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High PriestAid to Bible Understanding
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one sacrifice for sins perpetually and sat down at the right hand of God, from then on awaiting until his enemies should be placed as a stool for his feet.” (Heb. 10:12, 13; 8:1) Therefore, “the second time that he appears it will be apart from sin and to those earnestly looking for him for their salvation.”—Heb. 9:28.
Jesus Christ’s superiority as High Priest is seen in another sense also. Becoming a man of blood and flesh like his “brothers” (Heb. 2:14-17), he was thoroughly tested; he suffered all manner of opposition, persecution and finally an ignominious death. As it is stated: “Although he was a Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered; and after he had been made perfect he became responsible for everlasting salvation to all those obeying him.” (Heb. 5:8, 9) Paul explains benefits we can receive from his being thus tested: “For in that he himself has suffered when being put to the test, he is able to come to the aid of those who are being put to the test.” (Heb. 2:18) Those who call on him for help are assured of merciful and sympathetic consideration. “For,” says Paul, “we have as high priest, not one who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tested in all respects like ourselves, but without sin.”—Heb. 4:15, 16.
CHRISTIAN UNDERPRIESTS
Jesus Christ is the only priest “according to the manner of Melchizedek” (Heb. 7:17), but, like Aaron the high priest of Israel, Jesus Christ has a body of underpriests provided for him by his Father Jehovah. These are promised joint heirship with him in the heavens, where they will also share as associate kings in his kingdom. (Rom. 8:17) They are known as “a royal priesthood.” (1 Pet. 2:9) They are shown in the vision of the Bible book of Revelation singing a new song, which speaks of Christ’s having bought them with his blood and making them “a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will rule as kings over the earth.” (Rev. 5:9, 10) Later in the vision 144,000 persons are seen alongside the Lamb singing a new song. They also are described as having “been bought from the earth,” as followers of the Lamb, “bought from among mankind as a first fruits to God and to the Lamb.” (Rev. 14:1-4; compare James 1:18.) In this chapter of Revelation (14) the warning is given with regard to the mark of the beast, showing that avoidance of this mark “means endurance for the holy ones.” (Vss. 9-12) These 144,000 bought ones are the ones enduring faithfully and who come to life and rule as kings with Christ and who “will be priests of God and of the Christ, and will rule as kings with him for the thousand years.” (Rev. 20:4, 6) Jesus’ high-priestly services bring them into this glorious position.
BENEFICIARIES OF THE HEAVENLY PRIESTHOOD
While the ancient city Jerusalem had a temple built in it, the New Jerusalem is described as a temple-city itself, a sanctuary and habitation of the Most High God. Thus, the apostle John, beholding it in vision, reported, “I did not see a temple in it, for Jehovah God the Almighty is its temple, also the Lamb is.” The vision of the New Jerusalem gives an indication of who will receive the ministrations of the great High Priest and those associated with him as heavenly underpriests. Aaron and his family, together with the priestly tribe of Levi, ministered to the people of the twelve tribes in the land of Palestine. So with the New Jerusalem: “The nations will walk by means of its light.”—Rev. 21:2, 22-24; see PRIEST.
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Highway, RoadAid to Bible Understanding
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HIGHWAY, ROAD
From ancient times highways and roads, including several important trade routes, linked cities and kingdoms in the Palestinian area. (Num. 20:17-19; 21:21, 22; 22:5, 21-23; Josh. 2:22; Judg. 21:19; 1 Sam. 6:9, 12; 13:17, 18) What is considered to have been the principal route led from Egypt to the Philistine cities of Gaza and Ashkelon and gradually bent northeastward in the direction of Megiddo. It continued to Hazor, N of the Sea of Galilee, and then led to Damascus. This route via Philistia was the shortest from Egypt to the Promised Land. But Jehovah kindly led the Israelites by another way so that they would not get disheartened by a Philistine attack.—Ex. 13:17.
In the Promised Land the maintenance of a good road system took on added importance for the Israelites, as there was only one center of worship for the entire nation. Therefore many of the Israelites had to travel considerable distances each year to comply with the Law’s requirement that all the males assemble for the three seasonal festivals. (Deut. 16:16) Additionally, tithes, contributions and any offerings, whether voluntary or obligatory, had to be presented at the place Jehovah would choose. (Deut. 12:4-7) After Solomon’s building the temple, that place was Jerusalem. So as the Israelites traveled on the roads to and from Jerusalem, there were fine opportunities for fathers to teach God’s law to their sons.—Deut. 6:6, 7.
Attention also had to be given to maintaining the roads leading to the six cities of refuge. These roads had to be well marked and kept clear of obstacles that might impede the accidental manslayer’s progress. (Deut. 19:3) According to Jewish tradition, a signpost indicating the direction to the city of refuge was placed at every crossroad.
Although the Bible gives no description of the ancient roads, it does contain allusions to their construction and maintenance. At times hills and other irregularities may have been leveled, and the roads cleared of stones and banked up. (Isa. 40:3, 4; 57:14; 62:10) The historian Josephus claims that King Solomon paved the roads leading to Jerusalem with black stones.—Antiquities of the Jews, Book VIII, chap. VII, par. 4.
However, nothing definite is known about the structure of ancient roads until the days of the Roman Empire. The Romans distinguished themselves as road builders, linking their vast empire to facilitate the movement of their armies. Their roads were paved with flat stones, and the roadbeds usually consisted of three layers: (bottom) rubble, (middle) flat slabs set in mortar, and (top) concrete and crushed stone. The roads sloped from the center toward both sides, and were equipped with milestones, curbstones and drainage ditches. Also, wells could be found at convenient intervals along the roads. Running in nearly straight lines, Roman roads passed over hills rather than around them. The famous Roman highway, the Appian Way, measured some eighteen feet (5.5 meters) in width and was paved with large lava blocks. The apostle Paul, while en route to Rome as a prisoner, traveled over this road, parts of which are still used today.—Acts 28:15, 16.
The words of Isaiah 19:23 about the coming into existence of “a highway out of Egypt to Assyria” pointed forward to the friendly intercourse that would one day prevail between these two lands. In effecting the release of his people, Jehovah, as it were, made highways for them that led out of the lands of their captivity.—Isa. 11:16; 35:8-10; 49:11-13; Jer. 31:21.
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HilenAid to Bible Understanding
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HILEN
(Hiʹlen).
Apparently the same as Holon, one of the thirteen priestly cities.—Josh. 21:13-19; 1 Chron. 6:54-60; see HOLON No. 1.
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HilkiahAid to Bible Understanding
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HILKIAH
(Hil·kiʹah) [Jehovah is the portion].
1. A Levite of the family of Merari; son of Amzi and forefather of the Ethan appointed by David as a singer at the sanctuary.—1 Chron. 6:31, 32, 44-46.
2. A Levite gatekeeper of the family of Merari who received this assignment in David’s time; a son of Hosah.—1 Chron. 26:10-12.
3. Father of the Eliakim who was an official in King Hezekiah’s court.—2 Ki. 18:37.
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