In addition to the sacrifices that the priests offered in worship, they are called to distinguish (hǎḇdîl
) between the holy and the common, the clean and the unclean. This verb is in the hiphil form, which is causative. It means separating two things and keeping those things apart. The same duty is repeated in Ezekiel 44:23. In this way, the priests are to guard the tabernacle from any uncleanness entering into it. To make a mistake in these matters provoked the judgment of God.
10 You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean,