Yehezkiel 44:16-24
Konteks44:16 They will enter my sanctuary, and approach my table to minister to me; they will keep my charge.
44:17 “‘When they enter the gates of the inner court, they must wear linen garments; they must not have any wool on them when they minister in the inner gates of the court and in the temple. 44:18 Linen turbans will be on their heads and linen undergarments will be around their waists; they must not bind themselves with anything that causes sweat. 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.