Leviticus 21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:6

They shall be holy unto their God ,.... Sacred to his service, and wholly given up to it, and not interest themselves in things which hindered from it, or made them unfit for it; and such care becomes the ministers of the word, who should give up themselves to it, and not entangle themselves with other affairs; they should be clean, pure, and holy, that bear the vessels of the Lord, and minister in holy things, and should set an example of purity and holiness to others: and not profane... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:7

They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane ,.... By the former is meant a common whore, that prostitutes herself to any one through lust or for gain; and by the latter one whose chastity is violated, but either unwillingly, that has been forced and ravished, or else willingly, being enticed, persuaded, and prevailed upon, but did not make a practice of it; this seems to be the true sense of the words: but the Jewish writers understand them differently; by a "whore" they suppose... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:8

Thou shalt sanctify him therefore ,.... In thought and word, as Aben Ezra, by thinking and speaking well of him; should esteem and reckon him a holy person, being in a sacred office, and honour him as such; and do all that can be done to preserve him from unholiness and impurity, and particularly from marrying with improper and unsuitable persons, such as would bring a scandal on him and his sacred office: this seems to be spoken to Moses, and so to the civil magistrate in succession, who... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:9

And the daughter of any priest ,.... The Targum of Jonathan restrains it to one that is betrothed; but others, as Jarchi and Aben Ezra, whether betrothed or married; and all confess, as the former says, that the Scripture does not speak of one that is single or entirely free: but there is no exception in the text; and besides, the daughter of any man that was betrothed to a man, and guilty of the crime here spoken of, was to die, Deuteronomy 22:23 ; and therefore such a law respecting the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:10

And he that is the high priest among his brethren ,.... Either among his brethren, the priests, being in office above them; or among his brethren the Israelites, among and over whom he is high priest; or, as others render it, "the priest who is greater than his brethren" F4 So Pagninus, Ainsworth, and others. , in an higher office; the Jews say F5 T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 18. 1. Horayot, fol. 9. 1. Cholin, fol. 134. 2. Maimon. Cele Hamikdash, c. 5. sect. 1. & in Misn. Yoma, c. 1.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:11

Neither shall he go in to any dead body ,.... That is, into a tent or house where any dead body lies, as Jarchi and Aben Ezra interpret it, for whoever went into such a place was unclean seven days; and so long therefore an high priest, should he enter there, would be prevented doing the duty of his office, see Numbers 19:14 ; this was aped and followed by the Heathens in later times; so among the Romans, the "Flamen Dialis", or high priest of Jupiter, might not go into a place where a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:12

Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary ,.... In the time of service, upon any occasion whatever; otherwise, when there was a necessity for it, he might go out from thence, though this was rarely done, and only in the night time: Maimonides F13 Cele Hamikdash, c. 5. sect. 7. says he had a house prepared for him in the sanctuary, called the chamber of the high priest; and it was his honour and his glory to remain in the sanctuary all the day, and he did not go out, except to his own... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:13

And he shall take a wife in her virginity. One, and not two, or more, as Ben Gersom observes; and so Maimonides says F17 Hilchot Issure Biah, c. 17. sect. 13. , an high priest might never take two women together; for it is said, "a wife", or "woman", one, and not two; and so it is explained in the Talmud F18 T. Bab. Yebamot, fol. 59. 1. ; for though polygamy was practised by the Israelites, and even by the common priests, yet these writers suppose it was by no means allowed to an... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:14

A widow ,.... The high priest might not marry, whether the widow of a priest or of an Israelite, as Aben Ezra, that is, of any Israelite that was not of the priesthood; and this, whether a widow after espousals, or after marriage, as runs the Jewish canon F21 Misn. Yebamot, c. 6. sect. 4. ; the meaning is, that if she was betrothed to a man, and that man died before he married her, and so was a virgin; yet being betrothed to him was reckoned as his widow; and such an one the high... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:15

Neither shall he profane his seed among his people ,.... By marrying any such persons, whereby his children, born of them, would lie under disgrace, and be unfit to succeed him in the priesthood, or by marrying among mean persons, or by marrying them to such as were unlawful, and would be a disparagement to them: for I the Lord do sanctify him ; separate him from all others, to the high and sacred office of the high priesthood, and am concerned for his honour and holiness; and therefore... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:15

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