Best priest emptied tabernacle (5)
I believe the answer is:
elite
'best' is the definition.
(elite can mean the very best of a group)
'priest emptied tabernacle' is the wordplay.
'priest' becomes 'eli' (biblical figure).
'emptied' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters).
'tabernacle' with its middle taken out is 'te'.
'eli'+'te'='ELITE'
(Other definitions for elite that I've seen before include "top drawer?" , "Privileged or posh group" , "High society" , "Aristocracy" , "twelve pitch in the office" .)