And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.
And let the priests who approach the LORD also make themselves holy and clean, or the LORD will suddenly strike out against them.
God is warning that even the priests must purify themselves before coming into His presence, or they risk His judgment.
📚 Historical Context
At this point in the Bible, the Israelites had recently escaped slavery in Egypt and were encamped at Mount Sinai, where God was about to reveal His law and establish a covenant with them. Moses was instructed to warn the people, including the priests, to prepare themselves through rituals of purification because God's holiness demanded separation from sin. This emphasis on sanctification highlighted the serious consequences of approaching God without proper reverence, as seen in the broader context of the theophany at Sinai.
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