The Temple Ministers
Ezekiel
44:24-27
The
priests
will serve
as judges,
and will follow God’s regulations regarding the feasts and
Sabbaths.
Controversy, in the verse
above, means contest, or pleading. The priests and the high priest
are to keep the people holy. The high priest is to judge his people,
and keep them straight.
Also
the priests will avoid ritual defilement, by not going
near a dead person
(cf. Lev. 21:1-4).
Even though death will be uncommon during the Millennium (cf.
Isa. 65:20),
provision was made for those instances when it will occur. An
exception was made for close family members, but the priest will have
to wait
seven days
and then offer
a sin offering
before reentering the temple service.
The priesthood was to be held above defilement. The priest and high
priest were to proclaim life, and not death. The only time it was
permissible for a priest to touch a dead body, was when it was a near
member of his family. They would be unclean to serve in the temple
for a period of 7 days. He
was cleansed by a blood sacrifice. They were to have no close contact
with any corpse other than the closest of relatives. The wife is not
mentioned as a close relative, because she and her husband are one.
The
high priest first should offer for himself, and then offer for the
people. He had to carry the blood for sprinkling. It is the blood
that does away with sin.
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