The expression chief priests evidently refers to principal members of the priesthood, including former high priests who had been deposed wp161, p 10
शिवाय, अभिषिक्‍त व्यक्‍ती तिला मिळालेल्या स्वर्गातील आशेबद्दल इतरांना सांगत बसणार नाही. — टेहळणी बुरूज१६.०१, पृष्ठे २३ - २४.