Leviticus 21:1-4

HOLINESS ON THE PART OF PRIESTS, AND HOLINESS OF THE OFFERINGS 21:122:33
AVOIDANCE OF CONTACT WITH A DEAD BODY 21:1-4
TEXT 21:1-4

1

And Jehovah said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none defile himself for the dead among his people;

2

except for his kin, that is near unto him, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother.

3

and for his sister a virgin, that is near unto him, that hath had no husband; for her may he defile himself.

4

He shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 21:1-4

470.

What purpose is served by giving regulations concerning the preparation of the dead for burial?

471.

What particular distraction would interfere with the priest's duties?

472.

Is there anything more than ceremonial defilement in touching a dead body?

473.

Does Leviticus 21:4 suggest he must not even attend his own wife's funeral? Discuss.

474.

What is meant by the expression in Leviticus 21:4: a chief man among his people?

PARAPHRASE 21:1-4

The Lord said to Moses: Tell the priests never to defile themselves by touching a dead person, unless it is a near relativea mother, father, son, daughter, brother or unmarried sister for whom he has special responsibility since she has no husband. For the priest is a leader among his people and he may not ceremonially defile himself as an ordinary person can.

COMMENT 21:1-4

Leviticus 21:1-4 We like the thought that if the priests were to share in mourning for all those with whom he associated he would be in mourning all the time and would be ceremonially unclean and unfit to officiate at the duties especially assigned to him. At the same time it should be that a priest does yearn affectionately over all the sorrows of those among whom he serves. A priest must have feelings of deep emotion; he must resemble Jesus, the antitype, weeping over His own kindred most of all, and only restrained from weeping over all by express enactment of Jehovah.

There are seven exceptions to this general rule: (1) His wife, for the phrase near kin could be translated, his flesh that is near him Cf. Leviticus 18:6; Genesis 2:24; also notice Ezekiel 24:16-18 where we see that express prohibition is needed to prevent the prophet's mourning over his wife; (2) His mother; (3) His father; (4) His son; (5) His daughter; (6) His brother; (7) His virgin sister.

Numbers 19:11-16 describes the law of defilement as related to a dead body and includes being present in the tent or house with the corpse.

In Leviticus 21:2 we have the term mother before that of father. This is the second of the three instances in the Bible where this occurs. It has been observed that such is true here because the son's qualifications for the priesthood depend more upon his having a good mother. (Cf. Leviticus 21:7 in this chapter.)

Ginsburg interprets the phrase in Leviticus 21:4: A husband (the priest) shall not defile himself among his people when he had profaned himself and meaning that: the priest was permitted to defile himself by attending his own wife's funeral only if he had not married a woman not qualified legally to be his wife. If she was not legally qualified to be his wife he could not attend her funeral. This seems an unusual interpretation. We prefer Keil's thought that: The correct interpretation of the words can only be arrived at by considering the relation of the fourth verse to what precedes and follows. As Leviticus 21:1 b - Leviticus 21:3 stand in a very close relation to Leviticus 21:5-6, the defilement on account of a dead person being more particularly explained in the latter. the priest was not to defile himself as a husband and head of a household, either by marrying a wife of immoral or ambiguous reputation, or by training his children carelessly, so as to desecrate himself, i.e. profaning the holiness of his rank and office by either one or the other. Cf. Leviticus 21:9-15.

FACT QUESTIONS 21:1-4

482.

What practical reason can we assign to the prohibition against sharing in the mourning of more than those of the priest's near kin?

483.

What a grand example is the compassion of our Saviour. Explain.

484.

Name the seven exceptions to the rule. How include his wife, when she is not mentioned?

485.

Why use the term mother before father?

486.

Explain Leviticus 21:4 in your own words.