Leviticus 21:10-15

And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;

He that is the high priest. The indulgence in the excepted cases of family bereavement, mentioned above, which was granted to the common priests, was denied to him; because his absence from the sanctuary for the removal of any contracted defilement could not have been dispensed with, neither could he have acted as intercessor or the people, unless ceremonially clean. Moreover, the high dignity of his office demanded a corresponding superiority in personal holiness, and stringent rules were prescribed for the purpose of upholding the suitable dignity of his station and family.

Verse 13-14. He shall take a wife in her virginity. This limitation was confined to the high priest. 'Every Coptic priest at the present day is forbidden to marry again upon the demise of his wife (vide Gibbon, 2:, ch.

xv., p. 318, on the opinions of the early fathers respecting second nuptials; Wilkinson's 'Ancient Egypt.,' 2:, p. 62, note). The same rules are extended generally to the families of Christian ministers (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6).

Verse 15. Neither shall he profane his seed among his people - i:e., disgrace his house by a low marriage.