New Living Translation (NLT)
Ezekiel 44
22 They may choose their wives only from among the virgins of Israel or the widows of the priests. They may not marry other widows or divorced women.
23 They will teach my people the difference between what is holy and what is common, what is ceremonially clean and unclean.
24 “They will serve as judges to resolve any disagreements among my people. Their decisions must be based on my regulations. And the priests themselves must obey my instructions and decrees at all the sacred festivals, and see to it that the Sabbaths are set apart as holy days.
25 “A priest must not defile himself by being in the presence of a dead person unless it is his father, mother, child, brother, or unmarried sister. In such cases it is permitted.
26 Even then, he can return to his Temple duties only after being ceremonially cleansed and then waiting for seven days.
27 The first day he returns to work and enters the inner courtyard and the sanctuary, he must offer a sin offering for himself, says the Sovereign LORD.
28 “The priests will not have any property or possession of land, for I alone am their special possession.
29 Their food will come from the gifts and sacrifices brought to the Temple by the people—the grain offerings, the sin offerings, and the guilt offerings. Whatever anyone sets apart for the LORD will belong to the priests.
30 The first of the ripe fruits and all the gifts brought to the LORD will go to the priests. The first samples of each grain harvest and the first of your flour must also be given to the priests so the LORD will bless your homes.
31 The priests may not eat meat from any bird or animal that dies a natural death or that dies after being attacked by another animal.
Ezekiel 45
1 “When you divide the land among the tribes of Israel, you must set aside a section for the LORD as his holy portion. This piece of land will be 81/3 miles long and 62/3 miles wide. The entire area will be holy.
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