Reproof of the Levites
Ezekiel is told to address rebellious Israel and announce that the LORD has had enough of their abominations. They had profaned His sanctuary by bringing in foreigners uncircumcised in heart and flesh and by delegating the charge of holy things to others instead of honoring His covenant. The LORD therefore forbids any foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh from entering His sanctuary.
T6ell the rebellious house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I have had enough of all your abominations, O house of Israel. 7In addition to all your other abominations, you brought in foreigners uncircumcised in both heart and flesh to occupy My sanctuary; you defiled My temple when you offered My food— the fat and the blood; you broke My covenant. 8And you have not kept charge of My holy things, but have appointed others to keep charge of My sanctuary for you.’ 9This is what the Lord GOD says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh may enter My sanctuary — not even a foreigner who lives among the Israelites.
The Levites who wandered away with Israel after idols must bear the consequence of their iniquity. They are still assigned work in the sanctuary, including gatekeeping and slaughtering sacrifices for the people, but they are barred from approaching the LORD as priests or handling the most holy things. Their ministry is reduced because they failed in holiness when Israel went astray.
10Surely the Levites who wandered away from Me when Israel went astray, and who wandered away from Me after their idols, will bear the consequences of their iniquity. 11Yet they shall be ministers in My sanctuary, having charge of the gates of the temple and ministering there. They shall slaughter the burnt offerings and other sacrifices for the people and stand before them to minister to them. 12Because they ministered before their idols and became a stumbling block of iniquity to the house of Israel, therefore I swore with an uplifted hand concerning them that they would bear the consequences of their iniquity, declares the Lord GOD. 13They must not approach Me to serve Me as priests or come near any of My holy things or the most holy things. They will bear the shame of the abominations they have committed. 14Yet I will appoint them to keep charge of all the work for the temple and everything to be done in it.