Scriptures

New Living Translation (NLT)

Ezekiel 44
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.
² A section of this land, measuring 875 feet by 875 feet, will be set aside for the Temple. An additional strip of land 871/2 feet wide is to be left empty all around it.
³ Within the larger sacred area, measure out a portion of land 81/3 miles long and 31/3 miles wide. Within it the sanctuary of the Most Holy Place will be located.
⁴ This area will be holy, set aside for the priests who minister to the LORD in the sanctuary. They will use it for their homes, and my Temple will be located within it.
⁵ The strip of sacred land next to it, also 81/3 miles long and 31/3 miles wide, will be a living area for the Levites who work at the Temple. It will be their possession and a place for their towns.
⁶ “Adjacent to the larger sacred area will be a section of land 81/3 miles long and 12/3 miles wide. This will be set aside for a city where anyone in Israel can live.