Leviticus 21 outlines specific regulations for the priests, emphasizing their holiness and the need for them to maintain a high standard of purity. The chapter begins by highlighting restrictions regarding contact with the dead. Priests were not allowed to defile themselves by touching a corpse, except in certain circumstances, such as the death of a close relative. They were also forbidden to shave their heads or cut their beards, as these were signs of mourning practiced by the surrounding cultures.
The chapter continues by discussing the qualifications for priests to marry. They were not allowed to marry a prostitute or a woman who had been divorced or widowed. The high priest, in particular, had even stricter marriage requirements, limited to marrying a virgin from his own people.
Furthermore, the physical blemishes or deformities that disqualified a priest from offering sacrifices to God are detailed. Any priest with such conditions was prohibited from approaching the altar or participating in the sacred rituals.
These regulations underscored the importance of holiness and purity in the role of the priest, as they were mediators between God and the people. By upholding these standards, the priests set an example for the Israelites and maintained the sanctity of their sacred duties.
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