by jimwalton » Thu Jan 11, 2024 2:31 pm
James Brownson writes, "All this is done, not from a motive to oppress and exclude unfortunate people, but rather from a vision of the purity and perfection of the original creation, from a desire to replicate and re-create that original purity and perfection, as much as possible, in the community’s life before God."
Walton, Matthews, and Chavalas: "Just as animals with physical defects or blemishes may not be offered for sacrifice (Lev. 22.19-22), priests who have a physical defect may not serve before the altar. Ritual purity is required for the sacred precincts of the altar, of the sacrifice, and of the religious practitioner officiating at the altar in every religion in the ancient Near East. Priests must therefore be in perfect health and in full command of their bodies and senses. Thus anyone who is 'blind [even in one eye], lame, disfigured or deformed,' is restricted from priestly service. The list is quite graphic and includes defects caused by accidents (broken bones, crushed testicles), birth defects (dwarfism, lameness, hunchbacked), or disease (skin afflictions, sores). Even though he may not approach the altar, the disabled priest is still entitled to his share of the priestly portion of the sacrifice."
James Brownson writes, "All this is done, not from a motive to oppress and exclude unfortunate people, but rather from a vision of the purity and perfection of the original creation, from a desire to replicate and re-create that original purity and perfection, as much as possible, in the community’s life before God."
Walton, Matthews, and Chavalas: "Just as animals with physical defects or blemishes may not be offered for sacrifice (Lev. 22.19-22), priests who have a physical defect may not serve before the altar. Ritual purity is required for the sacred precincts of the altar, of the sacrifice, and of the religious practitioner officiating at the altar in every religion in the ancient Near East. Priests must therefore be in perfect health and in full command of their bodies and senses. Thus anyone who is 'blind [even in one eye], lame, disfigured or deformed,' is restricted from priestly service. The list is quite graphic and includes defects caused by accidents (broken bones, crushed testicles), birth defects (dwarfism, lameness, hunchbacked), or disease (skin afflictions, sores). Even though he may not approach the altar, the disabled priest is still entitled to his share of the priestly portion of the sacrifice."