Restrictions for the High Priest. The title occurs here for the first time in the Law; the phrase used is literally the priest who is chief among his brothers. It is, however, implied in P in Leviticus 16 (cf. also the references to Aaron (Leviticus 8 f.). Ezekiel does not mention it, but he too seems to imply it in Ezekiel 45:19, as do the earlier narratives of, e.g. Eli, 1 Samuel 1 ff.), Zadok (1 Kings 1:26 ff.), Amaziah (Amos 7:10 ff.), and Hilkiah (2 Kings 22:4 ff.). Before the Exile, the chief priest would naturally be a royal ecclesiastical official; afterwards he tended to take the place of the king in the community (Sirach 50 and 1 Mac). In view of his special functions, which, nowever, are nowhere stated in H, all mourning rites are forbidden him; he is to avoid all risk of pollution by taking up his dwelling in the sacred precincts. The special restriction for his marriage (a widow is not to be married), Ezekiel extends to all priests (Ezekiel 44:22). The mediæ val law of priestly celibacy was founded on the quite non-Hebrew idea of the worldliness of marriage; here, a pure marriage leaves holiness untouched.
Related Commentaries of Leviticus 21:10
Leviticus 21:10-15
10 And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;
11 Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;
12 Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD.
13 And he shall take a wife in her virginity.
14 A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.
15 Neither shall he profane his seed among his people: for I the LORD do sanctify him.