Ezequiel 44:10

And the Levites that are gone away. — The connection between this and the preceding verse is made clearer by translating the first words, “Yea, even;” not only the uncircumcised in heart among the heathen are to be excluded from the sanctuary, but even the Levites who had apostatised are to bear their guilt. Levites is here used (see Ezequiel 44:13), as often, emphatically of the Levitical priests. At the great schism of the northern kingdom these had remained true to the worship of Jehovah (2 Crônicas 11:13); but in the subsequent general religious declension many of them, as has appeared from Ezequiel 8, had fallen into idolatry. Such priests are to be allowed, like the priests under the law who had any physical blemish (Levítico 21:17), to minister in the more menial offices of the priesthood, but not to approach the altar (Ezequiel 44:11).