272. Higher Standard: The obligation for the Kohein Gadol to marry a virgin

A regular kohein can marry a non-virgin – a widow or even a woman who had pre-marital relations, so long as it wasn’t with a disqualifying individual. Not so the Kohein Gadol (High Priest); he could only marry a virgin.

Please note that this mitzvah is positive in nature. It’s not that he is prohibited from marrying a non-virgin; he is specifically obligated to marry a virgin. (There is a prohibition against the Kohein Gadol marrying a widow, as we shall see in the next mitzvah.)

The reason is as we have stated: the Kohein Gadol must maintain a level of personal sanctity even greater than that of the rank-and-file kohanim. Accordingly, he must refrain from certain things that are otherwise permitted.

Also, having a wife with a “clean slate” is one less thing for the Kohein Gadol to worry about. Since he won’t preoccupy himself with worry that she’s comparing him to another man, he’ll have a clearer head to do his job.

The Kohein Gadol was only permitted to have one wife, since this mitzvah obligates him to marry “a woman” – singular (see Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Issurei Bi’ah 17:13). If the Kohein Gadol were to marry someone prohibited to him, he must divorce her. If a regular kohein married a widow and was then appointed Kohein Gadol, he need not divorce his wife (Talmud Yevamos 61a).

This mitzvah applies when there is a Temple and a Kohein Gadol. It is discussed in the Talmud in tractate Yevamos on pages 59a-61a. It is codified in the Mishneh Torah in the seventeenth chapter of Hilchos Issurei Bi’ah. This mitzvah is #38 of the 248 positive mitzvos in the Rambam’s Sefer HaMitzvos.