Yehezkiel 44:19-24

44:19 When they go out to the outer court to the people, they must remove the garments they were ministering in, and place them in the holy chambers; they must put on other garments so that they will not transmit holiness to the people with their garments. ¹ 

44:20 “‘They must not shave their heads ²  nor let their hair grow long; ³  they must only trim their heads. 44:21 No priest may drink wine when he enters the inner court. 44:22 They must not marry a widow or a divorcee, but they may marry a virgin from the house of Israel ⁴  or a widow who is a priest’s widow. 44:23 Moreover, they will teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and show them how to distinguish between the ceremonially unclean and the clean. ⁵ 

44:24 “‘In a controversy they will act as judges; ⁶  they will judge according to my ordinances. They will keep my laws and my statutes regarding all my appointed festivals and will observe ⁷  my Sabbaths.

[44:19]  ¹ sn For a similar concept of the transmitting of holiness, see Exod 19:12-14; Lev 10:1-2; 2 Sam 6:7. Similar laws concerning the priest are found in Lev 10 and 21.

[44:20]  ² sn The shaving of the head was associated with mourning (Ezek 7:18).

[44:20]  ³ sn Letting the hair grow was associated with the taking of a vow (Num 6:5; Acts 21:23-26).

[44:22]  ⁴ tn Heb “from the offspring of the house of Israel.”

[44:23]  ⁵ sn This task was a fundamental role of the priest (Lev 10:10).

[44:24]  ⁶ sn For a historical illustration of the priest carrying out this function, see 2 Chr 19:9-11.

[44:24]  ⁷ tn Heb “sanctify, set apart.”