The rules of the sanctuary. A river flows from the Temple. The boundaries and division of the land. Again, we have a continued picture of restored Jewish religious activities. Circumcision, the Zadokite priesthood, the division of the land for the priests and instructions for the sacrifices which the priests were to carry out.
Position of the different classes of the people in relation to the new sanctuary. Ezekiel 44:1-14.
Privilege of prince. Ezekiel 44:1-3.
Uncircumcised excluded. Ezekiel 44:4-9.
Limitations on Levites. Ezekiel 44:10-14.
The priests, their conduct and support. Ezekiel 44:15-45:12.
Priests of Zadok’s ancestry. Ezekiel 44:15-16.
Priest’s garments. Ezekiel 44:17-19.
Restrictions on priests. Ezekiel 44:20-24-31.
Priests to be judges. Ezekiel 44:24.
No possession for priests. Ezekiel 44:28-30.
The reason the gate is shut is because the Lord entered the temple through the gate. And since it was shut, the Lord would never again leave His holy place among His people. In their former state of idolatry, their sun worship was reflected in their opening of the door in order to allow the ray of the rising sun to enter the temple. But in their restoration, this door is never to be opened. The prince, as a representative of the nation, the prince would eat alone in the sanctified gateway.
Since the temple had previously been defiled by idolatrous worship and idols, the Lord gives instructions as to who is permitted to enter the temple. From this time, no uncircumcised person was to administer at the temple.
Though non-Israelites previously administered at the temple, this would be changed, for God did not want anyone who was uncircumcised in heart to appear before Him on behalf of the people. In this way, He sought to guard Israel from the influence of idolatrous people.
Foreigners had introduced idolatrous worship into Israel, beginning with Solomon and his many foreign wives. And thus, in their future God would not allow this to happen again.
The Levites will bear their iniquity, in this case, the consequences of the sins of the fathers was passed on to the children. Because the Levites’ fathers did not assume their spiritual leadership in order to direct the people according to the law of God, they were banned from doing again that which was assigned to them under the law. Thus, the menial work that was previously assigned to foreigners before the temple, was given to the Levites.
Because the Levitical priests succumbed to idolatry, they are here assigned to be the gate keepers, butchers and servants at the table. Since they had failed in their duties to keep the people from idolatry, they were stripped of their duties that were given to them under the law and given responsibility that did not entail spiritual leadership.
When the return of the exiles eventually came after the Babylonian captivity, among the 40,000 exiles who returned, there were more than 4,000 priests.
However, among this number there were only 74 Levites who wanted to leave their comfortable homes in Babylon in order to perform menial tasks at the temple worship, Ezra 2 / Psalm 84:10. Because there were so few Levites after the return, it was necessary that the Nethinim be called to perform the new duties of the Levites, Ezra 8:15-20.
For more on Zadok, read 2 Samuel 15:24-35 / 1 Chronicles 15:11 / 1 Chronicles 16:39. The symbolism of the garments was to manifest the ceremonial cleanliness of the people. Linen was considered more clean than wool, and thus the sanctification of the people throughout the land was to be symbolized by the best clothing that could be made by man.
This prohibition of shaving their heads, or not allowing their hair to grow long, was probably a restriction that again was in view of former idol worship.
We must understand that the changes that are given in this context were given in response to the people’s former behaviour in reference to former idolatrous practices. In order to change the thinking of the people, God wanted to prohibit every behavioural characteristic that was associated with idolatrous worship, 1 Corinthians 8.
The priest was to be a teacher among the people, Deuteronomy 33:10. He was a judge in disputed matters, Deuteronomy 17:9 / Deuteronomy 19:17.
The priest was to keep the ceremonial laws in order to manifest the people’s obedience to the moral laws of God. When the people kept the sabbaths, they were indicating their obedience to all the law of God. There was no cleansing power in the ceremonial laws, nor in keeping the sabbaths. But their obedience to the laws manifested their willingness to submit themselves to God.
Read Deuteronomy 10:9. The priests were to be full-time in their service to the people. In order for them to do this, they were to be given the offerings of grain and animals, and everything that was dedicated to the Lord.
They were to be given the firstfruits of the land, and all contributions that were necessary in order that they and their families be able to give themselves totally to the administration of the temple service and teaching of the people. Exodus 22:31.
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."