2. A priest’s family and sacred food (22:10-16)

A priest’s family is permitted to eat the sacred food, but outsiders who are guests or hired workers in his house may not partake. Slaves are considered members of the household and may eat. The daughter of a priest who marries a layman ceases to be a member of the priest’s household, but she may return and partake of sacred food if she is widowed or divorced and has no child. A widow with children is supported by the dead husband’s family. A person who mistakenly eats sacred food is to make restitution according to the requirements of the guilt offering given in 5:14-19. The passage concludes with the admonition for the priests not to permit the desecration of the sacred food (vv.15-16).