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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: thebigrusch Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Preist, why not tear their robes | Leviticus | thebigrusch | 113744 | ||
The first mention of this practice is in Leviticus chapter 10, and is more clearly spelled out later in chapter 21. In chapter 10, Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu "offered unauthorized fire before the Lord." (NIV) As a result, they were burned to death by fire that came out from the presence of the Lord. In verse 6, Moses tells Aaron, "do not tear your clothes." Tearing of clothes was a Hebrew cultural practice that outwardly showed mourning. There are actually a number of practices associated with mourning that Moses forbids Aaron to do. But why? Death is a result of sin. Aaron’s sons died as a result of a specific sin, but the rest of us die as a result of Adam’s original sin. The Israelite priests represented the people before God. To come before God while mourning would be to bring the sin of the people into God’s presence. Since God is perfect, sin cannot enter his presence. In the OT, the requirement was to cover the sin of the people with the atoning blood, not to bring it into the presence of God. Therefore, for priests, mourning was forbidden. Read the chapters mentioned above for further reference on the subject of priests’ holiness, and the whole book of Leviticus for an understanding of the relationship between God and his people in the Old Testament. There is no punishment mentioned directly for disobeying this command. There are many various punishments mentioned throughout Leviticus that the rest of the people would have employed. It seems to me most likely, in consideration of the events of chapter 10, that either God himself would have consumed the priest by fire, or the people would have burned the priest to death. As I said, however, there is no biblical reference stating what the punishment for disobeying this command was. |
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