“…being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchetzedek.” (Hebrews 5:10). Jesus’ eligibility to kingship is well established through his genealogy given in Matthew 1 and Luke 3*. Joseph(and Mary?) is clearly from the Tribe of Judah which through King David is eternally given the kingship(II Sam. 7:12-17). But in order to prove Christ’s eligibility to the priesthood the author of Hebrews connects Jesus’ office of high priest with Melchetzedek. Some have seen this as an attempt to bypass the Moseic Law that prohibits all but those of the Tribe of Levi from serving as priests. But can Jesus be eligible for the priesthood without contradicting the Law of Moses?
And The LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the first-born that openeth the womb among the children of Israel; and the Levites shall be mine: for all the first-born are mine; on the day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the first-born in Israel, both man and beast; mine they shall be: I am The LORD. Num 3:11-13 (ASV)
God changes priestly duties from the “first born” of Israel to the Levites only. Prior to this every “first born” of Israel was set aside for temple worship or priesthood.(See also Exodus 11:4-13:15, 24:5) From this point on all the first born of Israel except the Tribe of Levi was to perform Pidyon Haben – redemption of the first born.
Everything that openeth the womb, of all flesh which they offer unto The LORD, both of man and beast shall be thine: nevertheless the first-born of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem. And those that are to be redeemed of them from a month old shalt thou redeem, according to thine estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary (the same is twenty gerahs). Num 18:15-16 (ASV)
Why the change? To answer this I will refer to an ancient Jewish source, Bamidbar Rabbah 3:5:
"Originally, the Temple service devolved upon the first- born, but when they committed the sin of the Golden Calf the Levites, inasmuch as they had not erred in the matter of the Calf, were privileged to enter in their stead."
They also are distinguished in the scriptures by their zeal against those that participated in the sin of the golden calf.
And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount...then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Whoso is on The LORD's side, let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. And he said unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Put ye every man his sword upon his thigh, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor. And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. And Moses said, Consecrate yourselves to-day to The LORD, yea, every man against his son, and against his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day. Ex 32:19, 26-29(ASV)
Pidyan Haben was a “release” or punishment from God for the sin of the gold calf. Jesus being of the tribe of Judah would be seemingly disqualified from the Mosaic priesthood and subject to the laws of Pidyon Haben. But according to Jewish oral law a persons “Jewishness” is reckoned from his/her Mother’s side where as his/her tribal(shevet) association is reckoned from his Father’s side. In order for Christ to be eligible for the priesthood his Father would have to be from a lineage/line that did not participate in the sin of the golden calf.
Matt 16:17 (ASV)
*Many suggestions have been offered as to Luke's genealogy whether or not this is Mary's genealogy or Joseph's. Some suggest the different father in Luke is Joseph's father-in-law that perhaps “adopted” Joseph because Mary was the only child thus leaving no males to leave an inheritance with.
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