The Priests’ Duties and Privileges

15 “But the Levitical priests descended from Zadok,(A) who kept charge of My sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from Me, will approach Me to serve Me. They will stand before Me to offer Me fat and blood.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. 16 “They are the ones who may enter My sanctuary(B) and draw near to My table to serve Me.(C) They will keep My mandate. 17 When they enter the gates of the inner court they must wear linen garments;(D) they must not have on them anything made of wool when they minister at the gates of the inner court and within it. 18 They must wear linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments around their waists.(E) They are not to put on anything that makes them sweat. 19 Before they go out to the outer court,[a] to the people, they must take off the clothes they have been ministering in, leave them in the holy chambers, and dress in other clothes(F) so that they do not transmit holiness to the people through their clothes.(G)

20 “They may not shave their heads(H) or let their hair grow long,(I) but must carefully trim their hair. 21 No priest may drink wine before he enters the inner court.(J) 22 He is not to marry a widow or a divorced woman, but must marry a virgin from the offspring of the house of Israel,(K) or a widow who is the widow of a priest. 23 They must teach My people the difference between the holy and the common, and explain to them the difference between the clean and the unclean.(L)

24 “In a dispute, they will officiate as judges and decide the case according to My ordinances.(M) They must observe My laws and statutes regarding all My appointed festivals, and keep My Sabbaths holy.(N) 25 A priest may not come near a dead person so that he becomes defiled.(O) However, he may defile himself for a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a brother, or an unmarried sister. 26 After he is cleansed, he is to count off seven days for himself.(P) 27 On the day he goes into the sanctuary, into the inner court(Q) to minister in the sanctuary, he must present his sin offering.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.

28 “This will be their inheritance: I am their inheritance.(R) You are to give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession. 29 They will eat the grain offering, the sin offering,(S) and the restitution offering. Everything in Israel that is permanently dedicated to the Lord will belong to them.(T) 30 The best of all the firstfruits of every kind and contribution of every kind from all your gifts will belong to the priests.(U) You are to give your first batch of dough to the priest(V) so that a blessing may rest on your homes.(W) 31 The priests may not eat any bird or animal that died naturally or was mauled by wild beasts.(X)

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 44:19 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss read court, to the outer court

15 As for the priests of the levitical family of Zadok who did keep charge of my sanctuary when the Israelites strayed away from me, they will draw near to me to serve me. They will stand in my presence to present fat and blood to me. This is what the Lord God says. 16 They will come into my sanctuary, and they will approach my table to minister to me. They will keep my charge. 17 When they come through the gates to the inner courtyard, they will wear linen garments. They won’t wear any wool when they minister at the gates of the inner courtyard or in the temple. 18 They will have linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments around their waists. They won’t wear anything that makes them sweat. 19 When they go out to the outer courtyard to the people, they will remove the garments in which they were ministering. They will lay them aside in the holy chambers and wear other clothing. They must not transfer holiness to the people through their clothing. 20 They must neither shave their heads nor let their hair grow long, but they will trim the hair on their heads. 21 None of the priests should drink wine when they come into the inner courtyard. 22 They must not marry widows or divorced women, but only Israelite virgins. Priests may, however, marry the widows of other priests. 23 They must teach my people the difference between the holy and the ordinary, and show them the difference between clean and unclean. 24 They must execute judgments according to my case laws in cases of civil conflict. They must observe my instructions and my regulations regarding all my festivals. They must keep my sabbaths holy. 25 In order to avoid uncleanness, they must not approach the dead. They may, however, become unclean for their father or mother, son or daughter, brother or unmarried sister. 26 Once the priest is clean again, he must count off seven days. 27 On the day that he comes into the holy place, the inner courtyard, to minister in the holy place, he will present his purification offering. This is what the Lord God says. 28 As for their inheritance, I am their inheritance. They won’t be given family property in Israel; I am their family property. 29 They will eat the grain offerings, the purification offerings, and the compensation offerings. Every dedicated thing in Israel belongs to them. 30 The best of the early produce of every kind, and every contribution, all of them, belong to the priests. You will give the best of your bread dough to the priest so that a blessing may come to rest on your household. 31 The priests must not eat any bird or animal that dies naturally or is torn apart by prey.

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