At the center of Ezekiel 40–48 in its final form is a law code. It is the only body of law in the Hebrew Bible that is not ascribed to Moses. This material falls into three parts: an introduction (43:10–27), the main body of the law code (44:1–46:18), and an appendix dealing with the temple kitchens (46:19–24). The law code itself deals broadly with access to the divine presence by right priesthood and right liturgy. These chapters also describe a secular leader (called the nasiʾ, the term generally used in chs. 1–39 for the king), but only as his responsibilities relate to participation in, and funding of, the temple liturgy. As the title in 43:12 succinctly states, “This is the law of the temple.”

43:10–27  This opening section of the law code provides the necessary introduction to the id…