Contradiction with Ezekiel 20:40
This verse describes the entire house of Israel serving in God's holy mountain, as opposed to Ezekiel 44:11 which restricts some from priestly duties, relegating them to lower temple service.
Ezekiel 20:40: For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. [firstfruits: or, chief]
Contradiction with Numbers 3:10
This verse instructs that only Aaron and his descendants may perform priestly duties, contradicting Ezekiel 44:11 which states Levites are allowed to keep charge at the gates despite their iniquities.
Numbers 3:10: And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
Contradiction with Numbers 18:7
It specifies that only the priests, the sons of Aaron, shall do the service of the priest's office, conflicting with Ezekiel 44:11 where other Levites are assigned lesser but still significant duties.
Numbers 18:7: Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's office for every thing of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office [unto you] as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
Contradiction with Joshua 18:7
The Levites have no part among the tribes because their role as priests is their inheritance, which contradicts Ezekiel 44:11, where their priesthood is diminished due to their transgressions.
Joshua 18:7: But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the LORD [is] their inheritance: and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.
Contradiction with Deuteronomy 18:1–2
These verses highlight the special role and inheritance of the Levites, mainly as priests, while Ezekiel 44:11 demotes some Levites due to past idolatries.
Contradiction with 1 Samuel 2:28
God chose the house of Aaron to be priests and serve at the altar, which contradicts the role of certain Levites in Ezekiel 44:11 who serve as attendants rather than priests.
1 Samuel 2:28: And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel [to be] my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?
Contradiction with Hebrews 7:5
Stating that those of the sons of Levi received the office of the priesthood, contradicting Ezekiel 44:11 where some Levites lose the full status of priesthood.
Hebrews 7:5: And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
Paradox #1
The verse refers to certain duties assigned to a group of people in the temple. A possible inconsistency arises when comparing it to other biblical texts that describe temple duties differently or assign those duties to different groups, leading to potential contradictions about who exactly performed certain roles.
Paradox #2
Ezekiel 44:11 describes duties assigned to certain individuals, despite their previous wrongdoings. Some people might see this as a contradiction because it allows those who have failed or sinned to still have responsibilities or roles. This could seem inconsistent with the idea of stricter judgment for wrongdoing.