“‘But the Levites,
Who went far from me,
Going astray
From me
After their idols,
When Israel went astray,
Shall bear
Their punishment.
They shall be ministers
In my sanctuary,
Having oversight
At the gates
Of the temple.
They shall serve
In the temple.
They shall slaughter
The burnt offerings.
They shall slaughter
The sacrifices
For the people.
They shall attend
On them.
They shall serve them.
Because they ministered
To them
Before their idols,
They made
The house of Israel
Stumble into iniquity.
Therefore,
I have sworn concerning them.
They shall bear their punishment.’
Says Yahweh God!”
In a diatribe against the Levitical priests who had served idols in the high places, Yahweh was upset. However, his punishment was merely lowly menial tasks in the Temple, not a drastic death sentence. These Levites had sinned because they had led Israel astray with their idol worshipping. They made Israel stumble into iniquity. Thus, they were to be punished. They would only have oversight at the gates to the Temple, not in the sanctuary. They also would slaughter the burnt offerings and other sacrifices. They would continue to minister to Yahweh and his people, but only in the more pedestrian roles. This seems like a mild form of punishment for idol worship and leading the Israelites astray.