But the Levites who went far from me …: Although Good News Translation includes a heading here, the conjunction But ties this verse closely with verse 9 and provides a strong contrast with that verse. Verse 10 begins a unit that describes who were qualified and allowed to enter the Temple compound and take part in the sacred activities. The Levites were descendants of Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. Translators may call them “men from the tribe [or, clan] of Levi” (New Living Translation). Moses had appointed them to look after the Tabernacle while the Israelites were in the desert during the Exodus, and when the nation entered the Promised Land of Canaan under Joshua, they did not receive any land as the other tribes did. They continued to serve in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. But here God says they went far from me, that is, they did the opposite of what they were supposed to do, namely, come close to God in the Temple. The Hebrew expression here refers literally to physical separation, but also figuratively to internal and spiritual separation. New Century Version uses the nonfigurative expression “stopped obeying me,” but Revised English Bible is closer to the imagery in the text by saying “deserted me.” Either rendering is acceptable.

Going astray from me after their idols when Israel went astray: Going astray from me means to stop following God and not be faithful to him (compare Contemporary English Version “turned their backs on me” and New Living Translation “abandoned me”). The Levites abandoned God by worshiping idols, that is, the statues of false gods. For the Hebrew word rendered idols, see the comments on 6.4. The order of the phrases in Revised Standard Version is confusing because the Hebrew expression for their idols refers to the false gods of the Israelites, not of the Levites. Complete Jewish Bible reflects the meaning in Hebrew better by beginning this verse with “Rather, the L’vi’im [Levites] who went far away from me when Isra’el went astray, going astray after their idols” (compare International Children’s Bible “Some Levites stopped obeying me when Israel left me and followed their idols”). Apparently, when the Israelites stopped obeying God and turned to false gods, many Levites were involved, perhaps still acting as their spiritual leaders. Some translations understand that all the Levites abandoned God, while others say that just some of them did (so Good News Translation, International Children’s Bible). Verse 15 indicates that the latter interpretation is slightly preferable.

Because these Levites joined the people of Israel in worshiping false gods, God says they shall bear their punishment, that is, they will be punished (compare Good News Translation “I am punishing [them]”). It is not clear what this punishment will be, but verse 13 does provide some hints. At this point, however, no further information should be included.

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .