1. Leviticus 22:3 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What is the penalty for disobedience?

Leviticus 22:3 (ESV)

3 Say to them, ‘If any one of all your offspring throughout your generations approaches the holy things that the people of Israel dedicate to the LORD, while he has an uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from my presence: I am the LORD.

The priest who breaks this command will be cut off from the presence of God. He is not allowed to serve in the sanctuary. When a normal Israelite is cut off, he is separated from the rest of the people, but the priest is exiled from his service in the tabernacle (see Leviticus 19:8; Leviticus 20:5). Another interpretation is suggested by Ross who points out that the disqualified priest may likely have died.1