4,036. A Non-Kohein Who Performs the Service

Hilchos Bias HaMikdash 8:17

We see that there are a total of 140 blemishes that disqualify kohanim: eight of the head, two of the neck, nine of the ears, five of the eyebrows, seven of the eyelids, nineteen of the eyes, nine of the nose, nine of the mouth, three of the abdomen, three of the back, seven of the hands, sixteen of the genitals, twenty of the legs, eight of the whole body, eight of the skin, and seven regarding the body’s strength and aroma. These have all been enumerated. The following disqualify a kohein because they give others a negative impression: (1) loss of the eyelashes even if the roots remain; (2) one whose teeth have been extracted.

Hilchos Bias HaMikdash 9:1

If a non-kohein performs the Temple service, his service is invalid and he is subject to a Divine death penalty, as per Numbers 18:7: “A stranger who draws near will die.” Our oral tradition teaches that one is only liable if he draws near to perform the service. The warning is “A stranger shall not draw near to you” (v. 18:4), a “stranger” being one who is not a male descendant of Aaron. Leviticus 1:8 teaches that “The sons of Aaron shall arrange” – “the sons of Aaron,” even to the exclusion of the daughters of Aaron.