Mitzvah —
174
A Kohen must not marry a chalalah
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אִשָּׁ֨ה זֹנָ֤ה וַחֲלָלָה֙ לֹ֣א יִקָּ֔חוּ וְאִשָּׁ֛ה גְּרוּשָׁ֥ה מֵאִישָׁ֖הּ לֹ֣א יִקָּ֑חוּ כִּֽי־קָדֹ֥שׁ ה֖וּא לֵאלֹהָֽיו׃ - פָּרָשַׁת אֱמוֹר
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Leviticus 21:7 - "They shall not marry a woman who is a prostitute or who is desecrated, and they shall not marry a woman who is divorced from her husband for he [the kohen] is holy to his God."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Holiness – קְדוּשָּׁה
A Kohen is forbidden to marry a chalalah, a woman disqualified from priestly lineage.
This mitzvah prohibits a Kohen from marrying a chalalah — a woman who lost her priestly status due to a prohibited union (such as being born from a Kohen’s invalid marriage or herself marrying a Kohen unlawfully). A chalalah represents a desecration of the priestly line, and marriage to her would perpetuate that blemish. This prohibition emphasizes the holiness of the Kohanim, ensuring that their marriages maintain pure lineage and sanctity.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Issurei Bi’ah 19:1): Defines a chalalah as the product of prohibited priestly unions and codifies that no Kohen may marry her.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 270): The root is to safeguard the sanctity of the Kehunah, ensuring its distinct and pure status is preserved.
- Talmud (Yevamot 60b): Explains how a woman becomes a chalalah and why she is disqualified from marriage to any Kohen.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
