The
priesthood of Ancient Israel was the class of male individuals, who, according to the
Hebrew Bible, were patrilineal descendants from Aaron (the elder brother of Moses), who served in the
Tabernacle,
Solomon's Temple and
Second Temple until the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. Their temple role included
animal sacrifice. The priests (Hebrew
kohanim) are viewed as continuing in the
Kohen families of rabbinical Judaism.