Rules for Priests

21 The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron,^(A) and say to them: ‘A priest must not make himself ceremonially unclean^(B) for any of his people who die,^(C)

¹⁰ “‘The high priest, the one among his brothers who has had the anointing oil poured on his head^(A) and who has been ordained to wear the priestly garments,^(B) must not let his hair become unkempt^[a] or tear his clothes.^(C)

²² But Moses and Aaron fell facedown^(A) and cried out, “O God, the God who gives breath to all living things,^(B) will you be angry with the entire assembly^(C) when only one man sins?”^(D)

⁴⁶ Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer^(A) and put incense in it, along with burning coals from the altar, and hurry to the assembly^(B) to make atonement^(C) for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord;^(D) the plague^(E) has started.”

Achan’s Sin

7 But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things^[a];^(A) Achan^(B) son of Karmi, the son of Zimri,^[b] the son of Zerah,^(C) of the tribe of Judah,^(D) took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned^(E) against Israel.^(F)

¹⁸ And are you now turning away from the Lord?

“‘If you rebel against the Lord today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole community^(A) of Israel.

²⁰ When Achan son of Zerah was unfaithful in regard to the devoted things,^[a](A) did not wrath^(B) come on the whole community^(C) of Israel? He was not the only one who died for his sin.’”^(D)