The Torah instruction of the Kohanim

The instructions of the priests (Hebrew: תורת כהנים‎‎ torat kohanim) are the rulings and teachings of the priests that are addressed to the Israelite people. The term "instructions of the priests" (torat kohanim) is also a term used in the Talmudic period for the "Priestly Manual", Leviticus.

In the actual verses of the Torah, the Torah instruction and rulings of the Kohen is defined as decisive and authoritative. Two examples: the verse "כאשר יערוך הכהן כן יקום" -end of Leviticus, and על פיהם יהיה כל ריב וכל נגע" -Deuteronomy 21:5 However, in the Mishna, the Torah instruction of the Kohanim is usually quoted as an alternative, or sometimes even as contrary, to the instruction of the tribes of Israel.

The authority of the Kohanim to function in Judicial aspects and to instruct Torah directives to the nation of Israel is rooted both in the written Torah and the Oral Torah. In Kabbalah it is expounded that the Kohen should function in Torah guidance, should also be unusually knowledgeable in Torah law, and should act humbly and kindly -even though being in an authoritative position.

The Torah commentators seem to agree that not every Kohen - just by way of birthright alone - is given authority to instruct Torah directives to the nation. But, only those Kohanim that endeavor to fully master the Torah's laws and nuances - and are successful in that - are considered adequate for Torah instruction and its Judicial law and therefore are granted priority to members of the twelve tribes of Israel who are equal in Torah Knowledge and application.

Maimonides, in his Mishneh Torah (Hebrew: מִשְׁנֶה תּוֹרָה, "Repetition of the Torah"), states that Jacob separated his son Levi from his brothers and ordered him to study, and teach, the ways of service to God of his forefather Abraham to his brothers, and that Jacob also instructed his sons to perpetuate this order of Levi for eternity (Maimonides on Avodah Zorah 1:15) In Midrash Tanhuma it is written that the sons of Levi where overly generous in their Torah instruction and succeeded at instruction their neighboring tribes to the point where they too became reliable Torah instructors (Tanhuma to Numbers 12).

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