(טו) וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים הַלְוִיִּ֜ם בְּנֵ֣י צָד֗וֹק אֲשֶׁ֨ר שָׁמְר֜וּ אֶת־מִשְׁמֶ֤רֶת מִקְדָּשִׁי֙ בִּתְע֤וֹת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מֵֽעָלַ֔י הֵ֛מָּה יִקְרְב֥וּ אֵלַ֖י לְשָֽׁרְתֵ֑נִי וְעָמְד֣וּ לְפָנַ֗י לְהַקְרִ֥יב לִי֙ חֵ֣לֶב וָדָ֔ם נְאֻ֖ם אדושם יי
(15) But the levitical priests descended from Zadok, who maintained the service of My Sanctuary when the people of Israel went astray from Me—they shall approach Me to minister to Me; they shall stand before Me to offer Me fat and blood—declares the Lord GOD.
- Tzodok was the Kohen in the days of Solomon (mentioned many times in the book of Samuel). He's mentioned here, as Ezikiel saw hi, is the paragon of a Kohen, as he and his cronies never left the noble service of the temple, despite the Jews straying at times. The infighting of the different priestly families during the second temple was about other families wanting a piece of he action as well.
- Ezekiel was prophesying about a future time, and not always is his vision in sync with that of the Torah
(טז) הֵ֜מָּה יָבֹ֣אוּ אֶל־מִקְדָּשִׁ֗י וְהֵ֛מָּה יִקְרְב֥וּ אֶל־שֻׁלְחָנִ֖י לְשָׁרְתֵ֑נִי וְשָׁמְר֖וּ אֶת־מִשְׁמַרְתִּֽי׃
(16) They alone may enter My Sanctuary and they alone shall approach My table to minister to Me; and they shall keep My charge.
- The ones who were good, will be rewarded; will live in the inner sanctum.
(יז) וְהָיָ֗ה בְּבוֹאָם֙ אֶֽל־שַׁעֲרֵי֙ הֶחָצֵ֣ר הַפְּנִימִ֔ית בִּגְדֵ֥י פִשְׁתִּ֖ים יִלְבָּ֑שׁוּ וְלֹֽא־יַעֲלֶ֤ה עֲלֵיהֶם֙ צֶ֔מֶר בְּשָֽׁרְתָ֗ם בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֛י הֶחָצֵ֥ר הַפְּנִימִ֖ית וָבָֽיְתָה׃
(17) And when they enter the gates of the inner court, they shall wear linen vestments: they shall have nothing woolen upon them when they minister inside the gates of the inner court.
- Maybe he's saying this because it was Sha'atnez, though it was permitted in the Temple, probably because the garment was already "kosher" or being used for a Kosher purpose. Tzitzit, can theoretically be Shatnez.
- The idea of a Chok, to create a relationship with G-d. And thereby causing even the rational Mitzvot to be done in a divine way.
(יח) פַּאֲרֵ֤י פִשְׁתִּים֙ יִהְי֣וּ עַל־רֹאשָׁ֔ם וּמִכְנְסֵ֣י פִשְׁתִּ֔ים יִהְי֖וּ עַל־מָתְנֵיהֶ֑ם לֹ֥א יַחְגְּר֖וּ בַּיָּֽזַע׃
(18) They shall have linen turbans on their heads and linen breeches on their loins; they shall not gird themselves with anything that causes sweat.
- The first Under Armour company...
- It's the reason no wool was worn, as it made them sweat.
(יט) וּ֠בְצֵאתָם אֶל־הֶחָצֵ֨ר הַחִיצוֹנָ֜ה אֶל־הֶחָצֵ֣ר הַחִיצוֹנָה֮ אֶל־הָעָם֒ יִפְשְׁט֣וּ אֶת־בִּגְדֵיהֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁר־הֵ֙מָּה֙ מְשָׁרְתִ֣ם בָּ֔ם וְהִנִּ֥יחוּ אוֹתָ֖ם בְּלִֽשְׁכֹ֣ת הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ וְלָֽבְשׁוּ֙ בְּגָדִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וְלֹֽא־יְקַדְּשׁ֥וּ אֶת־הָעָ֖ם בְּבִגְדֵיהֶֽם׃
(19) When they go out to the outer court—the outer court where the people are—they shall remove the vestments in which they minister and shall deposit them in the sacred chambers; they shall put on other garments, lest they make the people consecrated by [contact with] their vestments.
(כ) וְרֹאשָׁם֙ לֹ֣א יְגַלֵּ֔חוּ וּפֶ֖רַע לֹ֣א יְשַׁלֵּ֑חוּ כָּס֥וֹם יִכְסְמ֖וּ אֶת־רָאשֵׁיהֶֽם׃
(20) They shall neither shave their heads nor let their hair go untrimmed; they shall keep their hair trimmed.
- Not too short, and too long. They were supposed to have very even/trimmed hair.
- Kasom, is an allusion to spelt (according to Rashi), which has very neat and even ears.
(כא) וְיַ֥יִן לֹֽא־יִשְׁתּ֖וּ כָּל־כֹּהֵ֑ן בְּבוֹאָ֖ם אֶל־הֶחָצֵ֥ר הַפְּנִימִֽית׃
(21) No priest shall drink wine when he enters into the inner court.
(כב) וְאַלְמָנָה֙ וּגְרוּשָׁ֔ה לֹֽא־יִקְח֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם לְנָשִׁ֑ים כִּ֣י אִם־בְּתוּלֹ֗ת מִזֶּ֙רַע֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְהָֽאַלְמָנָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּֽהְיֶ֣ה אַלְמָנָ֔ה מִכֹּהֵ֖ן יִקָּֽחוּ׃
(22) They shall not marry widows or divorced women; they may marry only virgins of the stock of the House of Israel, or widows who are widows of priests.
- As stated in our parsha...
(ז) אִשָּׁ֨ה זֹנָ֤ה וַחֲלָלָה֙ לֹ֣א יִקָּ֔חוּ וְאִשָּׁ֛ה גְּרוּשָׁ֥ה מֵאִישָׁ֖הּ לֹ֣א יִקָּ֑חוּ כִּֽי־קָדֹ֥שׁ ה֖וּא לֵאלֹקָֽיו׃
(7) They shall not marry a woman defiled by harlotry, nor shall they marry one divorced from her husband. For they are holy to their God
(כג) וְאֶת־עַמִּ֣י יוֹר֔וּ בֵּ֥ין קֹ֖דֶשׁ לְחֹ֑ל וּבֵין־טָמֵ֥א לְטָה֖וֹר יוֹדִעֻֽם׃
(23) They shall declare to My people what is sacred and what is profane, and inform them what is clean and what is unclean.
- A general idea, of what the Kohanim are supposed to be to the Jewish people. Kohanim today essentially should have some of those characteristics, though, the name "Cohen" is what has merely remained in many cases.
(כד) וְעַל־רִ֗יב הֵ֚מָּה יַעַמְד֣וּ לשפט [לְמִשְׁפָּ֔ט] בְּמִשְׁפָּטַ֖י ושפטהו [יִשְׁפְּט֑וּהוּ] וְאֶת־תּוֹרֹתַ֤י וְאֶת־חֻקֹּתַי֙ בְּכָל־מוֹעֲדַ֣י יִשְׁמֹ֔רוּ וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתוֹתַ֖י יְקַדֵּֽשׁוּ׃
(24) In lawsuits, too, it is they who shall act as judges; they shall decide them in accordance with My rules. They shall preserve My teachings and My laws regarding all My fixed occasions; and they shall maintain the sanctity of My sabbaths.
(כה) וְאֶל־מֵ֣ת אָדָ֔ם לֹ֥א יָב֖וֹא לְטָמְאָ֑ה כִּ֣י אִם־לְאָ֡ב וּ֠לְאֵם וּלְבֵ֨ן וּלְבַ֜ת לְאָ֗ח וּלְאָח֛וֹת אֲשֶֽׁר־לֹא־הָיְתָ֥ה לְאִ֖ישׁ יִטַּמָּֽאוּ׃
(25) [A priest] shall not defile himself by entering [a house] where there is a dead person. He shall defile himself only for father or mother, son or daughter, brother or unmarried sister.
- As stated in our Parsha...
(א) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יי אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֱמֹ֥ר אֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים בְּנֵ֣י אַהֲרֹ֑ן וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵקֶ֔ם לְנֶ֥פֶשׁ לֹֽא־יִטַּמָּ֖א בְּעַמָּֽיו׃ (ב) כִּ֚י אִם־לִשְׁאֵר֔וֹ הַקָּרֹ֖ב אֵלָ֑יו לְאִמּ֣וֹ וּלְאָבִ֔יו וְלִבְנ֥וֹ וּלְבִתּ֖וֹ וּלְאָחִֽיו׃ (ג) וְלַאֲחֹת֤וֹ הַבְּתוּלָה֙ הַקְּרוֹבָ֣ה אֵלָ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־הָיְתָ֖ה לְאִ֑ישׁ לָ֖הּ יִטַּמָּֽא׃
(1) The LORD said to Moses: Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: None shall defile himself for any [dead] person among his kin, (2) except for the relatives that are closest to him: his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, and his brother; (3) also for a virgin sister, close to him because she has not married, for her he may defile himself.
(כו) וְאַחֲרֵ֖י טָֽהֳרָת֑וֹ שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים יִסְפְּרוּ־לֽוֹ׃
(26) After he has become clean, seven days shall be counted off for him;
(כו) וְאַחֲרֵ֖י טָֽהֳרָת֑וֹ שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים יִסְפְּרוּ־לֽוֹ׃
(26) After he has become clean, seven days shall be counted off for him;
(כז) וּבְיוֹם֩ בֹּא֨וֹ אֶל־הַקֹּ֜דֶשׁ אֶל־הֶחָצֵ֤ר הַפְּנִימִית֙ לְשָׁרֵ֣ת בַּקֹּ֔דֶשׁ יַקְרִ֖יב חַטָּאת֑וֹ נְאֻ֖ם אדושם יי
(27) and on the day that he reenters the inner court of the Sanctuary to minister in the Sanctuary, he shall present his sin offering—declares the Lord GOD.
(כח) וְהָיְתָ֤ה לָהֶם֙ לְֽנַחֲלָ֔ה אֲנִ֖י נַֽחֲלָתָ֑ם וַאֲחֻזָּ֗ה לֹֽא־תִתְּנ֤וּ לָהֶם֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲנִ֖י אֲחֻזָּתָֽם׃
(28) This shall be their portion, for I am their portion; and no holding shall be given them in Israel, for I am their holding.
(כח) וְהָיְתָ֤ה לָהֶם֙ לְֽנַחֲלָ֔ה אֲנִ֖י נַֽחֲלָתָ֑ם וַאֲחֻזָּ֗ה לֹֽא־תִתְּנ֤וּ לָהֶם֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲנִ֖י אֲחֻזָּתָֽם׃
(28) This shall be their portion, for I am their portion; and no holding shall be given them in Israel, for I am their holding.
(כח) וְהָיְתָ֤ה לָהֶם֙ לְֽנַחֲלָ֔ה אֲנִ֖י נַֽחֲלָתָ֑ם וַאֲחֻזָּ֗ה לֹֽא־תִתְּנ֤וּ לָהֶם֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲנִ֖י אֲחֻזָּתָֽם׃
(28) This shall be their portion, for I am their portion; and no holding shall be given them in Israel, for I am their holding.
(כט) הַמִּנְחָה֙ וְהַחַטָּ֣את וְהָאָשָׁ֔ם הֵ֖מָּה יֹֽאכְל֑וּם וְכָל־חֵ֥רֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לָהֶ֥ם יִהְיֶֽה׃
(29) The meal offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings shall be consumed by them. Everything proscribed in Israel shall be theirs.
- The word "Cherem" basically means "proscribed," and the Kohanim were basically allowed all that was proscribed to the regular Jews.
- Cherem also means excommunication, which basically prohibits anyone from interacting with that person.
(ל) וְרֵאשִׁית֩ כָּל־בִּכּ֨וּרֵי כֹ֜ל וְכָל־תְּר֣וּמַת כֹּ֗ל מִכֹּל֙ תְּרוּמ֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם לַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים יִֽהְיֶ֑ה וְרֵאשִׁ֤ית עֲרִסֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ תִּתְּנ֣וּ לַכֹּהֵ֔ן לְהָנִ֥יחַ בְּרָכָ֖ה אֶל־בֵּיתֶֽךָ׃
(30) All the choice first fruits of every kind, and all the gifts of every kind—of all your contributions—shall go to the priests. You shall further give the first of the yield of your baking to the priest, that a blessing may rest upon your home.
- Blessing is showered on he'she that supports the Kohen...Possibly also the source for the blessings believed to be showered upon he that gives charity....
(לא) כָּל־נְבֵלָה֙ וּטְרֵפָ֔ה מִן־הָע֖וֹף וּמִן־הַבְּהֵמָ֑ה לֹ֥א יֹאכְל֖וּ הַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃ (פ)
(31) Priests shall not eat anything, whether bird or animal, that died or was torn by beasts.
- They were permitted certain birds that were not slaughtered properly, so they were being warned here that it was only those exception that were permitted to them...