1 Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it [was] shut.
2 Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut.
3 [It is] for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of [that] gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.
4 Then brought he me the way of the north gate before the house: and I looked, and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD: and I fell upon my face.
5 And the LORD said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary.
6 And thou shalt say to the rebellious, [even] to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations,
7 In that ye have brought [into my sanctuary] strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, [even] my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations.
8 And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.
9 Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that [is] among the children of Israel.
10 And the Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity.
11 Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, [having] charge at the gates of the house, and ministering to the house: they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister unto them.
12 Because they ministered unto them before their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity; therefore have I lifted up mine hand against them, saith the Lord GOD, and they shall bear their iniquity.
13 And they shall not come near unto me, to do the office of a priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, in the most holy [place]: but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed.
14 But I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all the service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein.
15 But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:
16 They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.
17 And it shall come to pass, [that] when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.
18 They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird [themselves] with any thing that causeth sweat.
19 And when they go forth into the utter court, [even] into the utter court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the holy chambers, and they shall put on other garments; and they shall not sanctify the people with their garments.
20 Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only poll their heads.
21 Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.
22 Neither shall they take for their wives a widow, nor her that is put away: but they shall take maidens of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that had a priest before.
23 And they shall teach my people [the difference] between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
24 And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; [and] they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.
25 And they shall come at no dead person to defile themselves: but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile themselves.
26 And after he is cleansed, they shall reckon unto him seven days.
27 And in the day that he goeth into the sanctuary, unto the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he shall offer his sin offering, saith the Lord GOD.
28 And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I [am] their inheritance: and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I [am] their possession.
29 They shall eat the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; and every dedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs.
30 And the first of all the firstfruits of all [things], and every oblation of all, of every [sort] of your oblations, shall be the priest’s: ye shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house.
31 The priests shall not eat of any thing that is dead of itself, or torn, whether it be fowl or beast.
Overview of Ezekiel Chapter 44
Ezekiel Chapter 44 presents a vision of the future temple and the regulations concerning the priesthood. This chapter emphasizes the holiness of the temple, the responsibilities of the priests, and the importance of adhering to God’s commands. It serves as a critical reminder of the sacredness of worship and the need for purity among those who serve in the temple.
Key Themes
- Holiness of the Temple: The chapter underscores the sanctity of the temple and the necessity for those who enter to maintain a state of holiness.
- Regulations for the Priests: Specific guidelines are provided for the Levitical priests, detailing their roles, responsibilities, and the standards they must uphold.
- Separation from Defilement: The chapter highlights the importance of separation from practices that defile the worship of God.
- Restoration of Worship: It indicates a future restoration of proper worship practices within the community of Israel.
Detailed Analysis
1. The Vision of the Temple Gates (Verses 1-3)
The chapter opens with a description of the temple gates, which are to be shut and remain closed. This signifies the exclusive access to the temple, reserved for the prince and the Lord. The prince is allowed to enter through the gate, emphasizing his role as a leader who must adhere to the holiness of the temple.
2. The Role of the Priests (Verses 4-14)
- Identification of the Sons of Zadok: The chapter distinguishes the sons of Zadok as the faithful priests who remained loyal to God during times of apostasy. Their faithfulness is rewarded with the privilege of ministering before God.
- Responsibilities of the Priests: The priests are tasked with performing sacrifices, maintaining the temple, and teaching the people the difference between the holy and the profane. This highlights their educational role in guiding the community in proper worship.
- Restrictions on the Priests: The chapter outlines prohibitions for the priests, including the avoidance of certain forms of defilement and the necessity to maintain purity in their personal lives. This reinforces the idea that those serving God must be exemplary in conduct.
3. The Importance of Purity (Verses 15-27)
The text emphasizes the need for purity among the priests, including regulations concerning mourning, dietary restrictions, and the handling of sacred offerings. These rules serve to maintain the sanctity of the temple and ensure that the worship practices are not tainted by impurity.
4. The Inheritance of the Priests (Verses 28-31)
The chapter concludes with a discussion of the inheritance of the priests, indicating that they will not receive land as their portion, but rather their sustenance will come from the offerings made to God. This reinforces their role as mediators between God and the people and emphasizes their dependence on God for provision.
Conclusion
Ezekiel Chapter 44 serves as a profound reminder of the holiness required in worship and the critical role of the priests in leading the people of Israel. It calls for a return to purity and faithfulness in worship practices, ensuring that the community remains aligned with God’s commands. The chapter not only provides specific regulations but also sets a tone of reverence and respect for the sacredness of the temple and the worship of God.
