But the priestswere too few,so that they were unableto skinallthe burntofferings;therefore their brothersthe Leviteshelpedthem untilthe workwas completedand untilthe [other] priestshad consecratedthemselves. For the Leviteswere moreconscientiousto consecratethemselves thanthe priests.
But it cameabout that in the twenty-thirdyearof KingJehoashthe priestshad not repairedthe damagesof the house.
"Since I know,O my God,that You trythe heartand delightin uprightness,I, in the integrityof my heart,have willinglyofferedallthese[things]; so nowwith joyI have seenYour people,who are presenthere,make[their] offeringswillinglyto You.
The consecratedthingswere 600bullsand 3,000sheep.
Then he saidto them, "Listento me, O Levites.Consecrateyourselves now,and consecratethe houseof the LORD,the Godof your fathers,and carrythe uncleannessout from the holyplace.
Then they slaughteredthe Passover[lambs] on the fourteenthof the secondmonth.And the priestsand Leviteswere ashamedof themselves, and consecratedthemselves and broughtburntofferingsto the houseof the LORD.
For Hezekiahkingof Judahhad contributedto the assembly1000bullsand 7,000sheep,and the princeshad contributedto the assembly1000bullsand 10,000sheep;and a largenumberof priestsconsecratedthemselves.
sincethey couldnot celebrateit at that time,becausethe priestshad not consecratedthemselves in sufficientnumbers,norhad the peoplebeen gatheredto Jerusalem.
They slaughteredthe Passover[animals], and while the priestssprinkledthe blood[received] from their hand,the Levitesskinned[them].
For the priestsand the Leviteshad purifiedthemselves together;allof them were pure.Then they slaughteredthe Passover[lamb] for allthe exiles,both for their brothersthe priestsand for themselves.
I shall washmy handsin innocence,And I will goaboutYour altar,O LORD,
My shieldis with God,Who savesthe uprightin heart.
For judgmentwill againbe righteous,And allthe uprightin heartwill followit.
"Yet they shall be ministersin My sanctuary,having oversightat the gatesof the houseand ministeringin the house;they shall slaughterthe burntofferingand the sacrificefor the people,and they shall standbeforethem to ministerto them.
"And they shall thus attendto your obligationand the obligationof allthe tent,but they shall not comenearto the furnishingsof the sanctuaryand the altar,orboththey and you will die.
"Then afterthat the Levitesmay goin to servethe tentof meeting.But you shall cleansethem and presentthem as a waveoffering;
"I have giventhe Levitesas a giftto Aaronand to his sonsfrom amongthe sonsof Israel,to performthe serviceof the sonsof Israelat the tentof meetingand to makeatonementon behalfof the sonsof Israel,so that there will be noplagueamong the sonsof Israelby their comingnearto the sanctuary."
