³⁴ But the priests were too few and could not flay all the burnt offerings, so until other priests had consecrated themselves, ^(A)their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was finished—^(B)for the Levites were more upright in heart than the priests in consecrating themselves.

^11 (A)And they slaughtered the Passover lamb, and the priests ^(B)threw the blood that they received from them ^(C)while the Levites flayed the sacrifices.

³ for they could not keep it ^(A)at that time ^(B)because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient number, nor had the people assembled in Jerusalem—

^16 (A)They took their accustomed posts according to the Law of Moses ^(B)the man of God. The priests threw the blood that they received from the hand of the Levites. ¹⁷ For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves. Therefore the Levites had to slaughter the Passover lamb for everyone who was not clean, to consecrate it to the Lord.

⁵ and said to them, “Hear me, Levites! Now ^(A)consecrate yourselves, and consecrate the house of the Lord, the God of your fathers, and carry out the filth^[a] from the Holy Place.

¹⁷ I know, my God, ^(A)that you test the heart and ^(B)have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you.

^6 (A)And behold, I have taken your brothers the Levites from among the people of Israel. ^(B)They are a gift to you, given to the Lord, to do the service of the tent of meeting. ⁷ And ^(C)you and your sons with you shall guard your priesthood for all that concerns the altar and ^(D)that is within the veil; and you shall serve. I give your priesthood as a gift,^[a] and ^(E)any outsider who comes near shall be put to death.”