Book of Leviticus - Chapter 21 - Verse 1

In this verse, the LORD instructs Moses to speak to the priests who are the sons of Aaron and relay a specific command to them. The command is that the priests should not defile themselves by coming into contact with the dead among their people. This command was given to ensure that the priests remained ceremonially clean and pure in order to carry out their duties in the tabernacle and offer sacrifices on behalf of the people. The act of coming into contact with the dead was seen as a source of contamination that could render the priests unfit to perform their sacred duties. By obeying this command, the priests were demonstrating their dedication to serving the LORD and maintaining purity in their service. This instruction emphasized the importance of holiness and purity in the priestly role and highlighted the strict standards that the LORD required of those who served in the tabernacle.

In this verse, God instructs Moses to speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and tell them that they are not to defile themselves for the dead among their people. This commandment is significant in the context of Old Testament law and ritual purity. For the priests, who were responsible for offering sacrifices and conducting ceremonies in the tabernacle, maintaining ceremonial purity was crucial to their ability to effectively serve God and the people. Being defiled by the dead would render them impure and unfit to perform their duties. This command highlights the importance of holiness and separation from anything that could defile the priests in their sacred service to God. Through this instruction, God underscores the need for the priests to remain consecrated and set apart for their divine calling, emphasizing the seriousness and sanctity of their role in mediating between God and the Israelites.