Leviticus 21:17

_AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES, SAYING,_ Any blemish. Since visible things exert a strong influence on the minds of men, any physical infirmity or malformation of body in the ministers of religion, which disturbs the associations or excites ridicule, tends to detract from the weight and authority of the sacred office. Priests labouring under any personal defect were not allowed to officiate in the public service: they might be employed in some inferior duties about the sanctuary, but could not perform any sacred office, (Maimonides, 'More Nevoch.,' ch. 45:) The holiness of the priests was external and relative, for inward impurities are not mentioned as disqualifying them for their office. In all these regulations for preserving the unsullied purity of the sacred character and office there was a typical reference to the priesthood of Christ (Hebrews 7:26)....

17._Speak unto Aaron, saying. _Priests in whom there was any notable bodily defect are here forbidden from approaching the altar. I will not curiously inquire into the defects which Moses enumerates, since the same rule is here laid down, which is afterwards applied to the sacrifices, whereof none but perfect ones were to be offered. For God rejected whatever was defective or mutilated, in order that the Israelites might know that no victim would suffice for the expiation of sin, except such as possessed complete perfection; and this is justly required in a priest, who cannot be a mediator between God and men unless he is free from every spot. But the analogy must be kept in view between the external figures and the spiritual perfection which existed only in Christ. God could bear no defect in the priests; it follows, then, that a man of angelic purity was to be expected, who should reco...

Verse Leviticus 21:17. _WHOSOEVER - HATH_ ANY _BLEMISH, LET HIM NOT APPROACH TO_ _OFFER THE BREAD OF HIS GOD._] Never was a wiser, a more rational, and a more expedient law enacted relative to sacred matters. The man who ministers in holy things, who professes to be the interpreter of the will of God, should have nothing in his _person_ nor in his _manner_ which cannot contribute to render him respectable in the eyes of those to whom he ministers. If, on the contrary, he has any _personal defect_, any thing that may render him contemptible or despicable, his usefulness will be greatly injured, if not entirely prevented. If however a man have received any damage in the work of God, by persecution or otherwise, his scars are honourable, and will add to his respectability. But if he be received into the ministry with any of th...

He was not treated as an outcast, but enjoyed his privileges as a son of Aaron, except in regard to active duties. Leviticus 21:20 A DWARF - One who is small and wasted, either short, as in the text, or slender, as in the margin. It is hardly likely that dwarfishness would be overlooked in this enumeration. So most critical authorities. SCURRY OR SCABBED - These words most probably include all affected with any skin disease. Leviticus 21:22 See Leviticus 2:3 note; Leviticu

PART III. SECTION IV. THE UNCLEANNESS AND DISQUALIFICATION OF PRIESTS. EXPOSITION The two remaining chapters of this division of the book (Leviticus 21:1, Leviticus 22:1) deal with the ease of defilements attaching to the priesthood, over and above those which affect other men, whether ceremonial (Leviticus 21:1, Leviticus 21:10-3; Leviticus 22:

SPEAK UNTO AARON, SAYING,.... Who being the high priest, it was incumbent on him, at least at this time, to see that the laws and rules relating to the priesthood were observed; and particularly to examine carefully who were and who were not to be admitted to serve in it: WHOSOEVER [HE BE] OF THY SEED IN THEIR GENERATIONS; or, "a man of thy seed" w, for this only respected his male seed, females of his seed had no concern in the following laws; but his sons, in all successive ages and generations, to the coming of the Messiah, had, whether high priests or common priests: THAT HATH [ANY] BLEMISH; in any part of his body, particularly such as are after mentioned: LET HIM NOT APPROACH TO OFFER THE BREAD OF HIS GOD; neither go into the holy place, to set the shewbread in order there, nor to offer any sacrifice upon the altar; so Josephus x explains this law; that a priest should be perfec...

4. LAWS FOR THE PRIESTS CHAPTER 21 _ 1. Laws concerning the person of the priests (Leviticus 21:1)_ 2. Laws concerning their family (Leviticus 21:7) 3. Laws concerning the high priest (Leviticus 21:10) 4. Concerning blemishes (Leviticus 21:16) We come now to the special laws and precepts for the priestly class among the people. The preceding laws concerned the nation as such. The requirements of the priests are the highest in the entire book of Leviticus. Responsibility is always according to relationship. The priests, as we have seen before, typify the church. The grace

LIST OF BODILY DEFECTS which prevent a priest from actually joining in the priestly rites, though he is still supported by the dues. The presence of a deformed or mutilated priest at the altar would destroy the holiness with which Yahweh has dowered it. Blemish in a priest, as in a victim, may have been regarded originally as the sign of the presence of a demon; but the æ sthetic repulsion is very deep-seated. Ritual mutilations were allowed and encouraged in other cults; _cf._ especially the worship of the Phrygian Cybele (Frazer's _Adonis_,_ Attis_,_ Osiris)._...

GENERATIONS. posterity....

_Physical disqualifications for a priest_...