Leviticus 21:1 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Speak unto the priests, the sons of Aaron— Respecting the general notion of defilement from dead bodies, we refer to Numbers 19:11; Numbers 19:22.—The priests, on account of their function, are ordered to have no concern with dead bodies; i.e. not to touch them, prepare them for burial, be present at their funeral, or come into the tents where they are; since thus they would be legally defiled, and unfit for the duties of their office: yet, in the case of near relations, they were allowed the usual custom of mourners, Leviticus 21:2-3. What we render for the dead, is נפשׁ nepesh, a word often used for the animal frame, either with or without life; see Genesis 2:7.