Leviticus 21

Touching a dead body made a person ceremonially unclean for seven days. A priest needed to be ready to handle holy things at all times. So, he could not touch a dead body, even if it was a relative's. Otherwise, he might be unable to serve when needed. The only exceptions were his closest relatives, as there might be no one else to bury them.

This section, which discusses priestly rules, six times repeats the phrase I am the Lord who sanctifies (Leviticus 21:15, 23; 22:9, 16, 32; see also 21:8). These words emphasize the link between God's holiness and the holiness expected of priests. This extended to all of Israel (see 8:10; 11:44–45; 19:2). The text specifically addresses priests in 21:1–22:16, while including both clergy and common people in 22:17–33.

• make bald spots … shave off: The laws warned priests not to shave or trim their hair in certain ways (see study notes on Leviticus 10:6; 19:27).

• make cuts in their bodies: They were also not to cut their bodies (see study note on Leviticus 19:28). Cutting the body was a practice of pagan peoples. Defects disqualified most animals as offerings (Leviticus 22:19–25). A defect also disqualified a priest from serving (see 21:17–23).

  For example, a eunuch (a man unable to reproduce) could not serve as a priest because he was not a suitable representative of the people (Deuteronomy 23:1). But his priestly family line allowed him to eat his priestly share (see Leviticus 21:22). On the other hand, if a priest became unclean, he could not serve in ministry or eat the priest’s share until he was clean again (22:2–8).

A priest must never dishonor God by treating his name as unholy.

The priest had to set a high standard of conduct for Israel in worship. This applied to his personal life and family leadership. He could not have any connections to pagan practices (for example, prostitution, Leviticus 21:9). His family also had to be above question, so divorce was not allowed. Early church leaders followed similar standards (1 Timothy 3:1–13).

• The rules for common priests were more strict than for the high priest, who represented all of Israel, including other priests (Leviticus 21:1–4).

• The priest must always keep his hair neat and not tear his clothing in mourning. This ensured he was always ready to serve. While a common priest could marry a widow, the high priest could only marry a virgin. This ensured that future high priests and common priests from that union would have a clear lineage (Leviticus 21:15).

He may eat: If a descendant of Aaron had a mutilation or defect, he could not serve as a priest to represent the people (see Leviticus 21:18–20). But his priestly family line still counted. He was allowed to eat the priest’s share of the offerings (see 2:3, 10; 6:17–18).