³ For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach^(A) and without the law.^(B)

⁸ With them were certain Levites^(A)—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah—and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. ⁹ They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law^(B) of the Lord; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.

¹¹ and so you can teach^(A) the Israelites all the decrees the Lord has given them through Moses.^(B)”

⁴ When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ “In Bethlehem^(A) in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

⁷ “For the lips of a priest^(A) ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger^(B) of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.^(C)

⁴ For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince,^(A) without sacrifice^(B) or sacred stones,^(C) without ephod^(D) or household gods.^(E)

²¹ No priest is to drink wine when he enters the inner court.^{(A) 22} They must not marry widows or divorced women; they may marry only virgins of Israelite descent or widows of priests.^{(B) 23} They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common^(C) and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.^(D)