Lev 10:6-7 | TNotes | STEP | 10:6 Eleazar and Ithamar were Aaron’s two remaining sons (Exod 6:23 ). • leaving your hair uncombed: This practice and others like it were ways to show grief in biblical times (cp. Gen 37:29 ; 44:13 ; Deut 14:1 ; 2 Sam 1:11 ; Job 1:20 ; Jer 16:6 ; 47:5 ). As high priest, Aaron was prohibited from participating in these rituals or in any way displaying his grief (Lev 21:10 ). The injunction extended to Eleazar and Ithamar ; if God’s representatives had shown grief on this occasion, it might have been interpreted by observers as disagreeing with God’s justice. However, the laypeople were allowed to mourn.

a10:6►

bExod 6:23►

cGen 37:29►

d44:13►

eDeut 14:1►

f2 Sam 1:11►

gJob 1:20►

hJer 16:6►

i47:5►

jLev 21:10►

k10:7►

l7:36►

‏ Leviticus 10:6-7

10:6 ^a Eleazar and Ithamar were Aaron’s two remaining sons (Exod 6:23 ^b).

• leaving your hair uncombed: This practice and others like it were ways to show grief in biblical times (cp. Gen 37:29 ^c; 44:13 ^d; Deut 14:1 ^e; 2 Sam 1:11 ^f; Job 1:20 ^g; Jer 16:6 ^h; 47:5 ⁱ). As high priest, Aaron was prohibited from participating in these rituals or in any way displaying his grief (Lev 21:10 ^j). The injunction extended to Eleazar and Ithamar; if God’s representatives had shown grief on this occasion, it might have been interpreted by observers as disagreeing with God’s justice. However, the laypeople were allowed to mourn.
10:7 ^k must not leave: Eleazar and Ithamar were not to attend the funeral.

• the Lord’s anointing oil: Because they had recently been anointed as priests (see 7:36 ^l), they were to avoid any association with the dead.