Ezekiel 44:9–16

⁹“This is what the Lord God says: No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and flesh, may enter My sanctuary, not even a foreigner who is among the Israelites. ¹⁰Surely the Levites who wandered away from Me when Israel went astray, and who strayed from Me after their idols, ^xwill bear the consequences of their sin. ^y11Yet they will occupy My sanctuary, serving as guards at the temple gates ^zand ministering at the temple. They will slaughter the burnt offerings ^aand other sacrifices for the people and will stand before them to serve them. ^b12Because they ministered to the house of Israel before their idols and became a sinful stumbling block to them, therefore I swore an oath ^cagainst them” ^d—this is the declaration of the Lord God—“that they would bear the consequences of their sin. ¹³They must not approach Me to serve Me as priests ^eor come near any of My holy things or the most holy things. They will bear their disgrace and the consequences of the detestable acts they committed. ¹⁴Yet I will make them responsible for the duties of the temple ^f—for all its work and everything done in it.

The Priests’ Duties and Privileges

¹⁵“But the Levitical priests descended from Zadok, ^gwho kept charge of My sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from Me, will approach Me to serve Me. They will stand before Me to offer Me fat and blood.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. ¹⁶“They are the ones who may enter My sanctuary ^hand draw near to My table to serve Me. ⁱThey will keep My mandate.