Ezekiel 44

Continuation of the Vision of the Temple

1-3 The Closed Gate

1 The man brings Ezekiel to the outer gate that faces east, which is shut.

2-3 It shall remain shut, because it is the LORD’s entrance, although the prince may sit in the gate to eat, entering and exiting through the vestibule.

4-14 Admission to the Temple

4 He brings Ezekiel to the north gate, and Ezekiel sees that the glory of the LORD has filled the temple, and he falls on his face.

5-8 God tells him to look and listen well: No one who is a foreigner is to enter the temple; they profane it.

9-14 The Levites who have gone astray, pursuing their idols instead of me, shall serve in the sanctuary, overseeing the gates, slaughtering and serving burnt offerings, but they will not serve as priests, only take care of the temple.

15-31 The Levitical Priests

15-16 Only the descendants of Zadok the priest can offer the fat and the blood or enter the sanctuary, for they were faithful when others when astray.

17-27 Instructions regarding the levitical priests:

• Linen, not wool, apparel, which shall remain in the inner court.
• No shaving of their heads or letting their locks grow long, only trimming
• No wine
• Can marry only a virgin, not a divorced or widowed woman
• Will teach the people the difference between the holy and the common, clean and unclean
• Will act as judges in controversies
• Will follow my laws regarding festivals and sabbaths
• Shall not defile themselves by going near a dead person unless it is a parent, child, brother or unmarried sister. Then they must cleanse themselves, wait 7 days and then offer a sin offering before serving again. A married sister is apparently thought of as a member of another family and therefore not his responsibility.

28-31 I am their inheritance. They shall own no land, eat the grain, sin and guilt offerings, all devoted things, receive the first fruits of all things. They shall not eat anything that died of itself or was torn by animals.