Ezekiel 44:10-14

44:10 “‘But the Levites who went far from me, straying off from me after their idols when Israel went astray, will be responsible for ¹  their sin. 44:11 Yet they will be ministers in my sanctuary, having oversight at the gates of the temple, and serving the temple. They will slaughter the burnt offerings and the sacrifices for the people, and they will stand before them to minister to them. 44:12 Because they used to minister to them before their idols, and became a sinful obstacle ²  to the house of Israel, consequently I have made a vow ³  concerning them, declares the sovereign Lord, that they will be responsible ⁴  for their sin. 44:13 They will not come near me to serve me as priest, nor will they come near any of my holy things, the things which are most sacred. They will bear the shame of the abominable deeds they have committed. 44:14 Yet I will appoint them to keep charge of the temple, all of its service and all that will be done in it.

Malachi 2:8-9

2:8 You, however, have turned from the way. You have caused many to violate the law; ⁵  you have corrupted the covenant with Levi,” ⁶  says the Lord who rules over all. 2:9 “Therefore, I have caused you to be ignored and belittled before all people to the extent to which you are not following after me and are showing partiality in your ⁷  instruction.”

[44:10]  ¹ tn Heb “will bear.”

[44:12]  ² tn Heb “a stumbling block of iniquity.” This is a unique phrase of the prophet Ezekiel (cf. also Ezek 7:19; 14:3, 4, 7; 18:30).

[44:12]  ³ tn Heb “I lifted up my hand.”

[44:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “will bear.”

[2:8]  ⁵ tn The definite article embedded within בַּתּוֹרָה (battorah) may suggest that the Torah is in mind and not just “ordinary” priestly instruction, though it might refer to the instruction previously mentioned (v. 7).

[2:8]  ⁶ tn Or “the Levitical covenant.”

[2:9]  ⁷ tn Heb “in the instruction” (so NASB). The Hebrew article is used here as a possessive pronoun (cf. NRSV, NLT).