Isaiah 66:21

And of them also will I take &c. (R.V.). Commentators differ in opinion as to whether the ministers of the sanctuary are to be taken from the restored exiles or from the Gentiles who bring them back; the language is consistent with either supposition. The latter is thought by some to be excluded by Isaiah 56:6 f. (shewing the utmost limit of concession to foreigners), and Isaiah 61:6 (where a priestly standing is assigned to the Jews). These considerations, however, are not decisive; and the emphasis of the statement is perhaps better explained by the bolder conception. In any case the prophet seems to contemplate a suspension of the provisions of the Law, for the words "I will take" suggest something more than that those who are priests and Levites by birth shall be permitted to exercise their hereditary functions.

for priestsand for Levites Strictly, "for the priests, for the Levites," implying that they were to be given for the service of the priests and Levites. But the article should probably be omitted, and the rendering of E.V. retained. The conjunction "and" is supplied by all the Versions and some MSS. The duplication of the preposition distinguishes the expression from a characteristic phrase of Deuteronomy (see Driver on Deuteronomy 18:1), so that we cannot (without a change of text) render "for Levitical priests." Nothing would be gained by such an alteration, for the adj. "Levitical" in this connexion would be a meaningless addition.