Before Jehovah gave the Law to the Israelites, family heads served as priests among them.
أَمَّا حِينَ زَوَّدَهُمْ بِهَا فَقَدْ رَتَّبَ أَنْ يَخْدُمَ ٱلْبَعْضُ مِنْ سِبْطِ لَاوِي كَهَنَةً وَٱلْبَعْضُ ٱلْآخَرُ مُسَاعِدِينَ لَهُمْ .‏