeguards.
eloquent orator—rather, as Vulgate, “skilled in whispering,” that is, incantation (Ps 58:5). See Isa 8:19, below; and on “prudent,” see on Isa 3:2.
4. children—in ability for governing; antithesis to the “ancient” (see Isa 3:12; Ec 10:16).
babes—in warlike might; antithesis to “the mighty” and “man of war.”
5. The anarchy resulting under such imbecile rulers (Isa 3:4); unjust exactions mutually; the forms of respect violated (Le 19:32).
base—low-born. Compare the marks of “the last days” (2Ti 3:2).
6. Such will be the want of men of wealth and ability, that they will “take hold of” (Isa 4:1) the first man whom they meet, having any property, to make him “ruler.”
brother—one having no better hereditary claim to be ruler than the “man” supplicating him.
Thou hast clothing—which none of us has. Changes of raiment are wealth in the East (2Ki 5:5).
ruin—Let our ruined affairs be committed to thee to retrieve.
7. swear—literally, “lift up,” namely, his hand; the gesture used in solemn attestation. Or, his voice, that is, answer; so Vulgate.
healer—of the body politic, incurably diseased (Isa 1:6).
neither … clothing—so as to relieve the people and maintain a ruler’s dignity. A nation’s state must be bad indeed, when none among men, naturally ambitious, is willing to accept office.
8. Reason given by the prophet, why all shrink from the government.
eyes of his glory—to provoke His “glorious” Majesty before His “eyes” (compare Isa 49:5; Hab 1:13). The Syriac and Lowth, by a slight change of the Hebrew, translate, “the cloud of His glory,” the Shekinah.
9. show—The Hebrew means, “that which may be known by their countenances” [Gesenius and Weiss]. But Maurer translates, “Their respect for person”; so Syriac and Chaldee. But the parallel word “declare” favors the other view. Kimchi, from the Arabic, translates “their hardness” (Job 19:3, Margin), or impudence of countenance (Jer 3:3). They have lost not only the substance of virtue, but its color.
witness—literally, “corresponds” to them; their look answers to their inner character (Ho 5:5).
declare—(Jude 13). “Foaming out their own shame”; so far from making it a secret, “glorying” in it (Php 3:19).
unto themselves—Compare “in themselves” (Pr 1:31; 8:36; Jer 2:19; Ro 1:27).
10. The faithlessness of many is no proof that all are faithless. Though nothing but croaking of frogs is heard on the surface of the pool, we are not to infer there are no fish beneath [Bengel]. (See Isa 1:19, 20).
fruit of doings—(Pr 1:31) in a good sense (Ga 6:8; Re 22:14). Not salvation by works, but by fruit-bearing faith (Isa 45:24; Jer 23:6). Gesenius and Weiss translate, Declare as to the righteous that, &c. Maurer, “Say that the righteous is blessed.”
11. ill—antithesis to “well” (Isa 3:10); emphatic ellipsis of the words italicized. “Ill!”
hands—his conduct; “hands” being the instrument of acts (Ec 8:12, 13).
12. (See Isa 3:4).
oppressors—literally, “exactors,” that is, exacting princes (Isa 60:17). They who ought to be protectors are exactors; as unqualified for rule as “children,” as effeminate as “women.” Perhaps it is also implied that they were under the influence of their harem, the women of their court.
lead—Hebrew, “call thee blessed”; namely, the false prophets, who flatter the people with promises of safety in sin; as the political “rulers” are meant in the first clause.
way of thy paths—(Jer 6:16). The right way set forth in the law. “Destroy”—Hebrew, “Swallow up,” that is, cause so utterly to disappear that not a vestige of it is left.
13. standeth up—no longer sitting in silence.
plead—indignant against a wicked people (Isa 66:16; Eze 20:35).
14. ancients—Hence they are spoken of as “taken away” (Isa 3:1, 2).
vineyard—the Jewish theocracy (Isa 5:1-7; Ps 80:9-13).
eaten up—”burnt”; namely, by “oppressive exactions” (Isa 3:12). Type of the crowning guilt of the husbandmen in the days of Jesus Christ (Mt 21:34-41).
spoil … houses—(Mt 23:14).
15. What right have ye to beat, &c. (Ps 94:5; Mic 3:2, 3).
grind—by exactions, so as to leave them nothing.
faces—persons; with the additional idea of it being openly and palpably done. “Presence,” equivalent to “face” (Hebrew).
16. Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, &c.—Luxury had become great in Uzziah’s prosperous reign (2Ch 26:5).
stretched forth—proudly elevated (Ps 75:5).
wanton—rather, “making the eyes to glance about,” namely, wantonly (Pr 6:13) [Maurer]. But Lowth, “falsely setting off the eyes with paint.” Women’s eyelids in the East are often colored with stibium, or powder of lead (see on Job 42:14; Jer 4:30, Margin).
mincing—tripping with short steps.
tinkling—with their ankle-rings on both feet, joined by small chains, which sound as they walk, and compel them to take short steps; sometimes little bells were attached (Isa 3:18, 20).
17. smite with a scab—literally, “make bald,” namely, by disease.
discover—cause them to suffer the greatest indignity that can befall female captives, namely to be stripped naked, and have their persons exposed (Isa 47:3; compare with Isa 20:4).
18. bravery—the finery.
tinkling—(See Isa 3:16).
cauls—network for the head. Or else, from an Arabic root, “little suns,” answering to the “tires” or neck-ornaments, “like the moon” (Jud 8:21). The chumarah or crescent is also worn in front of the headdress in West Asia.
19. chains—rather, pendants, hanging about the neck, and dropping on the breast.
mufflers—veils covering the face, with apertures for the eyes, close above and loosely flowing below. The word radically means “tremulous,” referring to the changing effect of the spangles on the veil.
20. bonnets—turbans.
ornaments of the legs—the short stepping-chains from one foot to another, to give a measured gait; attached to the “tinkling ornaments” (Isa 3:16).
headbands—literally, “girdles.”
tablets—rather, “houses of the breath,” that is, smelling boxes [Vulgate].
earrings—rather, amulets suspended from the neck or ears, with magic formulæ inscribed; the root means to “whisper” or “conjure.”
21. nose jewels—The cartilage between the nostrils was bored to receive them; they usually hung from the left nostril.
22. Here begin entire articles of apparel. Those before were single ornaments.
changeable—from a root, “to put off”; not worn commonly; put on and off on special occasions. So, dress-clothes (Zec 3:4).
mantles—fuller tunics with sleeves, worn over the common one, reaching down to the feet.
wimples—that is, mufflers, or hoods. In Ru 3:15, “veils”; perhaps here, a broad cloak, or shawl, thrown over the head and body.
crisping pins—rather, money bags (2Ki 5:23).
23. glasses—mirrors of polished metal (Ex 38:8). But the Septuagint, a transparent, gauze-like, garment.
hoods—miters, or diadems (Isa 62:3; Zec 3:5).
veils—large enough to cover the head and person. Distinct from the smaller veils (“mufflers”) above (Ge 24:65). Token of woman’s subjection (1Co 11:10).
24. stink—arising from ulcers (Zec 14:12).
girdle—to gird up the loose Eastern garments, when the person walked.
rent—the Septuagint, better, a “rope,” an emblem of poverty; the poor have nothing else to gird up their clothes with.
well-set hair—(1Pe 3:3, 4).
baldness—(Isa 3:17).
stomacher—a broad plaited girdle.
sackcloth—(2Sa 3:31).
burning—a sunburnt countenance, owing to their hoods and veils being stripped off, while they had to work as captives under a scorching sun (So 1:6).
25. Thy men—of Jerusalem.
26. gates—The place of concourse personified is represented mourning for the loss of those multitudes which once frequented it.
desolate … sit upon … ground—the very figure under which Judea was represented on medals after the destruction by Titus: a female sitting under a palm tree in a posture of grief; the motto, Judæa capta (Job 2:13; La 2:10, where, as here primarily, the destruction by Nebuchadnezzar is alluded to).
Ecclesiastes 10:16 (King James Version)
16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
Isaiah 60:17 (King James Version)
17For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.
Isaiah 60:17 (Amplified Bible)
17Instead of bronze I will bring gold, and instead of iron I will bring silver; and instead of wood, bronze, and instead of stones, iron. [Instead of the tyranny of the present] I will appoint peace as your officers and righteousness as your taskmasters.
The cross references for Isa. 3:12 are below:
Isaiah 9:16
16(A)For those who guide this people are leading them astray;
And those who are guided by them are brought to confusion.
Isaiah 28:14
Judah Is Warned
14Therefore, (A)hear the word of the LORD, O (B)scoffers,
Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem,
Isaiah 28:15
15Because you have said, “We have made a (A)covenant with death,
And with Sheol we have made a pact
(B)The overwhelming scourge will not reach us when it passes by,
For we have made (C)falsehood our refuge and we have (D)concealed ourselves with deception.”
Isaiah 29:15 (New American Standard Bible)
15Woe to those who deeply (A)hide their plans from the LORD,
And whose (B)deeds are done in a dark place,
And they say, “(C)Who sees us?” or “Who knows us?”
With evrything on the table what is Isa.3:12 talking about?
View # 1
The men of Jerusalem won’t even listen to the Women and Children.
View # 2
The men of Jerusalem are listening to Women and Children (Who are unschooled in God’s Word) and being misled by false teachings. This verse is not saying or impying a women or child can never teach but that women or children must learn God’s word. Also is this verse saying that the women were uneduated just like the children?! Neither
group knew anymore then the other and therefore teaching falsely because of that fact?Is this another prove that women were not taught God’s Word……just like the Talmund taught…history shows it….and The bible said it!
Hello everyone,
Can anyone give me there info/insight on this verse Isa.3:12?
This isn’t deep or detailed, but I just think God is meaning to embarrass the proud, evil rulers of Israel. These were people who even considered it embarrassing to be killed by a woman (see Judges 9:54, 2 Sam. 11:21). God is humiliating the proud and defiant.
Funny how the comps keep going always to the OT to make up rules that can’t possibly apply to the church.
11 Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them!
They will be paid back for what their hands have done.
12 Youths oppress my people,
women rule over them.
O my people, your guides lead you astray;
they turn you from the path.
two other translations…..
The Stone Edition Tanach
“”but woe to the wicked person who does evil, for the recompense of his hands shall be dealt to him. My people — their oppressors are mockers and women dominate them. O my people, you leaders mislead you and they have corrupted the direction of your ways.” 11-12. FOOTNOTE: vs.12. the people have become so driven to satisfy their lusts, that they do anything to please their immoral women (Radak).
A Hebrew concordant version .
10-12: “say to the righteous that good is his portion, for the fruit of their actions are they eating. A lack to the wicked one; evil is his portion, for the requital of his hands is returning to him. My people—its exactor (oppressors) are clean-gleaners (children) and the exactors rule among My People. those making you happy lead you astray, and the way of your paths they confuse.” (the implication here is that the leaders are acting like children and also the implication that wicked women making them happy after their lusts, lead them astray)
If you will read further in the chapter it is proclaiming the judgment against immoral women who walk about as harlots. There is truly nothing in this chapter about women leaders. In this chapter no one wins any good impressions. The men of Zion were behaving as children following after their lustiness. The daughters of Zion were behaving as harlots to get their way.
In the beginning of the chapter you see that the prophesy is that God is going to remove the Godly men and women…. all the Godly leaders. And replace them with childish leaders and mockers who will dominate them. Everyone will dominate his neighbor, etc…. this whole chapter is a description of the downfall of God’s people because of their wicked speech and actions toward God. Nothing at all to do with women leaders. This has been mistranslated because someone jumped on the few words that said “women rule over them” and took them out of context remaking them to be referring to leadership when actually the “ruling” was of a sensual nature.
A Hebrew concordant version
The Stone Edition Tanach
Thanks, once you pulled out the big guns I knew this verse would be understandable! LOL
That’s why I’m on this site to learn so I can tell others if this verse ever came up! Now I know! Praise be to the Holy Spirit our God who guides us! Amen
Justa Berean,
Good thoughts on this often misapplied verse. Thanks for being around when I was too busy to answer. It was a great help for me!
Big Guns, eh! LOL Thanks Michael. I’m pleased that I could help. 🙂
And you are welcome Cheryl. :^)