¹⁰“ ‘Some Levites went far away from me when Israel wandered off to follow their idols. They must be punished for their sins. ¹¹They could have served in my holy place. They could have guarded the gates of the temple. They could have served in the temple by slaughtering the animals for the burnt offerings and the sacrifices for the people. They could have stood in front of the people and served them. ¹²But they served the people by standing in front of their idols and by making Israel fall into sin. So I raised my hand and swore that they would be punished for their sins, declares the Lord. ¹³They must not come near me and serve me as priests. They must not come near any of my holy things or my most holy things. They must suffer disgrace because of the disgusting things that they have done. ¹⁴I will assign them all of the less important work in the temple.

¹⁵“ ‘But the priests who are Levites and descendants of Zadok took care of my holy place when the Israelites wandered away from me. They may come near me and serve me, and they may stand in my presence. They may bring fat and blood to me, declares the Almighty Lord. ¹⁶They may enter my holy place, come near my table to serve me, and take care of everything I gave them.

Read in Logos