“But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.”
The assertion that the exiles will be called priests of YHWH and ministers of God, and that they will eat the wealth of nations and glory in their riches, represents priestly status granted to the entire restored community. The designation of all Israel as priests echoes Exodus 19:6 and represents a spiritual egalitarianism: everyone shares in YHWH's sacred service. The promise of consuming nations' wealth indicates economic supremacy and honoring. This verse democratizes priesthood: the entire community becomes YHWH's sacred people, establishing a priestly theology that influenced later Judaism and Christianity.
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a note on this verse
0/2000
No notes on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!