Ezekiel 44:10-14

10 "But the Levites who went far from Me when Israel went astray, who 1went astray from Me after their idols, shall 2bear the punishment for their iniquity.
11 "Yet they shall be 3ministers in My sanctuary, having 4oversight at the gates of the house and 5ministering in the house; they shall 6slaughter the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall 7stand before them to minister to them.
12 "Because * they ministered to them 8before their idols and became a 9stumbling block of iniquity to the house of Israel, therefore * I have 10sworn * against them," declares the Lord GOD, "that they shall 11bear the punishment for their iniquity.
13 "And they shall 12not come near to Me to serve as a priest to Me, nor come near to any of My holy things, to the things that are most holy; but they will 13bear their shame and their abominations which they have committed.
14 "Yet I will appoint them to 14keep charge of the house, of all its service and of all that shall be done in it.

Ezekiel 44:10-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 44

This chapter treats of the eastern gate of the temple being appropriated to the use of the prince, Eze 44:1-3, of the sin of the Lord's people, in admitting strangers and unholy persons into the sanctuary, either to officiate or communicate there, Eze 44:4-9 of the degrading of the Levites, that went astray, assigning them inferior posts and service in the house of God, Eze 44:10-14 and of the establishment of the sons of Zadok in their ministry, who were faithful, Eze 44:15,16, then follow various laws relating to their garments; shaving of their heads; drinking wine; their marriage; performance of their ministerial work; their regard to the dead, and their food and maintenance, Eze 44:17-31.

Cross References 14

  • 1. 2 Kings 23:8, 9; Ezekiel 22:26; Ezekiel 44:12
  • 2. Numbers 18:23
  • 3. Numbers 3:5-37; Numbers 4:1-33; Numbers 18:2-7
  • 4. 1 Chronicles 26:1-19
  • 5. Ezekiel 40:45; Ezekiel 44:14
  • 6. 2 Chronicles 29:34; 2 Chronicles 30:17
  • 7. Numbers 16:9
  • 8. 2 Kings 16:10-16
  • 9. Ezekiel 14:3, 4
  • 10. Ezekiel 20:15, 23
  • 11. Ezekiel 44:10
  • 12. Numbers 18:3
  • 13. Ezekiel 16:61, 63; Ezekiel 39:26
  • 14. Numbers 18:4; 1 Chronicles 23:28-32; Ezekiel 44:11

Footnotes 3

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