While
Aaron and his sons, the first priests, undergo a consecration ceremony to
become holy (See Exod 28-29; Lev 8), there is no mention of future generations
of priests having to undergo such a rite. This indicates that priests are born
holy. Further evidence of the inborn holiness of priests is found in the guidelines
concerning those with physical defects (Lev 21:16-23). While they are still
apparently considered holy, since they can partake of the most holy offerings.
(See Lev 21:16-23) This inheritance of holiness through the priestly line distinguishes
priests from others who acquire holiness, such as the one who takes a temporary
Nazarite vow or the lay person who acquires holiness through following the
commandments. (Hilary Lipka “Profaning the Body: חלל and the Conception of Loss
of Personal Holiness,” in Bodies, Embodiment, and the Theology of the Hebrew
Bible, ed. S. Tamar Kamionkowski and Wonil Kim [Library of Hebrew Bible/Old
Testament Studies 465; London: T&T Clark, 2010], 97)
Each
new high priest must undergo consecration (see Exod 29:7, 29; Lev 6:13-15;
8:12; 16:32; 21:10, 12), but there is no mention of consecration of regular
priests after the initial consecration of Aaron’s sons. Apparently, that initial
rite undergone by Aaron’s sons suffices for all future generations of priests. (Ibid.,
97 n. 25)
