P7
Levitical Priests are not to be in the vicinity of a dead body unless the deceased is a close relative.
Category: Priesthood
Type: Negative
Form: Explicit
Source dataset: Old Testament
Uniqueness: Not unique
Classical commandment: Yes
New Covenant Literal Application
Applies to Person Categories: Not specified
Literal Application: Not specified
More explanation about New Covenant Literal Application
The New Covenant Literal Application Code (NCLA) is an interpretive guide used by the authors to indicate which person categories a mitzvah applies to, and at what level of literal compliance.
It combines person categories such as Jewish, K'rov Yisrael, and Gentile, together with male/female distinctions and an application level such as mandated, recommended, optional, or prohibited.
This code reflects the authors' interpretive opinion and is provided for prayerful consideration. On this page, the technical code is summarized into plain language to help new readers understand it more easily.
Bible references
Key NT Scriptures
- Mark 5:39-41
Key OT Scriptures
-
Leviticus 21:1-4
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Leviticus 21:6
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Commentary
Rabbi Michael Rudolph
It is natural for members of a community to want to be with, and comfort members of a grieving family while they are mourning the loss of a loved one. Nevertheless, Leviticus 21:1 prohibits Levitical cohanim from being anywhere near a dead body lest they become ritually unclean and unfit for their Temple duties. In modern times, the Scripture has been applied in several different ways by different rabbinical authorities, including not permitting supposed male descendants of Aaron to be in the same room as a dead person, nor even on cemetery grounds. The prohibition of course had a practical purpose when the Tabernacle and Temple functioned with the Levitical Priesthood conducting sacrifices, but it is not the case today. Nevertheless, in anticipation of the Temple being rebuilt ( Ezekiel 40-47 ) and the sacrifices being restored, Orthodox and Conservative Judaism continue the practice of not allowing men whom they believe are descended from Aaron to come near to a dead body. Reform Judaism does not follow the practice because Reform Judaism does not recognize the continuity of priestly lineage. Leviticus 21:2-3 is an exception to the prohibition when the deceased person is a close relative. Not only is it an exception - it is considered a positive commandment by the classical commentators, that a priest allow himself to be rendered ritually unclean in that circumstance for the sake of his relative. Some Messianic Jewish congregations follow Conservative Judaism in this, others do not, and still others have not developed a policy on these issues at all. Messianic Jewish scholars and leaders that follow Conservative Jewish practices interpret Ezekiel chapters 40-47 to be prophecy, that the Holy Temple will eventually be rebuilt, and that certain sacrifices will be resumed - possibly conducted by a restored Levitical priesthood. All believers in Yeshua know that restored sacrifices cannot be for the commission of sin since Yeshua is our sacrifice for sin ( Hebrews 9:11-14; 10:1-14 ); furthermore, we do not know whether the priests conducting sacrifices in a restored Temple will be "Levitical" or of some other priestly order. Nevertheless, in compliance with Jewish tradition, Messianic Judaism generally follows the practice of shielding "assumed" cohanim from being near dead bodies, with the understanding that it is voluntary on their part. 1 . This Mitzvah applies only to males. It does not apply to females because Leviticus 21:1 refers to "sons of Aaron", and because only males served in the Tabernacle and the Holy Temple as priests. Messianic Judaism does not apply this Mitzvah to New Covenant priests (i.e. to believers in Yeshua). 1. Since the Temple's records have been lost, there is no official record of whose unbroken patrilineal descent is traceable to Aaron. Consequently, family names such as "Cohen", "Kohen", "Cone", "Cowen", etc., in addition to family histories and traditions are relied upon.
Classical commentators
Maimonides, Meir, and Chinuch all take the Orthodox approach of considering Leviticus 21:1-4 and 6 to consist of two commandments - a negative one prohibiting a cohen from being in the vicinity of a dead body, and a positive one requiring that a cohen disregard the prohibition in the case where the deceased person is his close relative. Also, all three commentators agree that the commandments apply only to men.
Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2
Classical sources
Maimonides
Maimonides (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, 12th century) organized all 613 Torah commandments into a structured list. These linked items show where this Law of Messiah commandment overlaps with that classical framework.
Meir of Rothenburg
Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg (13th century, Germany) was a leading Talmudic authority. These reference numbers link this commandment to his halachic rulings.
MP59, MN141
Source and License
Based on The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective by Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster.
License: CC BY-ND 4.0 (Attribution required, NoDerivatives). CC BY-ND 4.0
Disclaimer: the original content is authored by Rabbi Michael Rudolph and Rabbi Daniel Juster; additional notes or implementation details on this website are not part of their original work and do not represent their views.
Record source: The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective - Volume 1 & 2
Copyright note: Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2