2 Kings 23:9 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

The priest — Who worshipped the true God there. In Jerusalem — Were not suffered to come thither to the exercise of their priestly function; as a just punishment for the corruption of God's worship, and the transgression of so plain and positive a law of God, Deuteronomy 12:11, which was much worse in them who had more knowledge to discern the will of God, and more obligations to observe it. Did eat — Of the meal — offerings, allotted to the priests, wherein there was to be no leaven, Leviticus 2:4-5, Leviticus 2:10-11, and consequently of other provisions belonging to the priests, which are contained under this one kind. Thus their spiritual blemish puts them into the very same state which corporal blemishes brought them, Leviticus 21:17, &c. And thus he mitigates their punishment: he shuts them out from spiritual services, but allows them necessary provisions.