Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Form » In religious service
Because the first time you did not, [and] Yahweh our God burst out against us, for we did not care for it according to the law." Then the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
But the priests were too few, and they were not able to offer all the burnt offerings, so their brothers, the Levites, strengthened them to finish the work, and until the [rest of] the priests consecrated themselves. (For the Levites [were] {more conscientious} to sanctify themselves than the priests.)
Levites » Assisted the priests in preparing the sacrifice
Then the Levites arose--Mahath the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Azariah, from the Kohathites; and Kish the son of Abdi and Azariah the son of Jehallelel from the Merarites; and Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah, from the Gershonites. And from the descendants of Elizaphan: Shimri and Jeiel; and from the descendants of Asaph: Zechariah and Mattaniah; and from the descendants of Heman: Jeiel and Shimei; and from the descendants of Jeduthun: Shemaiah and Uzziel-- read more.
and they gathered their brothers and sanctified themselves, and they went in according to the command of the king because of the words of Yahweh, to purify the house of Yahweh. And the priests went into the inner [part] of the house of Yahweh to purify [it]. And they brought out all the impurity that they found in the temple of Yahweh [out] to the courtyard of the house of Yahweh. And the Levites took [them] to bring [them] outside to the Wadi Kidron. And they began to sanctify themselves on the first day of the first month. And on the eighth day of the month they came to the portico of Yahweh. And they sanctified the house of Yahweh for eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished. And they went into the inner [part] to King Hezekiah and said, "We have cleansed all the house of Yahweh: the altar of burnt offering, all its objects, the table of the rows [of bread] and all its objects, and all the objects that King Ahaz discarded in his reign when he sinned, we have prepared and sanctified. Look, they [are] before the altar of Yahweh." Then King Hezekiah rose early and gathered the officials of the city, and he went up to the house of Yahweh. And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as a purification offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the descendants of Aaron, the priests, to offer [them] on the altar of Yahweh. And they slaughtered the cattle, and the priests received the blood and threw it toward the altar. Then they slaughtered the rams and threw the blood toward the altar, and then they slaughtered the lambs and threw the blood toward the altar. Then they brought the goats of the sin offering before the king and the assembly, and they laid hands upon them. And the priest killed them and offered their blood against the altar to make atonement for all Israel, for the king had commanded the burnt offering and the sin offering for all Israel. And he stood the Levites [in] the house of Yahweh with cymbals, harps, and lyres, according to the command of David and Gad, the seer of the king, and Nathan the prophet, for the command [was] by the hand of Yahweh by the hand of his prophets. When the Levites stood with the objects of David and the priests with the trumpets, Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And at the time the burnt offering began, the song of Yahweh began, and also the trumpets, at the hands of [the] instruments of David king of Israel. Then all the assembly bowed down, and the song was sung, and the trumpeters trumpeted--all [together] until the end of the burnt offering. And when the offering was finished, the king and all who were found with him knelt down and bowed themselves. Then King Hezekiah and the princes commanded the Levites to praise Yahweh with the words of David and Asaph the seer. So they offered praise with joy, and they bowed down and worshiped. Then Hezekiah answered and said, "Now {you have consecrated yourselves} to Yahweh. Come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of Yahweh!" And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all [who were] willing in heart [brought] burnt offerings. And the number of burnt offerings that the assembly brought was seventy cattle, one hundred rams, two hundred lambs--all these [were] to offer to Yahweh. And the consecrated offerings of cattle [were] six hundred cattle and three thousand sheep. But the priests were too few, and they were not able to offer all the burnt offerings, so their brothers, the Levites, strengthened them to finish the work, and until the [rest of] the priests consecrated themselves. (For the Levites [were] {more conscientious} to sanctify themselves than the priests.) And beside the many burnt offerings [was] the fat of the peace offerings and the libations for the burnt offerings. So the service of the house of Yahweh was established. And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced over what God had established with the people, for the matter happened suddenly.
and they gathered their brothers and sanctified themselves, and they went in according to the command of the king because of the words of Yahweh, to purify the house of Yahweh. And the priests went into the inner [part] of the house of Yahweh to purify [it]. And they brought out all the impurity that they found in the temple of Yahweh [out] to the courtyard of the house of Yahweh. And the Levites took [them] to bring [them] outside to the Wadi Kidron. And they began to sanctify themselves on the first day of the first month. And on the eighth day of the month they came to the portico of Yahweh. And they sanctified the house of Yahweh for eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished. And they went into the inner [part] to King Hezekiah and said, "We have cleansed all the house of Yahweh: the altar of burnt offering, all its objects, the table of the rows [of bread] and all its objects, and all the objects that King Ahaz discarded in his reign when he sinned, we have prepared and sanctified. Look, they [are] before the altar of Yahweh." Then King Hezekiah rose early and gathered the officials of the city, and he went up to the house of Yahweh. And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as a purification offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the descendants of Aaron, the priests, to offer [them] on the altar of Yahweh. And they slaughtered the cattle, and the priests received the blood and threw it toward the altar. Then they slaughtered the rams and threw the blood toward the altar, and then they slaughtered the lambs and threw the blood toward the altar. Then they brought the goats of the sin offering before the king and the assembly, and they laid hands upon them. And the priest killed them and offered their blood against the altar to make atonement for all Israel, for the king had commanded the burnt offering and the sin offering for all Israel. And he stood the Levites [in] the house of Yahweh with cymbals, harps, and lyres, according to the command of David and Gad, the seer of the king, and Nathan the prophet, for the command [was] by the hand of Yahweh by the hand of his prophets. When the Levites stood with the objects of David and the priests with the trumpets, Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And at the time the burnt offering began, the song of Yahweh began, and also the trumpets, at the hands of [the] instruments of David king of Israel. Then all the assembly bowed down, and the song was sung, and the trumpeters trumpeted--all [together] until the end of the burnt offering. And when the offering was finished, the king and all who were found with him knelt down and bowed themselves. Then King Hezekiah and the princes commanded the Levites to praise Yahweh with the words of David and Asaph the seer. So they offered praise with joy, and they bowed down and worshiped. Then Hezekiah answered and said, "Now {you have consecrated yourselves} to Yahweh. Come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of Yahweh!" And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all [who were] willing in heart [brought] burnt offerings. And the number of burnt offerings that the assembly brought was seventy cattle, one hundred rams, two hundred lambs--all these [were] to offer to Yahweh. And the consecrated offerings of cattle [were] six hundred cattle and three thousand sheep. But the priests were too few, and they were not able to offer all the burnt offerings, so their brothers, the Levites, strengthened them to finish the work, and until the [rest of] the priests consecrated themselves. (For the Levites [were] {more conscientious} to sanctify themselves than the priests.) And beside the many burnt offerings [was] the fat of the peace offerings and the libations for the burnt offerings. So the service of the house of Yahweh was established. And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced over what God had established with the people, for the matter happened suddenly.
Josiah kept the Passover to Yahweh in Jerusalem. And they slaughtered the Passover [sacrifice] on the fourteenth day of the first month. And he set the priests at their posts and encouraged them in the service of the house of Yahweh. And he said to the Levites who [were] teaching all Israel, who were sanctified to Yahweh, "Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, built. There is no [need] to carry it on [your] shoulders. Now serve Yahweh your God and his people Israel. read more.
And prepare yourselves according to {your families}, according to your working groups, according to the decree of David king of Israel and according to the decree of Solomon his son. And stand in the sanctuary according to the clans of {your families} for your brothers, the {lay people}, and a part of the {family} of the Levites. And slaughter the Passover [lamb] and consecrate yourself and prepare for your brothers to do according to the word of Yahweh by the hand of Moses. Then Josiah provided for the {lay people} sheep, lambs, and young goats, all for the Passover for all who were found [there], to the sum of thirty thousand, along with three thousand bulls. These [were] the possession of the king. And his officials contributed a freewill offering to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, commanders of the house of God, gave to the priests two thousand six hundred Passover [lambs] and three hundred bulls. Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethanel his brothers, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jehozabad, commanders of the Levites, contributed to the Levites five thousand Passover [lambs] and five hundred bulls. And when the work had been completed, the priests stood at their positions and the Levites in their working groups according to the command of the king. And they slaughtered the Passover [lamb], and the priests sprinkled [the blood] from their hand, and the Levites flayed [the sacrifices]. And they set aside the burnt offerings to give them to the clans of the {families} for the {lay people}, to offer to Yahweh according to what is written in the scroll of Moses. And thus they did with the bulls. Then they roasted the Passover [lamb] in the fire according to the ordinance. And they boiled the holy offerings in pots, in kettles, and in dishes and brought it quickly to the {lay people}. And afterward they prepared for themselves and for the priests, since the priests, the descendants of Aaron, [were busy] with offering the burnt offerings and the fat until night. So the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests, the descendants of Aaron. And the singers, the descendants of Asaph, [were] at their stations according to the decree of David and Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, the seer of the king. And the gatekeepers [were] at {each gate}. They did not need to depart from their service, for their brothers the Levites had made preparations for them. So all the service of Yahweh was prepared on that day to keep the Passover and to sacrifice burnt offerings on the altar of Yahweh, according to the command of King Josiah. And the Israelites who were present kept the Passover at that time, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days. And there was no Passover like it kept in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. And none of the kings of Israel kept a Passover like that which Josiah and the priests and the Levites, and all of Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, kept.
And prepare yourselves according to {your families}, according to your working groups, according to the decree of David king of Israel and according to the decree of Solomon his son. And stand in the sanctuary according to the clans of {your families} for your brothers, the {lay people}, and a part of the {family} of the Levites. And slaughter the Passover [lamb] and consecrate yourself and prepare for your brothers to do according to the word of Yahweh by the hand of Moses. Then Josiah provided for the {lay people} sheep, lambs, and young goats, all for the Passover for all who were found [there], to the sum of thirty thousand, along with three thousand bulls. These [were] the possession of the king. And his officials contributed a freewill offering to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, commanders of the house of God, gave to the priests two thousand six hundred Passover [lambs] and three hundred bulls. Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethanel his brothers, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jehozabad, commanders of the Levites, contributed to the Levites five thousand Passover [lambs] and five hundred bulls. And when the work had been completed, the priests stood at their positions and the Levites in their working groups according to the command of the king. And they slaughtered the Passover [lamb], and the priests sprinkled [the blood] from their hand, and the Levites flayed [the sacrifices]. And they set aside the burnt offerings to give them to the clans of the {families} for the {lay people}, to offer to Yahweh according to what is written in the scroll of Moses. And thus they did with the bulls. Then they roasted the Passover [lamb] in the fire according to the ordinance. And they boiled the holy offerings in pots, in kettles, and in dishes and brought it quickly to the {lay people}. And afterward they prepared for themselves and for the priests, since the priests, the descendants of Aaron, [were busy] with offering the burnt offerings and the fat until night. So the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests, the descendants of Aaron. And the singers, the descendants of Asaph, [were] at their stations according to the decree of David and Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, the seer of the king. And the gatekeepers [were] at {each gate}. They did not need to depart from their service, for their brothers the Levites had made preparations for them. So all the service of Yahweh was prepared on that day to keep the Passover and to sacrifice burnt offerings on the altar of Yahweh, according to the command of King Josiah. And the Israelites who were present kept the Passover at that time, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days. And there was no Passover like it kept in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. And none of the kings of Israel kept a Passover like that which Josiah and the priests and the Levites, and all of Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, kept.
Obedience » Instances of » Levites
But the priests were too few, and they were not able to offer all the burnt offerings, so their brothers, the Levites, strengthened them to finish the work, and until the [rest of] the priests consecrated themselves. (For the Levites [were] {more conscientious} to sanctify themselves than the priests.)
Priest » Duties of » To offer sacrifices
and he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and he shall slaughter it before the tent of assembly, and Aaron's sons shall sprinkle its blood on the altar all around.
and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and shall spatter it seven times before Yahweh in front of the curtain.
Aaron's sons shall turn it to smoke on the altar in addition to the burnt offering that [is] on the wood, which [is] on the fire; it [is] an offering made by fire [as] an appeasing fragrance for Yahweh.
The priest shall turn them into smoke on the altar [as] a food [offering]; all the fat [is] an offering made by fire [as] an appeasing fragrance for Yahweh.
But the priests were too few, and they were not able to offer all the burnt offerings, so their brothers, the Levites, strengthened them to finish the work, and until the [rest of] the priests consecrated themselves. (For the Levites [were] {more conscientious} to sanctify themselves than the priests.)
They offer burnt offerings to Yahweh {every morning} and {every evening}, sweet spices of incense, and the rows of bread upon the pure table. And the golden lampstand with its lamps [they] keep kindled {every evening}, for we are keeping the requirement of Yahweh our God, but you yourselves have forsaken him.
And he shall bring it to the sons of Aaron, the priests, and he shall take {his handful from its finely milled flour} and from its oil in addition to all its frankincense. The priest shall turn its token portion into smoke on the altar [as] an offering made [by] fire, [as] an appeasing fragrance for Yahweh.
to offer burnt offerings regularly to Yahweh on the altar of burnt offering, morning and evening, according to all that was written in the law of Yahweh that he commanded concerning Israel.
For the priests and Levites together had consecrated themselves; all of them were clean. And they slaughtered the Passover sacrifice for all of the returned exiles, for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.
" 'He must lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering and it will be accepted for him [in order] to make atonement for him. He must slaughter {the young bull} {before} Yahweh, then Aaron's sons, the priests, will present the blood and sprinkle the blood all around the altar that [is] [at] the door of the tent of assembly. Then he must remove [the] skin [of] the burnt offering and cut it into its pieces. read more.
The sons of Aaron the priest will put fire on the altar and arrange the wood on the fire. Then Aaron's sons, the priests, will arrange the pieces [of meat], the head, and the suet on the wood that [is] on the fire that [is] on the altar. Then he must wash its inner parts and its lower leg bones with water, and the priest will turn into smoke the whole [animal] on the altar [as] a burnt offering [by] fire, [as] an appeasing fragrance for Yahweh. " 'But if his offering [is] from the flock, from the sheep or from the goats for a burnt offering, he must present an unblemished male. He must slaughter it on the north side of the altar {before} Yahweh; then Aaron's sons, the priests, will sprinkle its blood all around the altar. Then he must cut it into pieces [along] with its head and its suet; and the priest will arrange them on the wood that [is] on the fire that [is] on the altar. Then he must wash the inner parts and the lower leg bones with water and the priest shall present the whole [animal] and will turn [it] into smoke on the altar; it [is] a burnt offering [by] fire [as] an appeasing fragrance for Yahweh. " 'But if his offering for Yahweh is a burnt offering from the birds, [then] he must present his offering from the turtledoves or from {the young doves}. The priest will present it at the altar and must wring off its head and turn [it] into smoke on the altar, and its blood will be drained out on the wall of the altar. He must remove its crop with its plumage and throw it to the east beside the altar on the place of the fatty ashes. Then he must tear it apart by its wings [but] must not sever [it]; then the priest will turn it into smoke on the altar. It [is] a burnt offering [by] fire [as] an appeasing fragrance for Yahweh.'"
The sons of Aaron the priest will put fire on the altar and arrange the wood on the fire. Then Aaron's sons, the priests, will arrange the pieces [of meat], the head, and the suet on the wood that [is] on the fire that [is] on the altar. Then he must wash its inner parts and its lower leg bones with water, and the priest will turn into smoke the whole [animal] on the altar [as] a burnt offering [by] fire, [as] an appeasing fragrance for Yahweh. " 'But if his offering [is] from the flock, from the sheep or from the goats for a burnt offering, he must present an unblemished male. He must slaughter it on the north side of the altar {before} Yahweh; then Aaron's sons, the priests, will sprinkle its blood all around the altar. Then he must cut it into pieces [along] with its head and its suet; and the priest will arrange them on the wood that [is] on the fire that [is] on the altar. Then he must wash the inner parts and the lower leg bones with water and the priest shall present the whole [animal] and will turn [it] into smoke on the altar; it [is] a burnt offering [by] fire [as] an appeasing fragrance for Yahweh. " 'But if his offering for Yahweh is a burnt offering from the birds, [then] he must present his offering from the turtledoves or from {the young doves}. The priest will present it at the altar and must wring off its head and turn [it] into smoke on the altar, and its blood will be drained out on the wall of the altar. He must remove its crop with its plumage and throw it to the east beside the altar on the place of the fatty ashes. Then he must tear it apart by its wings [but] must not sever [it]; then the priest will turn it into smoke on the altar. It [is] a burnt offering [by] fire [as] an appeasing fragrance for Yahweh.'"
The priest shall turn into smoke its token portion from its coarsely crushed grain together with all of its frankincense--[it is] an offering made by fire for Yahweh.'"
The priest shall turn it into smoke on the altar [as] a food offering made by fire for Yahweh.
The anointed priest shall take {some of} the bull's blood and shall bring it to [the] tent of assembly, and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and shall spatter {some of} the blood seven times before Yahweh in front of the sanctuary's curtain. The priest shall put {some of} the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense before Yahweh, which [is] in [the] tent of assembly, and all [the rest] of the bull's blood he must pour out on the base of the altar of the burnt offering, which [is at the] entrance of [the] tent of assembly. read more.
" 'He must remove all the fat from the bull of the sin offering: the fat that covers the inner parts and all of the fat that [is] on the inner parts, the two kidneys and the fat that [is] on them, and the liver's lobe [that] he must remove in addition to the kidneys-- just as it is removed from the ox of the fellowship offerings' sacrifice--and the priest shall turn them into smoke on the altar of the burnt offering. But the bull's skin and its meat, in addition to its head, {its lower leg bones}, its inner parts, and its offal-- he shall carry all of the bull {outside the camp} to a ceremonially clean place, to the fatty ashes' dump, and he shall burn it on wood in the fire; it must be burned up on the fatty ashes' dump.
" 'He must remove all the fat from the bull of the sin offering: the fat that covers the inner parts and all of the fat that [is] on the inner parts, the two kidneys and the fat that [is] on them, and the liver's lobe [that] he must remove in addition to the kidneys-- just as it is removed from the ox of the fellowship offerings' sacrifice--and the priest shall turn them into smoke on the altar of the burnt offering. But the bull's skin and its meat, in addition to its head, {its lower leg bones}, its inner parts, and its offal-- he shall carry all of the bull {outside the camp} to a ceremonially clean place, to the fatty ashes' dump, and he shall burn it on wood in the fire; it must be burned up on the fatty ashes' dump.
The priest shall take {some of} the sin offering's blood with his finger, and he shall put [it] on the horns of the altar of the burnt offering, and he must pour out [the rest of] its blood on the base of the altar of the burnt offering. He must turn all of its fat into smoke on the altar like the fat of the fellowship offerings' sacrifice, and the priest shall make atonement for him {because of} his sin, and {he will be forgiven}.
The priest shall take {some of} its blood with his finger, and he shall put [it] on the horns of the altar of the burnt offering, and he must pour out all [the rest of] its blood on the altar's base. He must remove all of its fat {just as} [the] fat was removed from the fellowship offerings' sacrifice, and the priest shall turn [it] into smoke on the altar as an appeasing fragrance for Yahweh. The priest shall make atonement for him, and {he will be forgiven}. " 'But if he brings a lamb [as] his offering for a sin offering, he must bring a female without defect. read more.
He shall place his hand on the sin offering's head, and he shall slaughter it as a sin offering in the place where he slaughtered the burnt offering. The priest shall take {some of} the sin offering's blood with his finger, and he shall put [it] on the horns of the altar of the burnt offering, and he must pour out all [the rest] of its blood on the altar's base. He must remove all of its fat {just as} the lamb's fat from the fellowship offerings' sacrifice was removed, and the priest shall turn them into smoke on the altar upon Yahweh's offerings made by fire; and the priest shall make atonement for him because of his sin that he {committed}, and {he will be forgiven}.'"
He shall place his hand on the sin offering's head, and he shall slaughter it as a sin offering in the place where he slaughtered the burnt offering. The priest shall take {some of} the sin offering's blood with his finger, and he shall put [it] on the horns of the altar of the burnt offering, and he must pour out all [the rest] of its blood on the altar's base. He must remove all of its fat {just as} the lamb's fat from the fellowship offerings' sacrifice was removed, and the priest shall turn them into smoke on the altar upon Yahweh's offerings made by fire; and the priest shall make atonement for him because of his sin that he {committed}, and {he will be forgiven}.'"
And they slaughtered the Passover [lamb], and the priests sprinkled [the blood] from their hand, and the Levites flayed [the sacrifices]. And they set aside the burnt offerings to give them to the clans of the {families} for the {lay people}, to offer to Yahweh according to what is written in the scroll of Moses. And thus they did with the bulls. Then they roasted the Passover [lamb] in the fire according to the ordinance. And they boiled the holy offerings in pots, in kettles, and in dishes and brought it quickly to the {lay people}. read more.
And afterward they prepared for themselves and for the priests, since the priests, the descendants of Aaron, [were busy] with offering the burnt offerings and the fat until night. So the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests, the descendants of Aaron.
And afterward they prepared for themselves and for the priests, since the priests, the descendants of Aaron, [were busy] with offering the burnt offerings and the fat until night. So the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests, the descendants of Aaron.
And every priest stands every day serving and offering the same sacrifices many times, which are never able to take away sins.
priests » Services of » Offering sacrifices
But the priests were too few, and they were not able to offer all the burnt offerings, so their brothers, the Levites, strengthened them to finish the work, and until the [rest of] the priests consecrated themselves. (For the Levites [were] {more conscientious} to sanctify themselves than the priests.)
And they slaughtered the Passover [lamb], and the priests sprinkled [the blood] from their hand, and the Levites flayed [the sacrifices].
priests » Were sometimes » Slow to sanctify themselves for God's services
But the priests were too few, and they were not able to offer all the burnt offerings, so their brothers, the Levites, strengthened them to finish the work, and until the [rest of] the priests consecrated themselves. (For the Levites [were] {more conscientious} to sanctify themselves than the priests.)
The First Temple » Historical notices of » Purified and divine worship restored under hezekiah
In the first year of his kingship, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of Yahweh and strengthened them. And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and he gathered them into the eastern square. And he said to them, "Hear me, O Levites! Sanctify yourselves now, and sanctify the house of Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, and bring out the defilement from the sanctuary. read more.
For our ancestors acted unfaithfully and did evil in the sight of Yahweh our God, and have forsaken him and turned away their faces from the dwelling place of Yahweh. {They have turned their backs} [on it]. They also shut the doors of the portico and extinguished the lamps. And they did not burn incense or offer burnt offerings in the sanctuary to the God of Israel. And the wrath of Yahweh was upon Judah and Jerusalem. And he made them as an abhorrence, as a desolation and an object of scorn, as you see with your own eyes. Now behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives [are] in captivity on account of this. Now {it is in my heart} to {make} a covenant with Yahweh, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger might turn away from him. Now, my sons, do not be negligent, for Yahweh has chosen you to stand before him to serve him and to be his servants and incense burners." Then the Levites arose--Mahath the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Azariah, from the Kohathites; and Kish the son of Abdi and Azariah the son of Jehallelel from the Merarites; and Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah, from the Gershonites. And from the descendants of Elizaphan: Shimri and Jeiel; and from the descendants of Asaph: Zechariah and Mattaniah; and from the descendants of Heman: Jeiel and Shimei; and from the descendants of Jeduthun: Shemaiah and Uzziel-- and they gathered their brothers and sanctified themselves, and they went in according to the command of the king because of the words of Yahweh, to purify the house of Yahweh. And the priests went into the inner [part] of the house of Yahweh to purify [it]. And they brought out all the impurity that they found in the temple of Yahweh [out] to the courtyard of the house of Yahweh. And the Levites took [them] to bring [them] outside to the Wadi Kidron. And they began to sanctify themselves on the first day of the first month. And on the eighth day of the month they came to the portico of Yahweh. And they sanctified the house of Yahweh for eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished. And they went into the inner [part] to King Hezekiah and said, "We have cleansed all the house of Yahweh: the altar of burnt offering, all its objects, the table of the rows [of bread] and all its objects, and all the objects that King Ahaz discarded in his reign when he sinned, we have prepared and sanctified. Look, they [are] before the altar of Yahweh." Then King Hezekiah rose early and gathered the officials of the city, and he went up to the house of Yahweh. And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as a purification offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the descendants of Aaron, the priests, to offer [them] on the altar of Yahweh. And they slaughtered the cattle, and the priests received the blood and threw it toward the altar. Then they slaughtered the rams and threw the blood toward the altar, and then they slaughtered the lambs and threw the blood toward the altar. Then they brought the goats of the sin offering before the king and the assembly, and they laid hands upon them. And the priest killed them and offered their blood against the altar to make atonement for all Israel, for the king had commanded the burnt offering and the sin offering for all Israel. And he stood the Levites [in] the house of Yahweh with cymbals, harps, and lyres, according to the command of David and Gad, the seer of the king, and Nathan the prophet, for the command [was] by the hand of Yahweh by the hand of his prophets. When the Levites stood with the objects of David and the priests with the trumpets, Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And at the time the burnt offering began, the song of Yahweh began, and also the trumpets, at the hands of [the] instruments of David king of Israel. Then all the assembly bowed down, and the song was sung, and the trumpeters trumpeted--all [together] until the end of the burnt offering. And when the offering was finished, the king and all who were found with him knelt down and bowed themselves. Then King Hezekiah and the princes commanded the Levites to praise Yahweh with the words of David and Asaph the seer. So they offered praise with joy, and they bowed down and worshiped. Then Hezekiah answered and said, "Now {you have consecrated yourselves} to Yahweh. Come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of Yahweh!" And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all [who were] willing in heart [brought] burnt offerings. And the number of burnt offerings that the assembly brought was seventy cattle, one hundred rams, two hundred lambs--all these [were] to offer to Yahweh. And the consecrated offerings of cattle [were] six hundred cattle and three thousand sheep. But the priests were too few, and they were not able to offer all the burnt offerings, so their brothers, the Levites, strengthened them to finish the work, and until the [rest of] the priests consecrated themselves. (For the Levites [were] {more conscientious} to sanctify themselves than the priests.) And beside the many burnt offerings [was] the fat of the peace offerings and the libations for the burnt offerings. So the service of the house of Yahweh was established.
For our ancestors acted unfaithfully and did evil in the sight of Yahweh our God, and have forsaken him and turned away their faces from the dwelling place of Yahweh. {They have turned their backs} [on it]. They also shut the doors of the portico and extinguished the lamps. And they did not burn incense or offer burnt offerings in the sanctuary to the God of Israel. And the wrath of Yahweh was upon Judah and Jerusalem. And he made them as an abhorrence, as a desolation and an object of scorn, as you see with your own eyes. Now behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives [are] in captivity on account of this. Now {it is in my heart} to {make} a covenant with Yahweh, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger might turn away from him. Now, my sons, do not be negligent, for Yahweh has chosen you to stand before him to serve him and to be his servants and incense burners." Then the Levites arose--Mahath the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Azariah, from the Kohathites; and Kish the son of Abdi and Azariah the son of Jehallelel from the Merarites; and Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah, from the Gershonites. And from the descendants of Elizaphan: Shimri and Jeiel; and from the descendants of Asaph: Zechariah and Mattaniah; and from the descendants of Heman: Jeiel and Shimei; and from the descendants of Jeduthun: Shemaiah and Uzziel-- and they gathered their brothers and sanctified themselves, and they went in according to the command of the king because of the words of Yahweh, to purify the house of Yahweh. And the priests went into the inner [part] of the house of Yahweh to purify [it]. And they brought out all the impurity that they found in the temple of Yahweh [out] to the courtyard of the house of Yahweh. And the Levites took [them] to bring [them] outside to the Wadi Kidron. And they began to sanctify themselves on the first day of the first month. And on the eighth day of the month they came to the portico of Yahweh. And they sanctified the house of Yahweh for eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished. And they went into the inner [part] to King Hezekiah and said, "We have cleansed all the house of Yahweh: the altar of burnt offering, all its objects, the table of the rows [of bread] and all its objects, and all the objects that King Ahaz discarded in his reign when he sinned, we have prepared and sanctified. Look, they [are] before the altar of Yahweh." Then King Hezekiah rose early and gathered the officials of the city, and he went up to the house of Yahweh. And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as a purification offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the descendants of Aaron, the priests, to offer [them] on the altar of Yahweh. And they slaughtered the cattle, and the priests received the blood and threw it toward the altar. Then they slaughtered the rams and threw the blood toward the altar, and then they slaughtered the lambs and threw the blood toward the altar. Then they brought the goats of the sin offering before the king and the assembly, and they laid hands upon them. And the priest killed them and offered their blood against the altar to make atonement for all Israel, for the king had commanded the burnt offering and the sin offering for all Israel. And he stood the Levites [in] the house of Yahweh with cymbals, harps, and lyres, according to the command of David and Gad, the seer of the king, and Nathan the prophet, for the command [was] by the hand of Yahweh by the hand of his prophets. When the Levites stood with the objects of David and the priests with the trumpets, Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And at the time the burnt offering began, the song of Yahweh began, and also the trumpets, at the hands of [the] instruments of David king of Israel. Then all the assembly bowed down, and the song was sung, and the trumpeters trumpeted--all [together] until the end of the burnt offering. And when the offering was finished, the king and all who were found with him knelt down and bowed themselves. Then King Hezekiah and the princes commanded the Levites to praise Yahweh with the words of David and Asaph the seer. So they offered praise with joy, and they bowed down and worshiped. Then Hezekiah answered and said, "Now {you have consecrated yourselves} to Yahweh. Come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of Yahweh!" And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all [who were] willing in heart [brought] burnt offerings. And the number of burnt offerings that the assembly brought was seventy cattle, one hundred rams, two hundred lambs--all these [were] to offer to Yahweh. And the consecrated offerings of cattle [were] six hundred cattle and three thousand sheep. But the priests were too few, and they were not able to offer all the burnt offerings, so their brothers, the Levites, strengthened them to finish the work, and until the [rest of] the priests consecrated themselves. (For the Levites [were] {more conscientious} to sanctify themselves than the priests.) And beside the many burnt offerings [was] the fat of the peace offerings and the libations for the burnt offerings. So the service of the house of Yahweh was established.
Uprightness » Should be in » Heart
But the priests were too few, and they were not able to offer all the burnt offerings, so their brothers, the Levites, strengthened them to finish the work, and until the [rest of] the priests consecrated themselves. (For the Levites [were] {more conscientious} to sanctify themselves than the priests.)