Summary
Legal functions relating to the Torah were carried out by Priests, Levites and Judges in ancient times (2 Chron 19:4-11, Ezra 7:6-10).
However, in
approximately 160BC, the
Sadducee Priests began to introduce secular, Hellenist
philosophies into their legal deliberations. Although the Pharisee Scholars were not Priests, they were not prepared to let the Sadducees distort the religion.
When the Sadducean Priesthood eventually fell apart, the Pharisees replaced them in the
interpretation, explanation, creation and application of Jewish Law. The Sadducee Priests, Levites and Judges disappeared with the passage of time.
The Pharisaic tradition of interpreting Jewish Law has continued up to the present day and is known as Orthodox Rabbinic Judaism.
The problem is, the Torah says Jewish Law must be interpreted, explained, created and applied by Priests, Levites and Judges.
It makes a difference
There is no Judaism or Israel without following the Torah
Relevant Torah Passages
And shall come near the Priests, the sons of Levi, for Yehova has chosen them to minister and to bless in the name of Yehova and by their word every controversy and every stroke.
Concerning Levi, Moses said, "He will teach Your judgements to Jacob and Your law to Israel".
And in a controversy, they (the Priests) shall stand to judge; according to My ordinances they shall judge it.
For the lips of a Priest should keep knowledge because he is the messenger of Yehova of Hosts and people seek instruction from his mouth.
Judges and Officers shall you appoint for yourselves in all your gates, which Yehova gives to you, tribe by tribe. And they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.
If there is a matter too difficult for you to judge, between blood and blood, judgement and judgement and affliction to affliction, matters of controversy within your gates, then you shall go to the place which Yehova your Elohei (God) chooses. You shall come to the Priests the Levites and to the Judge that shall be in those days and inquire. They shall declare to you the words of judgment .. According to the tenor of the law (Torah) which they teach you and according to the judgment which they say, you shall do.
This is what Yehova of Hosts says: "Ask the Priests the law (Torah). If a man carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment and it touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other food, does that item become holy?" "No" replied the Priests. Haggai asked, "If one who is defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?" "Yes, it becomes defiled" the Priests answered.
