ABC:Ezekiel 44

Verse 11

Wikipedia claims the Bible is wrong about the following passage, and makes the following comments (italicized):

“ Slaughtering an animal before the Temple

There are further examples of other types of inconsistency in the Old Testament. In the account of the slaughtering of an animal before the Temple, it states that the animal: "was killed at the entrance to the tabernacle, north of the altar, and cut up." The most natural interpretation of the Hebrew wording is that the slaughtering was done by the one making the offering rather than by the priest. If so, it contradicts Ezekiel 44:11, where it is done by the Levites, and 2 Chr 29:22, 24 where done by the priests. ”

Wikipedia fails to specify when it comes to the alleged contradiction; this time not even mentioning which verse is supposedly contradictory. The quote (along with everything after it, which should also be in quotations) is not from the Bible, but from page 96 of the Oxford Bible Commentary. As seen from page 95 the reference is to Leviticus chapters 1-5.

First of all, in Leviticus 1-5, the sacrifices were at least partly performed by the Levites. The Levites were responsible for kindling the altar (1:7), burning the animal on the altar (1:8-9; 2:2,9,16; 3:5,11,16; 4:19-21,26,31,35), and sprinkling the blood around the altar (1:5,11; 3:2,8,13; 4:5-7,16-18,25,30,34). In the case of birds sacrificed, the Levites themselves killed the sacrifice, cleaned it, burned it, and wrung out the blood beside the altar. (1:15-17; 5:10-12) The Levites may also have been solely responsible for sacrifices of rams. (5:18)

The Oxford Bible Commentary concludes a contradiction exists with Ezekiel 44:11 because there the Levites are said to be killing the burnt offering and sacrifice before the people, even though in Ezekiel 44 the Levites referred to are being condemned for their wickedness. (vv. 10,12-13) In other words, their actions are hardly commended or commanded by God in killing the burnt offering and sacrifices. However, even if that were not the case, such phrasing would still be accurate, since in Leviticus 1:15-17 and 5:10-12 they were indeed responsible for killing sacrifices, birds specifically.

As for 2 Chronicles 29, the Levites are priests. It is strange that the Oxford Bible Commentary is ignorant of that fact. Regardless, there is no contradiction. The Levites were always responsible for killing of some sacrifices per Leviticus 1-5; and the Oxford Bible Commentary makes some very carelessly false claims.