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Leviticus 21

24 verses

TL;DR

Leviticus 21 outlines the purity requirements and responsibilities of priests, especially the high priest, emphasizing holiness and separation from defilement.

Summary

Leviticus 21 commands priests, particularly the sons of Aaron, to maintain ritual purity and avoid contact with those who are defiled, especially the dead. It prohibits priests from making disfiguring marks, cutting hair or beards, and from marrying disreputable women. The high priest, anointed with oil, must not uncover his head, tear his garments, or enter the sanctuary with a dead body, and he may only take a virgin wife from his own people. Priests who have blemishes are forbidden from approaching to offer offerings, though they may still eat the holy bread. The chapter ends with Moses relaying these instructions to Aaron and the Israelites, underscoring that only the Lord sanctifies them.

Outline
  1. Priest purity and restrictions on contact with the defiled
  2. Prohibitions on physical appearance changes and marriage
  3. Special duties and restrictions for the high priest
  4. Blemish rules for priests and their worship
  5. Moses communicates the law to Israel
Themes
Holiness and SeparationSanctity of PriesthoodDivine Authority
Keywords
priesthigh priestanointing oildefilementblemishsanctifyholy
People
MosesAaronsons of Aaronhigh priestpriestsIsraelites
Places
SanctuaryTabernacle
Things
anointing oilcrown of oilbread of Godofferingblemishvirgin wife
Key Verses
  • Leviticus 21:1: Introduces the law of defilement for priests
  • Leviticus 21:6: Highlights priests’ obligation to remain holy and not profane God's name
  • Leviticus 21:9: Stresses that a priest’s sin affects his father
  • Leviticus 21:10: Sets strict limits on the high priest’s conduct in the sanctuary
  • Leviticus 21:13: Specifies marital qualifications for the high priest
  • Leviticus 21:17: Defines the prohibition on priests with blemishes approaching the altar
  • Leviticus 21:23: Reaffirms that blemished priests may eat but not offer sacrifices
Questions
  • Why does Leviticus emphasize the priest’s personal holiness so heavily?
  • What is the significance of restricting priests from marrying disreputable women?
  • How does the prohibition on blemished priests reflect Israel’s covenant with God?
  • What does the anointing oil symbolize in the context of priestly duty?
  • How do these regulations influence the community’s perception of sanctity?
  • In what ways might these laws have affected the social structure of Israel?
  • What parallels can be drawn between Leviticus 21 and later biblical discussions of purity?
  • How does the requirement that blemished priests eat but not offer sacrifices illustrate the concept of partial sanctification?
Sentiment

mixed
Contains both exhortatory and punitive directives, reflecting a balance of reverence and restriction.