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)

⁶ But some of them could not celebrate the Passover on that day because they were ceremonially unclean^(A) on account of a dead body.^(B) So they came to Moses and Aaron^(C) that same day ⁷ and said to Moses, “We have become unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be kept from presenting the Lord’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?^(D)”

⁸ Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.”^(E)

⁹ Then the Lord said to Moses, ¹⁰ “Tell the Israelites: ‘When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body^(F) or are away on a journey, they are still to celebrate^(G) the Lord’s Passover,

¹¹ “Whoever touches a human corpse^(A) will be unclean for seven days.^(B)