But he shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.
But he shall not defile himself - `for any other,' as the sense may be fully expressed. The priest, in discharging his sacred functions, might well be regarded as a chief man among his people, and by these defilements might be said to profane himself (Dr. Patrick). х ba`al (H1167)], the word rendered "chief man", signifies also 'a husband;' and the sense, according to Knobel and others, is, 'But he being a husband, shall not defile himself by the obsequies of a wife' (Ezekiel 44:25). But this view is inadmissible, the wife being included in "the kin that is near unto him" (Leviticus 21:2). The priests among the ancient Egyptians and other people were disqualified for their office for seven days by touching or looking on a dead body.