Did Moses Serve as High Priest in the Wilderness

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Chukat 21:1

[(Psalms 99:6): "Moses and Aaron were among His priests, and Samuel was among those who call upon His name." R. Yudan in the name of R. Yose b. R. Yehudah, and R. Berekhyah in the name of R. Yehoshua bar Korhah: All those forty years that Israel was in the wilderness, Moses was not prevented from serving in the High Priesthood. This is what is written (Psalms 99:6): "Moses and Aaron were among His priests." And R. Berekhyah in the name of R. Simon brings it from here (1 Chronicles 23:13–14): "The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. And Aaron was set apart to consecrate him as most holy, he and his sons forever, to burn incense before the Lord, to minister to Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name forever; but as for Moses, the man of God, his sons were to be reckoned to the tribe of Levi." Moses is called "the man of God," but his sons were to be reckoned to the tribe of Levi. R. Eleazar b. R. Yose said: It is plain to us that Moses served in a white robe in the wilderness. R. Tanhum b. R. Yudan said: All seven days, Moses served in the High Priesthood, but the Divine Presence did not rest through his hands; and once Aaron came and served in the High Priesthood, the Divine Presence rested through his hands. This is what is written (Leviticus 9:4): "for today the Lord will appear to you."]

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