Bekhorot 43: From Animal Blemishes to Priestly Blemishes

Blemishes that disqualify kohanim from doing the Temple service -- derived from the verses in Leviticus. There are 3 categories of blemishes -- 1. appear in kohanim and animals; 2. appear in kohanim and not animals. 3. rabbinic disqualifications, especially as "mar'it ayin," in terms of unusual appearances. Including, for example, baldness, where some degree of hair loss is acceptable, but not entirely. Connecting blemishes of a person and those of an animal, even though we often distinguish between humans and animals -- as found in a gezerah shavah from the words in the Torah's verses. Also, why does the Torah provide all of the cases it does? If a blemish is disqualifying, why would listing the details be necessary to begin with? Plus, 2 mishnayot! 1 - Eyebrow blemishes, when it comes to kohanim. 2. Eye placement or eye health blemishes, also when it comes to kohanim.