Ezekiel 44:12

12 {because} they used to serve them {before} their idols and they were for the house of Israel [like] a stumbling block of iniquity. Therefore {I swore} concerning them," {declares} the Lord Yahweh, "[that] they will bear their iniquity.

Ezekiel 44:12 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 44:12

Because they ministered unto them before their idols
Had officiated for them in the priest's office, their idols being in the courts of the Lord at the same time; or preached unto them false doctrines, such as are not agreeable to the word of God; and led them into superstition and will worship, and confirmed them therein: and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity;
or, "were for a stumbling block of iniquity" ^F8; unto them the means of their stumbling and falling; by their ministrations, teaching them unsound doctrine; and by their practices and example, leading them into a way of false worship, and dissoluteness of life and conversation; who ought to have been examples to them in word and conversation, in faith and purity: therefore have I lifted up mine hand against them, saith the Lord;
to smite and afflict them, and chastise them for the same; or, "upon them", or "concerning them" ^F9; and so it may be expressive of an oath, of which lifting up the hand is a sign; wherefore, that what the Lord had said of them might be believed and expected, he swears to it: and they shall bear their iniquity;
which is repeated for the confirmation and certainty of it; see ( Ezekiel 44:10 ) , what is meant by it follows.

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 (Nwe lwvkml) "in offendiculum iniquitatis", Pagninus, Montanus; "offendiculo ad iniquitatem", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "offendiculo pravitatis", Starckius.
F9 (Mhyle) "super eos", Pagninus, Montanus; "super ipsos", Starckius; "super ipsis", Cocceius.

Ezekiel 44:12 In-Context

10 {But} the Levites who removed themselves from me {at the going astray of Israel}, who went astray from me [and went] after their idols, as a result they will bear their guilt.

11 Then they will be in my sanctuary, [those] serving [in] my sanctuary, [as] sentries at the gates of the temple and [as] [those] serving the temple; they will slaughter the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they will stand {before them} to serve them,

12 {because} they used to serve them {before} their idols and they were for the house of Israel [like] a stumbling block of iniquity. Therefore {I swore} concerning them," {declares} the Lord Yahweh, "[that] they will bear their iniquity.

13 And they shall not approach me to serve as [a] priest for me and to come near to all of my holy objects, {to the most holy objects}, and they will bear their disgrace and [the results of] their detestable things they have done.

14 And I will appoint them [as] the keepers of the responsibility of the temple, for all of its work and {everything} which will be done in it.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "because that"
• [b] Literally "to the face of"
• [c] Literally "I raised my hand"
• [d] Literally "declaration of"