The
Prince, The Levites, The Priests
Then
the man brought me back to the Outer Gate of the Sanctuary,
The
one facing east, and it was shut.
2
The Lord said to me,
'This
Gate is to remain shut.
It
must not be opened; No one may enter through it.
IT
IS TO REMAIN SHUT
BECAUSE
THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, HAS ENTERED THROUGH IT.
3
The Prince Himself is the only one who may sit inside the Gateway
To
eat in the Presence of the Lord.
He
is to enter by way of the Portico of the Gateway
And
go out the same way.'
4
Then the man brought me by way of the north Gate
To
the Front of the Temple.
I
looked and saw the Glory of the Lord filling the Temple of the Lord,
AND
I FELL FACEDOWN.
5
The Lord said to me,
'Son
of man, look carefully, listen closely
And
give attention to everything I tell you
Concerning
all the Regulations regarding the Temple of the Lord.
Give
attention to the Entrance to the Temple
And
all the exits of the Sanctuary.
6
Say to the Rebellious House of Israel,
'THIS
IS WHAT THE SOVEREIGN LORD SAYS:
ENOUGH
OF YOUR DETESTABLE PRACTICES, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL
7
IN ADDITION TO ALL YOUR OTHER DETESTABLE PRACTICES,
YOU
BROUGHT FOREIGNERS
UNCIRCUMCISED
IN THE HEART AND FLESH INTO MY SANCTUARY,
DESECRATING
MY TEMPLE
WHILE
YOU OFFERED ME FOOD, FAT AND BLOOD,
AND
YOU BROKE MY COVENANT.
8
Instead of carrying out your Duty in regard to My Holy things,
You
put others in charge of My Sanctuary.
9
THIS IS WHAT THE SOVEREIGN LORD SAYS:
NO
FOREIGNER UNCIRCUMCISED IN HEART AND FLESH
IS
TO ENTER MY SANCTUARY,
NOT
EVEN THE FOREIGNERS WHO LIVE AMONG THE ISRAELITES.
10
'The Levites who went far from Me when Israel went Astray
And
Wandered from Me after their Idols
MUST
BEAR THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR SIN.
11
They may serve in My Sanctuary,
Having
charge of the Gates of the Temple and serving in it;
They
may slaughter the Burnt Offerings and Sacrifices
For
the people and serve them.
12
BUT BECAUSE THEY SERVED THEM IN THE PRESENCE OF THEIR IDOLS
AND
MADE THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL FALL INTO SIN,
THEREFORE
I HAVE SWORN WITH UPLIFTED HAND
THAT
THEY MUST BEAR THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR SIN,
DECLARES
THE SOVEREIGN LORD.
13
They are not to come near to serve Me as Priests
Or
come near any of My Holy Things
Or
My Most Holy Offerings;
THEY
MUST BEAR THE SHAME OF THEIR DETESTABLE PRACTICES.
14
Yet I will put them in charge of the duties of the Temple
And
all the work that is to be done in it.
15
'But the Priests, who are Levites and Descendants of Zadok
And
who Faithfully carried out the Duties of My Sanctuary
When
the Israelites went Astray from Me,
Are
to come near to Minister before Me;
To
offer Sacrifices of fat and blood, declares the Sovereign Lord.
16
THEY ALONE ARE TO ENTER MY SANCTUARY;
THEY
ALONE ARE TO COME NEAR MY TABLE
TO
MINISTER BEFORE ME
AND
PERFORM MY SERVICE.
17
'When they enter the Gates of the Inner Court;
They
are to wear linen clothes;
They
Must Not wear any woolen garment
While
ministering at the Gates of the Inner Court or inside the Temple.
18
They are to wear linen turbans on their heads
And
linen undergarments around their waists.
They
Must Not Wear anything that makes them perspire.
19
When they go out into the Outer Court where the people are,
They
are to Take Off the clothes they have been Ministering in
And
are to leave them in the Sacred Rooms,
And
put on other clothes,
So
that they do not Consecrate the people
By
means of their Garments.
20
'They Must Not Shave their heads
Or
let their hair grow long,
But
they are to keep the hair of their heads trimmed.
21
No Priest is to drink wine when he enters the Inner Court.
22
They Must Not marry widows or divorced women;
They
may marry only Virgins of Israelite descent or widows of Priests.
23
THEY ARE TO TEACH MY PEOPLE THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN
THE HOLY AND THE COMMON
AND
SHOW THEM HOW TO DISTINGUISH
BETWEEN
THE UNCLEAN AND THE CLEAN.
24
'In any dispute, the Priests are to serve as Judges
And
decide it according to My Ordinances.
They
are to Keep My Laws and My Decrees
For
all My appointed Feasts,
And
they are to Keep My Sabbaths Holy.
25
'A Priest Must Not Defile himself by going near a dead person;
However,
if the dead person was his father or mother,
Son
or daughter, brother or unmarried sister,
Then
he may Defile himself.
26
After he is cleansed, he must wait seven days.
27
On the day he goes into the Inner Court of the Sanctuary
To
Minister in the Sanctuary,
He
is of offer a Sin Offering for himself,
Declares
the Sovereign Lord.
28
'I AM THE ONLY INHERITANCE THE PRIEST HAVE.
YOU
ARE TO GIVE THEM NO POSSESSION IN ISRAEL;
I
WILL BE THEIR POSSESSION.
29 They
will eat the Grain Offerings, the Sin Offerings
And
the Guilt Offerings;
And
everything in Israel Devoted to the Lord will belong to them.
30
THE BEST OF ALL THE FIRSTFRUITS
AND
OF ALL YOUR SPECIAL GIFTS WILL BELONG TO THE PRIESTS.
You
are to give them the First Portion of your ground meal
So
that a blessing may rest on your household.
31
The Priests Must Not eat anything, bird or animal,
Found
dead or torn by wild animals.
(Ezekiel
44)
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