Ezekiel 40:46

46 while the room that faces north is for the priests who serve at the altar. This second group of priests are descendants of Zadok, the only descendants of Levi who can come near the Lord to serve him."

Ezekiel 40:46 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 40:46

And the chamber whose prospect is towards the north
The row of chambers on the side of the east gate; that side of it that was towards the north, and which the chambers in it faced: is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar;
the ministers of the Gospel, that take care of the altar, of public worship; that preach the Gospel, and administer ordinances; and who are to be taken care of themselves, and live of the Gospel, and have everything provided for them that is necessary, ( 1 Corinthians 9:13 1 Corinthians 9:14 ) : these are the sons of Zadok, among the sons of Levi;
these Levites, or priests, were of the family of Zadok; who descended from Aaron, and was the eldest house of Aaron, to whom the priesthood belonged; though it had been usurped a long time by the family of Ithamar; but, in Solomon's time, Abiathar, of that family, was dispossessed of it, and Zadok was placed in his stead, whose name signifies "just", or righteous; and was a type of Christ, the holy and just One, whose spiritual children and offspring are here meant: which come near to the Lord to minister unto him;
both preachers and people, who have near access to God through Christ, and minister before him in holy things, in praying, preaching, administering ordinances, and attending on the same.

Ezekiel 40:46 In-Context

44 There were two rooms in the inner courtyard. One was beside the north gateway and faced south. The other room was beside the south gateway and faced north.

45 The man said to me, "The room which faces south is for the priests who serve in the Temple area,

46 while the room that faces north is for the priests who serve at the altar. This second group of priests are descendants of Zadok, the only descendants of Levi who can come near the Lord to serve him."

47 The man measured the inner courtyard. It was a square -- one hundred seventy-five feet long and one hundred seventy-five feet wide. The altar was in front of the Temple.

48 The man brought me to the porch of the Temple and measured each side wall of the porch. Each was about nine feet thick. The doorway was twenty-four and one-half feet wide. The side walls of the doorway were each about five feet wide.