9 “The priests will have special times to serve me. They must be careful at those times. They must be careful not to make the holy things not holy. If they are careful, then they will not die. I, the Lord, have separated them for this special job.
9 The priests must keep my requirement so that they don’t become liable to punishment and die for having made it impure. I am the LORD, who makes them holy.
9 Let them observe my precepts, so that they may not fall under sin, and die in the Sanctuary, when they will have defiled it. I am the Lord, who sanctifies them.
9 Let them keep my precepts, that they may not fall into sin, and die in the sanctuary, when they shall have defiled it. I am the Lord who sanctify them.
Aaron and his sons must wear these clothes anytime they enter the Meeting Tent. [263] They must wear these clothes when they come near to the altar to serve as priests in the Holy Place. If they don’t wear these clothes, then they will be guilty of wrong, and they will have to die. All this should be a law that continues forever for Aaron and all his family after him.”
Aaron must put the incense on the fire before the Lord. Then the cloud of incense will cover the special cover [278] that is over the Agreement. [279] This way Aaron will not die.
The Lord said, “Talk to your brother Aaron. Tell him that he cannot go behind the curtain into the Most Holy Place [263] anytime he wants to. The Holy Box [264] is in the room behind that curtain. The special cover [265] is on top of that Holy Box. And I appear in a cloud over that special cover. If Aaron goes into that room, he might die!
Other people have done those terrible sins. But you must obey my laws! You must not do any of those terrible sins! Don’t make yourself filthy with those terrible sins! I am the Lord your God.”
And if you always give the best part of it to the Lord, then you will never be guilty. You will always remember that those gifts are the holy [250] offerings from the people of Israel. And you will not die.”