13. They may not approach me to minister as priests. They may not touch any of my holy things or the holy offerings, for they must bear the shame of all the detestable sins they have committed.
14. They are to serve as the Temple caretakers, taking charge of the maintenance work and performing general duties.
15. “However, the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok continued to minister faithfully in the Temple when Israel abandoned me for idols. These men will serve as my ministers. They will stand in my presence and offer the fat and blood of the sacrifices, says the Sovereign lord.
16. They alone will enter my sanctuary and approach my table to serve me. They will fulfill all my requirements.
17. “When they enter the gateway to the inner courtyard, they must wear only linen clothing. They must wear no wool while on duty in the inner courtyard or in the Temple itself.
18. They must wear linen turbans and linen undergarments. They must not wear anything that would cause them to perspire.
19. When they return to the outer courtyard where the people are, they must take off the clothes they wear while ministering to me. They must leave them in the sacred rooms and put on other clothes so they do not endanger anyone by transmitting holiness to them through this clothing.
20. “They must neither shave their heads nor let their hair grow too long. Instead, they must trim it regularly.
21. The priests must not drink wine before entering the inner courtyard.
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.