613 Mitzvot

 

Kohanim and Levites

372. That the Cohanim shall put on priestly vestments for the service (Ex. 28:2) (affirmative)
373. Not to tear the High Cohen's robe (Ex. 28:32) (negative)
374. That the Cohen shall not enter the Sanctuary at all times (i.e., at times when he is not performing service) (Lev. 16:2) (negative)
375. That the ordinary Cohen shall not defile himself by contact with any dead, other than immediate relatives (Lev. 21:1-3)
376. That the Cohanim defile themselves for their deceased relatives (by attending their burial), and mourn for them like other Israelites, who are commanded to mourn for their relatives (Lev. 21:3)
377. That a Cohen who had an immersion during the day (to cleanse him from his uncleanness) shall not serve in the Sanctuary until after sunset (Lev. 21:6) (negative)
378. That a Cohen shall not marry a divorced woman (Lev. 21:7)
379. That a Cohen shall not marry a harlot (Lev. 21:7)
380. That a Cohen shall not marry a profaned woman (Lev. 21:7)
381. To show honor to a Cohen, and to give him precedence in all things that are holy (Lev. 21:8)
382. That a High Cohen shall not defile himself with any dead, even if they are relatives (Lev. 21:11) (negative)
383. That a High Cohen shall not go (under the same roof) with a dead body (Lev. 21:11) It has been learnt by tradition that a Cohen, who does so, violates the prohibition, "Neither shall he go in ", and also the prohibition "He shall not defile himself" (negative)
384. That the High Cohen shall marry a virgin (Lev. 21:13) (affirmative)
385. That the High Cohen shall not marry a widow (Lev. 21:14) (negative)
386. That the High Cohen shall not cohabit with a widow, even without marriage, because he profanes her (Lev. 21:15) (negative)
387. That a person with a physical blemish shall not serve (in the Sanctuary) (Lev. 21:17) (negative).
388. That a Cohen with a temporary blemish shall not serve there (Lev. 21:21) (negative)
389. That a person with a physical blemish shall not enter the Sanctuary further than the altar (Lev. 21:23) (negative).
390. That a Cohen who is unclean shall not serve (in the Sanctuary) (Lev. 22:2-3) (negative)
391. To send the unclean out of the Camp of the Shechinah, that is, out of the Sanctuary (Num. 5:2) (affirmative).
392. That a Cohen who is unclean shall not enter the courtyard (Num. 5:2-3) This refers to the Camp of the Shechinah (negative)
393. That the Cohanim shall bless Israel (Num. 6:23)
394. To set apart a portion of the dough for the Cohen (Num. 15:20)
395. That the Levites shall not occupy themselves with the service that belongs to the Cohanim, nor the Cohanim with that belonging to the Levites (Num. 18:3) (negative)
396. That one not a descendant of Aaron in the male line shall not serve (in the Sanctuary) (Num. 18:4-7) (negative).
397. That the Levite shall serve in the Sanctuary (Num. 18:23) (affirmative)
398. To give the Levites cities to dwell in, these to serve also as cities of refuge (Num. 35:2) (affirmative)
399. That none of the tribe of Levi shall take any portion of territory in the land (of Israel) (Deut. 18:1) (negative)
400. That none of the tribe of Levi shall take any share of the spoil (at the conquest of the Promised Land) (Deut. 18:1) (negative)
401. That the Cohanim shall serve in the Sanctuary in divisions, but on festivals, they all serve together (Deut. 18:6-8) (affirmative)