Death · Marriage · Holy service Every step opens the verse it rests on.
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BeginningThe LORD gives Moses distinct instructions for ordinary priests.Yahweh said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, ‘A priest shall not defile himself for the dead among his people, — Leviticus 21:1 · WEB
In the commentaryThe Priests Shall Be Holy
Guard the holiness of priestly service
1 Contact with the dead
Avoid defilement except as allowedA priest must not defile himself for the dead, except for specified closest relatives.Yahweh said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, ‘A priest shall not defile himself for the dead among his people, — Leviticus 21:1–4 · WEB
In the commentaryThe Priests Shall Be Holy
2 Mourning and marriage
Keep the priestly boundariesDo not use pagan mourning practices. Marry within the stated boundaries so that priestly service is not profaned.“‘They shall not marry a woman who is a prostitute, or profane. A priest shall not marry a woman divorced from her husband; for he is holy to his God. — Leviticus 21:5–7 · WEB
In the commentaryThe Priests Shall Be Holy
3 Honor the priesthood
Keep the priest holyTreat priests as holy because they offer the LORD’s food offerings. Guard their households from profaning God’s name.Therefore you shall sanctify him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you, for I Yahweh, who sanctify you, am holy. — Leviticus 21:8–9 · WEB
In the commentaryThe Priests Shall Be Holy
Guard the holiness of priestly serviceYahweh said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, ‘A priest shall not defile himself for the dead among his people, — Leviticus 21:1–9 · WEB
In the commentaryThe Priests Shall Be Holy
The order of these steps is adapted from the Torah flowcharts published by OpenBible.info, CC BY 4.0.