Leviticus

Leviticus 21:1-4

All the regulations given to the people applied to the Aaron's sons, the priests.  However, additional regulations were given to them.  They were held to a higher standard, to lead the people, be an example; but most of all, taking great care not to defile the themselves.  They were to protect temple worship, therefore they had to protect themselves.

Dead bodies transmitted ritual impurity and made anyone who came in contact unclean.  This uncleanness kept them from their duties.  Because of this, they be near dead bodies; this even counted family and friends.  Only the death of the closest family member was cause for a priest to become unclean.   As a 'chief man' of his people, he had a higher calling.

Leviticus 21:5-9

Pulling our hair from their head or shaving the edges of their beard was consistent with Canaanite mourning rituals.  Their higher calling was one of life and light; worship and purity.  They were to be clean and free of any blemish or injury, much like the sacrifices.  After all, they went before the Lord and made offerings.  They were to be holy and set apart.

The same thought process was in place when they took a wife.  They could not marry a harlot.  A 'defiled woman' (NKJV) was an unmarried, sexually impure woman.  A divorced woman was likely divorced for infidelity, so the same thought existed.  It was another part of their life requiring purity because the priest went before the Lord making offerings.  The word translated to consecrate in verse 8 is 'qadash' and is also the same word translated sanctify.  It is to be rendered holy and dedicated for God's service.

The behavior of the priest's daughter was a reflection on the priesthood.  If she played the harlot, she brought here uncleanness into the home, exposing the priest to this impurity.  She profaned her father by her actions.  She was to be burned in the fire which was also the punishment for sexual depravity.

Leviticus 21:10-15

The high priest held up an even higher standard, because of his consecration and anointing.  He was the picture of God's purity, the example.  Although they did not know it, he was the picture of Jesus.  Uncovering their head was an act of mourning also.  This was not to be done, they were not to go near a dead body.  This included family members.  He maintained a higher level of purity by not going out of the sanctuary due to a death. 

The high priest was to marry a woman from among his own people who had never been sexually active.  If he married outside the priestly clan or of an impure woman, their offspring would be profane and ineligible to be priests.  They would be rendered common.

Leviticus 21:16-24

As the sacrifice was to be free of blemish or defect, so were the priests.  They were to be in good health and physically fit all the time. 

Blind                            Lame                            disfigured face              deformed limb

Broken foot                  Broken hand                 hunchback                    dwarf

Eye problem*               eczema /scab                 eunuch**

* white spots - possibly cataract

** emasculated, crushed testicles

The disqualified priest was not to come near to make offerings.  He could still eat the offerings that were the given to the priests.  He couldn't approach the veil or altar at any time while he had a defect.  This would profane the sanctuary much like an unfit animal or any other unclean thing. 

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