Leviticus 21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 21

This chapter might borrow its title from Mal. 2:1; ?And now, O you priests, this commandment is for you.? It is a law obliging priests with the utmost care and jealousy to preserve the dignity of their priesthood. I. The inferior priests are here charged both concerning their mourning and concerning their marriages and their children, Lev. 21:1-9. II. The high priest is restrained more than any of them, Lev. 21:10-15. III. Neither the one nor the other must have any blemish, Lev. 21:16-24 read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 21:1-9

It was before appointed that the priests should teach the people the statutes God had given concerning the difference between clean and unclean, Lev. 10:10, 11. Now here it is provided that they should themselves observe what they were to teach the people. Note, Those whose office it is to instruct must do it by example as well as precept, 1 Tim. 4:12. The priests were to draw nearer to God than any of the people, and to be more intimately conversant with sacred things, and therefore it was... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 21:10-15

More was expected from a priest than from other people, but more from the high priest than from other priests, because upon his head the anointing oil was poured, and he was consecrated to put on the garments (Lev. 21:10), both which were typical of the anointing and adorning of the Lord Jesus, with all the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit, which he received without measure. It is called the crown of the anointing oil of his God (Lev. 21:12); for the anointing of the Spirit is, to all that... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 21:16-24

The priesthood being confined to one particular family, and entailed upon all the male issue of that family throughout their generations, it was very likely that some or other in after-ages that were born to the priesthood would have natural blemishes and deformities: the honour of the priesthood would not secure them from any of those calamities which are common to men. Divers blemishes are here specified; some that were ordinarily for life, as blindness; others that might be for a time, as a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 21 This chapter respects the priests, the sons of Aaron, and forbids their mourning for the dead, unless in some cases, Leviticus 21:1 ; or their marriage with an whore or a divorced woman, Leviticus 21:7 ; and the daughters of any of them to commit fornication, which is made punishable with death, Leviticus 21:9 ; and it contains particular laws for the high priest to observe, who was not to mourn for any, even for his parents, Leviticus 21:10 ; nor to go... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:1

And the Lord said unto Moses ,.... 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:2

But for his kin that is near unto him ,.... For such he might be defiled and mourn, or be where they were, and take care of, and attend their funerals: this clause some take to be general, of which the particulars follow, as Aben Ezra; but others take it to be the first particular excepted, and instanced in, and intends his wife; for it may be rendered, as by some, "for his flesh", or "the rest of him" F16 לשארו "carne sua", Pagninus, Montanus. , the other part of himself, his wife,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:3

And for his sister a virgin, that is nigh unto him ,.... That is, his sister by both father's and mother's side, as Aben Ezra; though, according to Gersom, his sister by his father's side, and not by his mother's side, is meant; but, according to Alphes, by his mother's side: perhaps this may signify not nearness of kin, which is expressed by being his sister, but nearness of place, for, being unmarried, she remained unto her death in her father's house: which hath had no husband ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:4

But he shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people ,.... Which is not to be understood of any lord or nobleman or any chief ruler or governor of the people; for the context speaks only of priests, and not of other personages; besides, such might defile themselves, or mourn for their dead, as Abraham did for Sarah; nor of any husband for his wife, for even a priest, as has been observed, might do this for his wife, and much more a private person; nor is there any need to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:5

They shall not make baldness upon their head ,.... For the dead, as Jarchi, Aben Ezra, and Ben Gersom; not shave their heads, or round the corners of them, or make baldness between their eyes on that account; as those things were forbid the Israelites, so the priests also; this and what follow being superstitious customs used among the Heathens in their mournings for the dead, particularly by the Chaldeans, as Aben Ezra observes; and so by the Grecians; when Hephestion, one of Alexander's... read more

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