Of princes and priests. But mostly priests. And then their clothes might righteously contaminate?
The time for restoration had come. Israel was to return to their home after 70 years in captivity as a people in Babylon. That’s a long time. Their kids had no memories of “home” and probably didn’t want to leave familiar Babylon.
But now it was a new season. The glory of the Lord had initially left Israel through the east gate and returned that way. But now that gate was to be closed. I’m guessing to say that the LORD is firmly back within Israel’s presence.
The prince would sit in the gateway to eat before the Lord, but he must enter by way of the portico of the gate. And the places of the princes dwelling would be near the people. No longer would he be separate from them and an abuser of them.
But those priests. Those Levites. So many of them caved and compromised. They fudged on the Lord’s commands allowing more and more watering down of God’s laws. To the point that they began to accept detestable pratices. In. The. Temple.
God says that those who did such things will remain as Levites. But because of the severity of what they did, they would basically do grunt work. They could do the jobs that were not favorable.
But the sons of Zadok who held on to God’s ways and practices will be honored. They will get the special and privileged duties alloted to the priests. They will serve in the holy places because they remained holy, set apart from the world.
Just when you think this book of Ezekiel is done with surprises, then you read this:
“Before they go out to the outer court, to the people, they must take off the clothes they have been ministering in, leave them in the holy chambers, and dress in other clothes so that they do not transmit holiness to the people through their clothes” (v. 19).
Wait…what?
They could transmit holiness through their clothes as the glory of God was so much upon them even their clothes were affected?
Wow. That’s crazy. That’s some glory.
And then, why would you not want others to get holiness in this way? Perhaps because they had not repented and cleansed themselves for their sins. Perhaps because it would be wrong to impart holiness where there is not repentance. Because even Jesus said repentance was the foundation of the kingdom of God.
Then there was another duty of the priests I had forgotten about–civil judges. The priests helped officiate among the people when there were disputes.
After all their work, their set apartness to the LORD, they were to get no inheritance. Not lands or finances. Instead they would get something better. Their inheritance was the LORD. In addition they were to be supplied by the people with the very best of the land – fruits, grains and meats. Although that latter part didn’t always work out even as it is limited now.
What does it mean that the Lord is their inheritance?
I don’t think any of us can fully know. Maybe a special blessings in heaven? Maybe it was what they were provided with by the people?
