Negative Commandment 75 (Digest)
A Ritually Impure Priest Serving in the Holy Temple
"They shall separate themselves from the things which the children of Israel make holy, and they shall not profane My holy name"—Leviticus 22:2.
A ritually impure priest is forbidden from performing any service in the Holy Temple.
The 75th prohibition is that a kohen who is tameh is forbidden from participating in the Temple service while in a state of tumah.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement to the kohanim, "Be careful regarding the sacred offerings of the Israelites, and do not desecrate My holy Name."
In the ninth chapter of Sanhedrin our Sages explained, "What is the source for the law that one who serves in the Temple while tameh is punishable by death? It is written, 'Tell Aaron and his sons, "Be careful regarding the sacred offerings of the Israelites, and do not desecrate (v'lo y'chal'lu)," and elsewhere it is written, 'Because they have desecrated (y'chal'luhu) they shall die for it.'" I.e., just as the punishment for that desecration is misah biy'dei shamayim, so too in this prohibition, "do not desecrate My holy Name" — if one did desecrate by performing the service while in a state of tumah he is punishable by misah biy'dei shamayim.
Negative Commandment 76 (Digest)
A "Tevul Yom" Serving in the Holy Temple
"They shall not profane the name of their G‑d"—Leviticus 21:6.
[A tevul yom is an individual who was impure and immersed himself in a mikvah (ritual pool). Though he is now pure, there are still certain restrictions upon him until the sun sets that day.]
A priest who is a tevul yom, though pure, is forbidden from doing any service in the Holy Temple until the sun sets.
The 76th prohibition is that a kohen who is a t'vul yom — even if he has purified himself — is forbidden from serving in the Temple until the sun has set.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), regarding the kohanim, "[They must be holy to their G‑d] and they must not profane their G‑d's Name."
One who transgresses this prohibition by serving in the Temple while a t'vul yom is punished by misah biy'dei shamayim.
This is not explicitly stated in Scripture, but has been passed down by the Oral Tradition. In the ninth chapter of Sanhedrin our Sages clearly said that this is the meaning of G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "They must be holy to their G‑d and they must not profane (v'lo y'chal'luhu) their G‑d's Name." They said: "It cannot teach us the prohibition of one who is tameh [serving in the Temple], because it has already been given. If so, this verse must teach us the prohibition of a t'vul yom serving [in the Temple]. And we learn from the usage of the word chillul [that the penalty is misah biy'dei shamayim]." This prohibition is included there among the list of those who are punishable by death.
Positive Commandment 24 (Digest)
Sanctification of a Priest before Service
"And Aaron and his sons will use it to wash their hands and feet when they enter the Tent of the Assembly"—Exodus 30:19.
The kohanim (priests) are commanded to wash their hands and feet before entering the Holy Temple's sanctuary and before commencing any of their Temple duties.
The 24th mitzvah is that the kohanim are commanded to wash their hands and feet whenever they need to enter the heichal [main Temple building] or to perform the Temple service. This mitzvah is known as kiddush yadayim v'raglayim.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "Aaron and his sons must wash their hands and feet from it [the washstand] before entering the ohel moed."
One who violates this positive commandment — i.e., a kohen who serves in the Temple without washing his hands and feet — is punished by misah biy'dei shamayim. This is derived from G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "They must wash with water if they are not to die."
All the details of this mitzvah are explained in the second chapter of Zevachim.
Negative Commandment 69 (Digest)
A Blemished Priest Entering the Holy Temple
"He shall not approach the curtain, nor come near to the altar..."—Leviticus 21:23.
A priest who possesses a physical blemish is forbidden from entering the Holy Temple's sanctuary or the area between the Outer Altar (including the altar) and the Sanctuary.
The 69th prohibition is that a kohen who has a blemish is forbidden from entering the entire area of the heichal, i.e., the altar, between the ulam and the altar, the ulam, and the heichal itself.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "But he may not come to the paroches and he may not approach the altar [if he has a blemish]."
In the beginning of Seder Taharos it is explained that one who has a blemish or overgrown hair may not enter the area of the heichal beginning with the area between the ulam and the altar. It is also explained in the Sifra that either of these two phrases — "he may not come to the paroches" and "he may not approach the altar" — by themselves would be insufficient. Both are necessary to completely define the extent of this one law by defining the exact area where they are forbidden to enter.
One who intentionally went past the altar, even if not to perform the Temple service, is punished by lashes.
Negative Commandment 70 (Digest)
A Blemished Priest Serving in the Holy Temple
"...who has any blemish shall not approach"—Leviticus 21:17.
A priest who possesses a physical blemish is forbidden from serving in the Holy Temple.
The 70th prohibition is that a kohen who has a blemish is forbidden from performing the Temple service.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement, "[Speak to Aaron as follows: 'Anyone among your descendants] who has a blemish may not approach.' " This means that he "may not approach" in order to perform the Temple service. Should he perform the service while he has a blemish, he is punished by lashes. This is explicitly stated by the Sifra: "One with a blemish [who serves in the Temple] has violated a Biblical prohibition, but is not punished by death.
Negative Commandment 71 (Digest)
A Priest with a Temporary Blemish Serving in the Holy Temple
"Any man that has a blemish, shall not approach"—Leviticus 21:18.
A priest who possesses a temporary physical blemish is forbidden from serving in the Holy Temple—so long as the blemish exists.
The 71st prohibition is that a kohen who has a temporary blemish is forbidden from performing the Temple service as long as he still has it.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "Anyone who has a blemish may not offer a sacrifice."
The Sifra says, "The phrase, 'one who has a blemish may not approach,' only refers to one who has a permanent blemish. What is the source that one with a temporary blemish [may not perform the Temple service]? From the verse, 'Anyone who has a blemish may not offer a sacrifice.' " One who transgresses and performs the Temple service while he has a temporary blemish is also punished by lashes.
The regulations regarding temporary and permanent blemishes of a person are explained in the seventh chapter of tractate Bechoros.
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