Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Form » In religious service
Because you Levites were not there the first time, Jehovah our God struck us. We had not dedicated our lives to serving him in the way he designated. So the priests and the Levites made themselves holy in order to move the Ark of Jehovah the God of Israel.
Since there were not enough priests to kill all these animals, the Levites helped them until the work was finished. By then more priests had made themselves ritually clean. The Levites were more faithful in keeping ritually clean than the priests were.
Levites » Assisted the priests in preparing the sacrifice
So the Levites started to work. From Kohath's descendants were Mahath, son of Amasai, and Joel, son of Azariah. From Merari's descendants were Kish, son of Abdi, and Azariah, son of Jehallelel. From Gershon's descendants were Joah, son of Zimmah, and Eden, son of Joah. From Elizaphan's descendants were Shimri and Jeiel. From Asaph's descendants were Zechariah and Mattaniah. From Heman's descendants were Jehiel and Shimei. From Jeduthun's descendants were Shemaiah and Uzziel. read more.
These men gathered their relatives and performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy. They obeyed the king's order from Jehovah's word and entered the Temple to make it clean. The priests entered Jehovah's temple to make it clean. They carried into the courtyard every unclean thing that they found in Jehovah's Temple. Then the Levites took the unclean items outside the city to the Kidron Brook. They started on the first day of the first month. On the eighth day they went into Jehovah's entrance hall. For eight days they performed the ceremonies to make Jehovah's Temple holy. They finished on the sixteenth day of the first month. Then they went to King Hezekiah. They said: We have made Jehovah's entire temple clean. This includes the altar for burnt offerings, all its utensils, the table for the rows of bread and all its utensils, and all the utensils King Ahaz refused to use during his reign when he was unfaithful. We have restored them and made them holy. They are in front of Jehovah's altar. Early in the morning Hezekiah assembled the leaders of the city and went to Jehovah's Temple. They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as an offering for sin for the kingdom, the holy place, and Judah. Hezekiah told the priests, Aaron's descendants, to sacrifice the animals on Jehovah's altar. So they slaughtered the bulls. The priests sprinkled the blood on the altar. Then they slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar. After that, they slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar. Then they brought the male goats for the offering for sin in front of the king and the assembly, who laid their hands on them. The priests killed the goats and poured their blood on the altar as a sacrifice to take away the sin of all the people. The king commanded that burnt offerings and sin offerings be made for all Israel. The king followed the instructions Jehovah gave to King David through Gad, the king's prophet, and through the prophet Nathan. He stationed Levites in the Temple, with harps and cymbals, and instruments like those that King David used. The priests also stood there with trumpets. Hezekiah gave the order for the burnt offering to be presented. The offering began and the people sang praise to Jehovah. The musicians began to play the trumpets and all the other instruments. Everyone there joined in worship. The singing and the rest of the music continued until all the sacrifices were burned. King Hezekiah and all the people knelt down and worshiped God. The king and the leaders of the nation told the Levites to sing to Jehovah the songs of praise that were written by David and by Asaph the prophet. So everyone sang with great joy as they knelt and worshiped God. Hezekiah said to the people: Now that you are ritually clean, bring sacrifices as offerings of thanksgiving to Jehovah. They obeyed, and some of them also voluntarily brought animals to be sacrificed as burnt offerings. They brought seventy bulls, one hundred sheep, and two hundred lambs as burnt offerings for Jehovah. They also brought six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep as sacrifices for the people to eat. Since there were not enough priests to kill all these animals, the Levites helped them until the work was finished. By then more priests had made themselves ritually clean. The Levites were more faithful in keeping ritually clean than the priests were. In addition to offering the sacrifices that were burned whole, the priests were responsible for burning the fat that was offered from the sacrifices the people ate, and for pouring out the wine that was presented with the burnt offerings. Thus worship in the Temple began again. King Hezekiah and the people were happy. For God helped them to do all this so quickly.
These men gathered their relatives and performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy. They obeyed the king's order from Jehovah's word and entered the Temple to make it clean. The priests entered Jehovah's temple to make it clean. They carried into the courtyard every unclean thing that they found in Jehovah's Temple. Then the Levites took the unclean items outside the city to the Kidron Brook. They started on the first day of the first month. On the eighth day they went into Jehovah's entrance hall. For eight days they performed the ceremonies to make Jehovah's Temple holy. They finished on the sixteenth day of the first month. Then they went to King Hezekiah. They said: We have made Jehovah's entire temple clean. This includes the altar for burnt offerings, all its utensils, the table for the rows of bread and all its utensils, and all the utensils King Ahaz refused to use during his reign when he was unfaithful. We have restored them and made them holy. They are in front of Jehovah's altar. Early in the morning Hezekiah assembled the leaders of the city and went to Jehovah's Temple. They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as an offering for sin for the kingdom, the holy place, and Judah. Hezekiah told the priests, Aaron's descendants, to sacrifice the animals on Jehovah's altar. So they slaughtered the bulls. The priests sprinkled the blood on the altar. Then they slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar. After that, they slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar. Then they brought the male goats for the offering for sin in front of the king and the assembly, who laid their hands on them. The priests killed the goats and poured their blood on the altar as a sacrifice to take away the sin of all the people. The king commanded that burnt offerings and sin offerings be made for all Israel. The king followed the instructions Jehovah gave to King David through Gad, the king's prophet, and through the prophet Nathan. He stationed Levites in the Temple, with harps and cymbals, and instruments like those that King David used. The priests also stood there with trumpets. Hezekiah gave the order for the burnt offering to be presented. The offering began and the people sang praise to Jehovah. The musicians began to play the trumpets and all the other instruments. Everyone there joined in worship. The singing and the rest of the music continued until all the sacrifices were burned. King Hezekiah and all the people knelt down and worshiped God. The king and the leaders of the nation told the Levites to sing to Jehovah the songs of praise that were written by David and by Asaph the prophet. So everyone sang with great joy as they knelt and worshiped God. Hezekiah said to the people: Now that you are ritually clean, bring sacrifices as offerings of thanksgiving to Jehovah. They obeyed, and some of them also voluntarily brought animals to be sacrificed as burnt offerings. They brought seventy bulls, one hundred sheep, and two hundred lambs as burnt offerings for Jehovah. They also brought six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep as sacrifices for the people to eat. Since there were not enough priests to kill all these animals, the Levites helped them until the work was finished. By then more priests had made themselves ritually clean. The Levites were more faithful in keeping ritually clean than the priests were. In addition to offering the sacrifices that were burned whole, the priests were responsible for burning the fat that was offered from the sacrifices the people ate, and for pouring out the wine that was presented with the burnt offerings. Thus worship in the Temple began again. King Hezekiah and the people were happy. For God helped them to do all this so quickly.
Josiah celebrated the Passover to Jehovah in Jerusalem. The Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month. Josiah appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them to serve in Jehovah's Temple. He told the Levites, who instructed all Israel and performed ceremonies to make themselves holy to Jehovah: Put the Holy Ark in the Temple that Solomon, son of David and king of Israel, built. It should not be carried on your shoulders any longer. Serve Jehovah your God and his people Israel. read more.
Get yourselves ready with the family groups of your divisions, which are listed in the records of King David of Israel and the records of his son Solomon. Divide yourselves into groups. Then spread out throughout the Temple so that each family of worshipers will be able to get help from one of you. When the people bring you their Passover lamb, you must slaughter it and prepare it to be sacrificed to Jehovah. Make sure the people celebrate according to the instructions Jehovah gave Moses. Do not do anything to become unclean and unacceptable. Josiah donated thirty thousand sheep and goats, and three thousand bulls from his own flocks and herds for the people to offer as sacrifices. Josiah's officials also voluntarily gave some of their animals to the people, the priests, and the Levites as sacrifices. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, who were the officials in charge of the Temple, gave the priests twenty-six hundred sheep and lambs and three hundred bulls to sacrifice during the Passover celebration. Conaniah and his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel, and Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad, the leaders of the Levites, gave the Levites five thousand sheep and goats and five hundred bulls as Passover sacrifices. Thus the service was prepared. The priests took their positions with the Levites according to their divisions, as the king had ordered. They slaughtered the Passover lambs. The priests sprinkled the blood with their hands while the Levites skinned the lambs. They set aside the burnt offerings to give them to the people according to their family divisions. The people could then present them to Jehovah as is written in the Book of Moses. The Levites did the same with the bulls. The Levites roasted the Passover sacrifices over the fire, according to the regulations. They boiled the sacred offerings in pots, kettles, and pans, and quickly distributed the meat to the people. After this was done, the Levites provided meat for themselves and for the priests descended from Aaron. Since the priests were kept busy until night, burning the animals that were burned whole and the fat of the sacrifices. The following musicians of the Levite clan of Asaph were in the places assigned to them by King David's instructions: Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, the king's prophet. The guards at the Temple gates did not need to leave their posts, because the other Levites prepared the Passover for them. Everything was done that day as King Josiah commanded for the worship of Jehovah. This included the keeping of the Passover Festival, and the offering of burnt offerings on the altar. All the people of Israel who were present celebrated the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. The Passover had not been celebrated like this since the days of the prophet Samuel. None of the former kings had ever celebrated a Passover like this one celebrated by King Josiah, the priests, the Levites, and the people of Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem
Get yourselves ready with the family groups of your divisions, which are listed in the records of King David of Israel and the records of his son Solomon. Divide yourselves into groups. Then spread out throughout the Temple so that each family of worshipers will be able to get help from one of you. When the people bring you their Passover lamb, you must slaughter it and prepare it to be sacrificed to Jehovah. Make sure the people celebrate according to the instructions Jehovah gave Moses. Do not do anything to become unclean and unacceptable. Josiah donated thirty thousand sheep and goats, and three thousand bulls from his own flocks and herds for the people to offer as sacrifices. Josiah's officials also voluntarily gave some of their animals to the people, the priests, and the Levites as sacrifices. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, who were the officials in charge of the Temple, gave the priests twenty-six hundred sheep and lambs and three hundred bulls to sacrifice during the Passover celebration. Conaniah and his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel, and Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad, the leaders of the Levites, gave the Levites five thousand sheep and goats and five hundred bulls as Passover sacrifices. Thus the service was prepared. The priests took their positions with the Levites according to their divisions, as the king had ordered. They slaughtered the Passover lambs. The priests sprinkled the blood with their hands while the Levites skinned the lambs. They set aside the burnt offerings to give them to the people according to their family divisions. The people could then present them to Jehovah as is written in the Book of Moses. The Levites did the same with the bulls. The Levites roasted the Passover sacrifices over the fire, according to the regulations. They boiled the sacred offerings in pots, kettles, and pans, and quickly distributed the meat to the people. After this was done, the Levites provided meat for themselves and for the priests descended from Aaron. Since the priests were kept busy until night, burning the animals that were burned whole and the fat of the sacrifices. The following musicians of the Levite clan of Asaph were in the places assigned to them by King David's instructions: Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, the king's prophet. The guards at the Temple gates did not need to leave their posts, because the other Levites prepared the Passover for them. Everything was done that day as King Josiah commanded for the worship of Jehovah. This included the keeping of the Passover Festival, and the offering of burnt offerings on the altar. All the people of Israel who were present celebrated the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. The Passover had not been celebrated like this since the days of the prophet Samuel. None of the former kings had ever celebrated a Passover like this one celebrated by King Josiah, the priests, the Levites, and the people of Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem
Obedience » Instances of » Levites
Since there were not enough priests to kill all these animals, the Levites helped them until the work was finished. By then more priests had made themselves ritually clean. The Levites were more faithful in keeping ritually clean than the priests were.
Priest » Duties of » To offer sacrifices
Put your hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the Tent. The priests will throw its blood against all four sides of the altar.
The priest will dip his finger in some of the blood and sprinkle it seven times in Jehovah's presence in front of the veil.
Some of the priests will lay these pieces on the altar and send them up in smoke with a smell that pleases me, together with the sacrifice that is offered to Jehovah.
The priest will burn them on the altar. It is food, an offering by fire to Jehovah. It is a soothing aroma. All the fat belongs to Jehovah.
Since there were not enough priests to kill all these animals, the Levites helped them until the work was finished. By then more priests had made themselves ritually clean. The Levites were more faithful in keeping ritually clean than the priests were.
Every morning and every evening they offer him incense and animal sacrifices burned whole. They present the offerings of bread on a table that is ritually clean, and every evening they light the lamps on the gold lamp stand. We do what Jehovah has commanded! But you have abandoned him!
Give it to Aaron's sons the priests. The priest will take a handful of the flour and oil and all of the incense and burn it on the altar as a memorial. It is all offered by fire to Jehovah. The odor of this food offering is pleasing to Jehovah.
They were ordered to sacrifice burnt offerings to Jehovah. This happened on the altar of burnt offerings continually, morning and evening, as written in the Law of Jehovah that he gave Israel.
the priests and the Levites made themselves clean together. They were all clean when they put the Passover lamb to death for all those who had come back, and for their brothers the priests and for themselves.
He should lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering. It may then be accepted for him to make atonement with Jehovah on his behalf. Slaughter the bull in Jehovah's presence. Aaron's sons, the priests, will offer the blood. They will throw it against all sides of the altar that is at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Skin the burnt offering, and cut it into pieces. read more.
The sons of the priest Aaron will start a fire on the altar and lay the wood on the fire. Aaron's sons, the priests, will also lay the pieces, the head, and the fat on top of the wood burning on the altar. Wash the internal organs and legs. The priest will then burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to Jehovah. Should you are offer one of your sheep or goats; it must be a male without any defects. Slaughter it on the north side of the altar. The priests should throw its blood on all four sides of the altar. After you cut it up, the officiating priest will lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire. Wash the internal organs and the hind legs. The priest will present the sacrifice to Jehovah and burn all of it on the altar. The odor of this food offering is pleasing to Jehovah. If you are offering a bird as a burnt offering, it must be a dove or a pigeon. A priest will take the bird to the copper altar. He will wring its neck and put its head on the fire. Then he will drain out its blood on one side of the altar, Remove the bird's crop with its feathers, and throw them on the ash heap at the east side of the altar. Finally, he will take the bird by its wings, tear it partially open, and send it up in smoke with a smell that pleases Jehovah.
The sons of the priest Aaron will start a fire on the altar and lay the wood on the fire. Aaron's sons, the priests, will also lay the pieces, the head, and the fat on top of the wood burning on the altar. Wash the internal organs and legs. The priest will then burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to Jehovah. Should you are offer one of your sheep or goats; it must be a male without any defects. Slaughter it on the north side of the altar. The priests should throw its blood on all four sides of the altar. After you cut it up, the officiating priest will lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire. Wash the internal organs and the hind legs. The priest will present the sacrifice to Jehovah and burn all of it on the altar. The odor of this food offering is pleasing to Jehovah. If you are offering a bird as a burnt offering, it must be a dove or a pigeon. A priest will take the bird to the copper altar. He will wring its neck and put its head on the fire. Then he will drain out its blood on one side of the altar, Remove the bird's crop with its feathers, and throw them on the ash heap at the east side of the altar. Finally, he will take the bird by its wings, tear it partially open, and send it up in smoke with a smell that pleases Jehovah.
The priest will burn the flour, oil, and all the incense as a reminder. It is an offering by fire to Jehovah.
The priest must burn the offering on the altar. It is food, an offering by fire to Jehovah.
He will take a bowl of the blood inside the tent, dip a finger in the blood, and sprinkle some of it seven times toward the sacred chest behind the curtain. In my presence, he will smear some of the blood on each of the four corners of the incense altar, before pouring out the rest at the foot of the copper altar near the entrance to the tent. read more.
He must remove from it all the fat of the bull of the sin offering: the fat that covers the entrails, and all the fat which is on the entrails, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, which is on the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys It is to be removed from the bull of the sacrifice of peace offerings. The priest is to offer them up in smoke on the altar of burnt offering. But the hide of the bull and all its flesh with its head and its legs and its entrails and its refuse, He is to bring the rest of the bull to a clean place outside the camp where the ashes are poured out. There he will burn it on wood with fire; where the ashes are poured out it shall be burned.
He must remove from it all the fat of the bull of the sin offering: the fat that covers the entrails, and all the fat which is on the entrails, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, which is on the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys It is to be removed from the bull of the sacrifice of peace offerings. The priest is to offer them up in smoke on the altar of burnt offering. But the hide of the bull and all its flesh with its head and its legs and its entrails and its refuse, He is to bring the rest of the bull to a clean place outside the camp where the ashes are poured out. There he will burn it on wood with fire; where the ashes are poured out it shall be burned.
The priest will then take some of the blood of the offering for sin with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar for burnt offerings. He will burn all the fat on the altar the same way the fat of the fellowship offering is burned. The priest will pay compensation for the wrong and make peace for what the leader did wrong. The leader will be forgiven.
The priest will take some of the blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour the rest of the blood out at the bottom of the altar. He will remove all the fat the same way it is removed from the peace offering. The priest will burn it on the altar for a soothing aroma to Jehovah. So the priest will make peace with Jehovah for that person. That person will be forgiven. If someone brings a lamb as his offering for sin, he must bring a female that has no defects. read more.
He will place his hand on the animal's head and slaughter it where he slaughters animals for burnt offerings. Then the priest will take some of the blood from the offering for sin with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar. He will remove all the fat the same way the fat of the lamb is removed from the peace offerings. Then the priest will burn it on the altar with the offering by fire to Jehovah. Then the priest will pay compensation for the wrong and make peace with Jehovah for what that person did wrong. That person will be forgiven.
He will place his hand on the animal's head and slaughter it where he slaughters animals for burnt offerings. Then the priest will take some of the blood from the offering for sin with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar. He will remove all the fat the same way the fat of the lamb is removed from the peace offerings. Then the priest will burn it on the altar with the offering by fire to Jehovah. Then the priest will pay compensation for the wrong and make peace with Jehovah for what that person did wrong. That person will be forgiven.
They slaughtered the Passover lambs. The priests sprinkled the blood with their hands while the Levites skinned the lambs. They set aside the burnt offerings to give them to the people according to their family divisions. The people could then present them to Jehovah as is written in the Book of Moses. The Levites did the same with the bulls. The Levites roasted the Passover sacrifices over the fire, according to the regulations. They boiled the sacred offerings in pots, kettles, and pans, and quickly distributed the meat to the people. read more.
After this was done, the Levites provided meat for themselves and for the priests descended from Aaron. Since the priests were kept busy until night, burning the animals that were burned whole and the fat of the sacrifices.
After this was done, the Levites provided meat for themselves and for the priests descended from Aaron. Since the priests were kept busy until night, burning the animals that were burned whole and the fat of the sacrifices.
Every priest stands daily, serving and offering time after time the same sacrifices. Yet they can never take away sins.
priests » Services of » Offering sacrifices
Since there were not enough priests to kill all these animals, the Levites helped them until the work was finished. By then more priests had made themselves ritually clean. The Levites were more faithful in keeping ritually clean than the priests were.
They slaughtered the Passover lambs. The priests sprinkled the blood with their hands while the Levites skinned the lambs.
priests » Were sometimes » Slow to sanctify themselves for God's services
Since there were not enough priests to kill all these animals, the Levites helped them until the work was finished. By then more priests had made themselves ritually clean. The Levites were more faithful in keeping ritually clean than the priests were.
The First Temple » Historical notices of » Purified and divine worship restored under hezekiah
In the first month of his first year as king, he opened the doors of Jehovah's temple and repaired them. He assembled the priests and Levites in the square on the east side of the temple. He said: Listen to me, Levites. Perform the ceremonies to make the temple of Jehovah the God of your ancestors holy. Remove anything that has been corrupted from the holy place. read more.
Our ancestors were unfaithful and did what Jehovah our God considered evil. They deserted him. They turned away from Jehovah's tent and turned their backs on him. They also shut the doors of the temple's entrance hall. They extinguished the lamps, and did not burn incense or sacrifice burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. Jehovah was angry with Judah and Jerusalem. He made them something that shocks and terrifies people and that people ridicule, as you can see with your own eyes. Our fathers were killed in battle. Our sons, daughters, and wives are prisoners because of this. Now I intend to make a pledge to Jehovah the God of Israel so that he may turn his burning anger away from us. Do not be negligent, my sons. Jehovah has chosen you to stand in front of him, serve him, be his servants, and burn sacrifices. So the Levites started to work. From Kohath's descendants were Mahath, son of Amasai, and Joel, son of Azariah. From Merari's descendants were Kish, son of Abdi, and Azariah, son of Jehallelel. From Gershon's descendants were Joah, son of Zimmah, and Eden, son of Joah. From Elizaphan's descendants were Shimri and Jeiel. From Asaph's descendants were Zechariah and Mattaniah. From Heman's descendants were Jehiel and Shimei. From Jeduthun's descendants were Shemaiah and Uzziel. These men gathered their relatives and performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy. They obeyed the king's order from Jehovah's word and entered the Temple to make it clean. The priests entered Jehovah's temple to make it clean. They carried into the courtyard every unclean thing that they found in Jehovah's Temple. Then the Levites took the unclean items outside the city to the Kidron Brook. They started on the first day of the first month. On the eighth day they went into Jehovah's entrance hall. For eight days they performed the ceremonies to make Jehovah's Temple holy. They finished on the sixteenth day of the first month. Then they went to King Hezekiah. They said: We have made Jehovah's entire temple clean. This includes the altar for burnt offerings, all its utensils, the table for the rows of bread and all its utensils, and all the utensils King Ahaz refused to use during his reign when he was unfaithful. We have restored them and made them holy. They are in front of Jehovah's altar. Early in the morning Hezekiah assembled the leaders of the city and went to Jehovah's Temple. They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as an offering for sin for the kingdom, the holy place, and Judah. Hezekiah told the priests, Aaron's descendants, to sacrifice the animals on Jehovah's altar. So they slaughtered the bulls. The priests sprinkled the blood on the altar. Then they slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar. After that, they slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar. Then they brought the male goats for the offering for sin in front of the king and the assembly, who laid their hands on them. The priests killed the goats and poured their blood on the altar as a sacrifice to take away the sin of all the people. The king commanded that burnt offerings and sin offerings be made for all Israel. The king followed the instructions Jehovah gave to King David through Gad, the king's prophet, and through the prophet Nathan. He stationed Levites in the Temple, with harps and cymbals, and instruments like those that King David used. The priests also stood there with trumpets. Hezekiah gave the order for the burnt offering to be presented. The offering began and the people sang praise to Jehovah. The musicians began to play the trumpets and all the other instruments. Everyone there joined in worship. The singing and the rest of the music continued until all the sacrifices were burned. King Hezekiah and all the people knelt down and worshiped God. The king and the leaders of the nation told the Levites to sing to Jehovah the songs of praise that were written by David and by Asaph the prophet. So everyone sang with great joy as they knelt and worshiped God. Hezekiah said to the people: Now that you are ritually clean, bring sacrifices as offerings of thanksgiving to Jehovah. They obeyed, and some of them also voluntarily brought animals to be sacrificed as burnt offerings. They brought seventy bulls, one hundred sheep, and two hundred lambs as burnt offerings for Jehovah. They also brought six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep as sacrifices for the people to eat. Since there were not enough priests to kill all these animals, the Levites helped them until the work was finished. By then more priests had made themselves ritually clean. The Levites were more faithful in keeping ritually clean than the priests were. In addition to offering the sacrifices that were burned whole, the priests were responsible for burning the fat that was offered from the sacrifices the people ate, and for pouring out the wine that was presented with the burnt offerings. Thus worship in the Temple began again.
Our ancestors were unfaithful and did what Jehovah our God considered evil. They deserted him. They turned away from Jehovah's tent and turned their backs on him. They also shut the doors of the temple's entrance hall. They extinguished the lamps, and did not burn incense or sacrifice burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. Jehovah was angry with Judah and Jerusalem. He made them something that shocks and terrifies people and that people ridicule, as you can see with your own eyes. Our fathers were killed in battle. Our sons, daughters, and wives are prisoners because of this. Now I intend to make a pledge to Jehovah the God of Israel so that he may turn his burning anger away from us. Do not be negligent, my sons. Jehovah has chosen you to stand in front of him, serve him, be his servants, and burn sacrifices. So the Levites started to work. From Kohath's descendants were Mahath, son of Amasai, and Joel, son of Azariah. From Merari's descendants were Kish, son of Abdi, and Azariah, son of Jehallelel. From Gershon's descendants were Joah, son of Zimmah, and Eden, son of Joah. From Elizaphan's descendants were Shimri and Jeiel. From Asaph's descendants were Zechariah and Mattaniah. From Heman's descendants were Jehiel and Shimei. From Jeduthun's descendants were Shemaiah and Uzziel. These men gathered their relatives and performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy. They obeyed the king's order from Jehovah's word and entered the Temple to make it clean. The priests entered Jehovah's temple to make it clean. They carried into the courtyard every unclean thing that they found in Jehovah's Temple. Then the Levites took the unclean items outside the city to the Kidron Brook. They started on the first day of the first month. On the eighth day they went into Jehovah's entrance hall. For eight days they performed the ceremonies to make Jehovah's Temple holy. They finished on the sixteenth day of the first month. Then they went to King Hezekiah. They said: We have made Jehovah's entire temple clean. This includes the altar for burnt offerings, all its utensils, the table for the rows of bread and all its utensils, and all the utensils King Ahaz refused to use during his reign when he was unfaithful. We have restored them and made them holy. They are in front of Jehovah's altar. Early in the morning Hezekiah assembled the leaders of the city and went to Jehovah's Temple. They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as an offering for sin for the kingdom, the holy place, and Judah. Hezekiah told the priests, Aaron's descendants, to sacrifice the animals on Jehovah's altar. So they slaughtered the bulls. The priests sprinkled the blood on the altar. Then they slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar. After that, they slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar. Then they brought the male goats for the offering for sin in front of the king and the assembly, who laid their hands on them. The priests killed the goats and poured their blood on the altar as a sacrifice to take away the sin of all the people. The king commanded that burnt offerings and sin offerings be made for all Israel. The king followed the instructions Jehovah gave to King David through Gad, the king's prophet, and through the prophet Nathan. He stationed Levites in the Temple, with harps and cymbals, and instruments like those that King David used. The priests also stood there with trumpets. Hezekiah gave the order for the burnt offering to be presented. The offering began and the people sang praise to Jehovah. The musicians began to play the trumpets and all the other instruments. Everyone there joined in worship. The singing and the rest of the music continued until all the sacrifices were burned. King Hezekiah and all the people knelt down and worshiped God. The king and the leaders of the nation told the Levites to sing to Jehovah the songs of praise that were written by David and by Asaph the prophet. So everyone sang with great joy as they knelt and worshiped God. Hezekiah said to the people: Now that you are ritually clean, bring sacrifices as offerings of thanksgiving to Jehovah. They obeyed, and some of them also voluntarily brought animals to be sacrificed as burnt offerings. They brought seventy bulls, one hundred sheep, and two hundred lambs as burnt offerings for Jehovah. They also brought six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep as sacrifices for the people to eat. Since there were not enough priests to kill all these animals, the Levites helped them until the work was finished. By then more priests had made themselves ritually clean. The Levites were more faithful in keeping ritually clean than the priests were. In addition to offering the sacrifices that were burned whole, the priests were responsible for burning the fat that was offered from the sacrifices the people ate, and for pouring out the wine that was presented with the burnt offerings. Thus worship in the Temple began again.
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Since there were not enough priests to kill all these animals, the Levites helped them until the work was finished. By then more priests had made themselves ritually clean. The Levites were more faithful in keeping ritually clean than the priests were.