A Call to the Priests: This entire section, which may be divided into five strophes (vv. 13, 14, 15–16, 17–18, 19–20) is directed at the priests in the Jerusalem temple, for if communion with God has been lost in Judah, the priests are those primarily responsible.

1:13 It was the priests’ duty in biblical Israel to teach and maintain their people in the ways of the Torah. But that did not mean simply teaching the people the law. Rather, the priests were responsible for preserving and handing on to the people all of the stories and traditions concerning Israel’s relationship with God throughout its entire history, and those traditions included the commandments that God had given. In short, the priests were responsible for passing on what now makes up much of our OT. Only if Israel knew what …