the Levitical priests

July 24, 2017

The Levitical priests (Ezek 48:13-48:14)

“Alongside the territory

Of the priests,

The Levites shall have

An allotment.

It shall be

Twenty-five thousand cubits

In length,

Ten thousand cubits

In width.

The whole length

Shall be

Twenty-five thousand cubits.

The whole width

Shall be

Twenty thousand cubits.

They shall not sell

Any of it.

They shall not exchange

Any of it.

They shall not transfer

This choice portion

Of the land.

It is holy

To Yahweh.”

Just like in chapter 44, Ezekiel separated the Levites from the priests of Zadok, yet they had an equal amount of living quarters. The Levites would have the opposite side of the sanctuary, next to the descendants of Zadok, with the same size of a portion, 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide. Thus, the whole holy portion with the living quarters for the priests and the Levites would be 25,000 by 20,000 cubits, including the sanctuary portion also. These priests and Levites were not allowed to sell, exchange, or transfer any of this choice portion of the land, because it was the holy land of Yahweh.

July 12, 2017

The punishment for the idol loving Levite ministers (Ezek 44:10-44:12)

“‘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.

September 5, 2016

The accusation at trial (Isa 43:25-43:28)

“I!

I am he!

I blot out your transgressions

For my own sake.

I will not remember your sins.

Accuse me!

Let us go to trial!

Set forth your case!

Thus you may be proven right.

Your first ancestor sinned.

Your interpreters transgressed against me.

Therefore I profaned

The princes of the sanctuary.

I delivered Jacob to utter destruction.

I delivered Israel to reviling.”

Second Isaiah has Yahweh continue with this first person singular diatribe against the Israelites. He wanted to put them on trial to see if they were innocent. He intended to blot out and forget their transgressions and sins. However, he expected them to present their case. Instead, he presented his case. Their first ancestor, perhaps Jacob in Genesis, chapter 27, sinned. Since then the interpreters or intermediaries have transgressed against God. Perhaps this is an allusion to the prophets or the kings. Then he talked about the sanctuary being profaned, which would be the Levitical priests in the Temple. As a result of this, he delivered Jacob and Israel to utter abusive destruction.

June 21, 2016

A blessing (Sir 45:26-45:26)

“Bless the Lord!

He has crowned you

With glory.

May the Lord

Grant you wisdom

Of mind!

May you judge his people

With justice!

Thus their prosperity

May not vanish.

Thus their glory

May endure

Throughout all their generations.”

Sirach has this blessing at the end of this long section on Aaron and the Levitical priests. You should bless the Lord because he has crowned you with glory. Then the Lord may grant you wisdom to judge with justice. Thus your prosperity may have a glorious future throughout all generations to come.