Explanation: Leviticus 21 contains holiness and purity laws for the priests. The first set of regulations concerns funeral practices. The priests were not allowed to defile themselves for any dead Israelite, including relatives -- except for a virgin sister who had no husband. The rule against defilement would preclude touching the body and preparing it for burial. Also, a priest was also not allowed to practice certain mourning rituals such as shaving his head, shaving the corner of his beard, or cutting himself (1-6).
     They could not marry certain women -- such as whores or divorcees (7-8). If a priest's daughter became a whore she was to be put to death (9).
     The High Priest, in particular, must not uncover his head for the dead or tear his garments. Nor may he touch a dead body, not even for his father or mother. He must stay in the sanctuary, leaving the funeral to others. He must marry a virgin; and he must not marry a widow, a divorcee, or a harlot; such marriages would profane his seed (10-15).
     The chapter concludes with certain physical defects which would prevent a man for doing priestly duties. These would include blemishes, particularly if he was blind, was lame, was flat-nosed, had an elongated body feature, was broken footed, was broken handed, was crook backed, was a dwarf, had a blemish in his eye, or had scurvy, scabs, or had broken stones. Those with such defects were barred from making any of the offerings; but they were allowed to eat those portions of the offerings which belonged to the priests. However, they could not go into the area before the veil (the holy place), or behind the veil (the holy of holies), or come near an altar (16-24).
     [ Sermons: William Still. Various. ]
     [ Illustration: The paintings above depict the three classes of women which the High Priest was not allowed to marry: widows, divorcees, and prostitutes. ]

     ¹⁶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, ¹⁷ Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God. ¹⁸ For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous, ¹⁹ Or a man that is brokenfooted [broken of foot], or brokenhanded [broken of hand], ²⁰ Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken; ²¹ No man that that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire [the LORD's offerings made by fire]: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God. ²² He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy [holy of holies], and of the holy. ²³ Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them. ²⁴ And Moses told it unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.

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