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 high priest: among the Egyptians, though they took as many wives as they pleased, their priests, married but one F19 Diodor. Sicul. l. 1. p. 72. ; and so a minister of the New Testament is to be the husband of one wife, 1 Timothy 3:2 ; and this wife the high priest was to take was to be a "virgin", one that not only had never known a man, but that was never betrothed to any; yea, according to the Talmudists F20 T. Bab. Yebamot, ibid. Maimon. ut supra. (Cele Hamikdash, c. 5. sect. 5, 6.) , who was not quite ripe for marriage, or the time of her puberty not fully completed, which was the age of twelve years; within, or somewhat before that time, the high priest was to marry her, that it might be out of all doubt that she was a pure virgin; since it is said, "in her virginity", within the time of her puberty, before it was quite up; this, by many, is thought to be an emblem of Christ and his church; as he was typified by the high priest, so the church by the virgin he married, which is espoused to Christ as a chaste virgin, 2 Corinthians 11:2 .