1. Conditions that keep priests from eating sacred food (22:1-9)

In the preceding passage the prohibition of priestly service by those with physical defects is permanent, but it does not stop them from sharing in food from the sacrifices. In this paragraph conditions of uncleanness cited keep a priest from partaking of the sacred food so long as the unclean conditions last. See the notes on chs. 11, 13, and 15 for explanation of the uncleannesses specified here. The overriding purpose for these regulations is to guard against mishandling or treating lightly the sacred offerings and thereby showing disrespect for God’s holy name (v.2).