Immerse: Prophets - Flipbook - Page 401
44:8-24
E ze k iel
389
Instead of safeguarding my sacred rituals, you have hired foreigners to take
charge of my sanctuary.
“So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: No foreigners, including those
who live among the people of Israel, will enter my sanctuary if they have
not been circumcised and have not surrendered themselves to the Lord.
And the men of the tribe of Levi who abandoned me when Israel strayed
away from me to worship idols must bear the consequences of their un
faithfulness. They may still be Temple guards and gatekeepers, and they
may slaughter the animals brought for burnt offerings and be present to
help the people. But they encouraged my people to worship idols, causing
Israel to fall into deep sin. So I have taken a solemn oath that they must
bear the consequences for their sins, says the Sovereign Lord. They may
not approach me to minister as priests. They may not touch any of my holy
things or the holy offerings, for they must bear the shame of all the detest
able sins they have committed. They are to serve as the Temple caretakers,
taking charge of the maintenance work and performing general duties.
“However, the Levitic al priests of the family of Zadok continued to min
ister faithfully in the Temple when Israel abandoned me for idols. These
men will serve as my ministers. They will stand in my presence and offer
the fat and blood of the sacrifices, says the Sovereign Lord. They alone
will enter my sanctuary and approach my table to serve me. They will
fulfill all my requirements.
“When they enter the gateway to the inner courtyard, they must wear
only linen clothing. They must wear no wool while on duty in the inner
courtyard or in the Temple itself. They must wear linen turbans and linen
undergarments. They must not wear anything that would cause them to
perspire. When they return to the outer courtyard where the people are,
they must take off the clothes they wear while ministering to me. They
must leave them in the sacred rooms and put on other clothes so they
do not endanger anyone by transmitting holiness to them through this
clothing.
“They must neither shave their heads nor let their hair grow too long.
Instead, they must trim it regularly. The priests must not drink wine be
fore entering the inner courtyard. They may choose their wives only from
among the virgins of Israel or the widows of the priests. They may not
marry other widows or divorced women. They will teach my people the
difference between what is holy and what is common, what is ceremoni
ally clean and unclean.
“They will serve as judges to resolve any disagreements among my
people. Their decisions must be based on my regulations. And the priests
themselves must obey my instructions and decrees at all the sacred festi
vals, and see to it that the Sabbaths are set apart as holy days.
