C. The New Priesthood (44:1-31)

Further instructions regarding the temple include the command that the eastern gate would not be opened again since God’s glory had entered through it and would never leave it again. As Ezekiel followed the man, the divine angel-guide, around to the north gate of the temple, he saw God’s glory filling the temple. At this, he fell on his face before the holiness of God (v.4). This reemphasis of the awesome holiness of God led to further divine instructions for the preservation of the holiness of the temple. No longer would it be possible for non-Levites to enter the temple even to do required maintenance work. This work was to be done by Levites who were descendants of those Levites who had sinned against God in earlier times (v.10). Only those Levites who were the descendants of Zadok, who had been faithful to God (vv.15-16), would be allowed to officiate at the temple. All that such priests were and did was to validate their holiness and thus the holiness of God. The term holiness (Heb. qodeš) means “to be set apart for a special function.” Since priests were set apart by and for God, they were to be morally pure as God is.