SEV Biblia, Chapter 21:1
¶ Y el SEÑOR dijo a Moisés: Habla a los sacerdotes hijos de Aarón, y diles que no se contaminen por un muerto en sus pueblos.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:1
Verse 1. There shall none be defiled for the dead] No priest shall assist in laying out a dead body, or preparing it for interment. Any contact with the dead was supposed to be of a defiling nature, probably because putrefaction had then taken place; and animal putrefaction was ever held in detestation by all men.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. And the Lord said unto Moses , etc.] According to some Jewish writers this was said on the day the tabernacle was set up; no doubt it was delivered at the same time the above laws were given; and as care was taken for the purity and holiness of the Israelites in general, it was necessary that the priests that were concerned in a more especial manner in the service and worship of God should be holy also, and have some instructions given them to take care and keep themselves from all defilements; and particularly the Jewish writers observe, that this paragraph or section concerning the priests follows upon, and is in connection with the law concerning such as have familiar spirits, and wizards, to teach men, that in matters of doubt and difficulty they should not have recourse to such persons, but to the priests of the Lord: speak unto the priests, the sons of Aaron ; the priests, whether elder or younger, whether fit for service, and whether having blemishes, or not; for there are some things which concern them, and these are sons, male children of Aaron, as the Targum of Jonathan, and not daughters, as Jarchi and others observe; for they were not obliged to regard the laws and rules here given: and say unto them, there shall none be defiled for the dead among his people ; by entering into a tent or house where a dead body lay, by touching it, or by hearing it, or attending it to the grave, or by any expressions of mourning for it, (see Numbers 19:11,14,16); that is, for any person in common that were of his people, that were not nearly related to him, as in the cases after excepted; so it was a custom with the Romans, as we are told f731 , that such as were polluted by funerals might not sacrifice, which shows that priests were not allowed to attend funerals, which perhaps might be taken from hence; and so Porphyry says f732 , that sacred persons and inspectors of holy things should abstain from funerals or graves, and from every filthy and mournful sight.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Laws concerning the priests. --As these priests were types of Christ, so all ministers must be followers of him, that their example may teach others to imitate the Saviour. Without blemish, and separate from sinners, He executed his priestly office on earth. What manner of persons then should his ministers be! But all are, if Christians, spiritual priests; the minister especially is called to set a good example, that the people may follow it. Our bodily infirmities, blessed be God, cannot now shu us out from his service, from these privileges, or from his heavenl glory. Many a healthful, beautiful soul is lodged in a feeble, deforme body. And those who may not be suited for the work of the ministry, ma serve God with comfort in other duties in his church __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ויאמר 559 יהוה 3068 אל 413 משׁה 4872 אמר 559 אל 413 הכהנים 3548 בני 1121 אהרן 175 ואמרת 559 אלהם 413 לנפשׁ 5315 לא 3808 יטמא 2930 בעמיו׃ 5971
