He shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 4. Prince. Hebrew “Let not the prince (of the priests, Acts 23:5,) render himself unclean,” by attending the funerals of any of the people; or “let not the husband,” and so forth He may be allowed to attend his wife to the grave: or, as others more probably assert, even this is not permitted. She is not one of the persons privileged, verse 2, and Ezechiel 44:25. Ezechiel (24:16,) receives a command not to bewail the death of his wife. The Romans thought their priests would be defiled, by attending the funerals even of their own wives; and Sylla, going to dedicate a temple to Hercules, sent Metella a bill of divorce, and ordered her to be removed from his house, when she was just expiring. Plutarch.