1. THE Lord said to Moses, Speak to the priests [exclusive of the high priest], the sons of Aaron, and say to them that none of them shall defile himself for the dead among his people [by touching a corpse or assisting in preparing it for burial],
2. Except for his near [blood] kin, for his mother, father, son, daughter, brother,
3. And for his sister, a virgin, who is near to him because she has had no husband; for her he may be defiled.
4. He shall not even defile himself, being a [bereaved] husband [his wife not being his blood kin] or being a chief man among his people, and so profane himself.
5. The priests [like the other Israelite men] shall not shave the crown of their heads or clip off the corners of their beard or make any cuttings in their flesh.