The High Priest – by Torah statute – was a high level religious ‘functionary’ with no freedom of action. The High Priest’s duties were strictly delineated and demarcated. He had no political or theological power. No executive, legislative or judicial power.

A random synagogue rabbi today has more political leeway than did the High Priest of Israel by Torah law. The High Priest had zero leeway. His duties and even his thoughts were carefully bracketed.

The High Priest never occupied the preeminent position it held in other belief systems. For instance, Aaron the first High Priest was radically subordinate to Moses, the Lawgiver.

The position of the High Priest, the Kohen Gadol, commenced with Aaron, brother of Moses.

By Torah prescription, succession to the High Priesthood was mandated to be via the male descendants of Aaron. The priesthood was thus a subset of the Tribe of Levi.

Classically, the role of the High Priest was to carefully – technically and spiritually – administer the rituals of the Temple. When two sons of the High Priest, the sons of Aaron, Nadab and Avihu, stepped out of line apparently subtly, they were, according to the Torah, consumed by fire.