⁴⁴ At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms. These rooms were for the ·gifts [contributions; offerings], the firstfruits [^Cof the harvest], and the ·ten percent that the people brought [tithes]. The ·Teachings [Laws; Instructions; ^LTorah] said they should bring a share for the priests and Levites from the fields around the towns. The people of Judah were ·happy [delighted] to do this for the priests and Levites who ·served [^Lstood]. ⁴⁵ They performed the service of their God ·in making things pure [or and the service of purification]. The singers and gatekeepers also did their jobs, as David had commanded [or and] his son Solomon. ⁴⁶ ·Earlier [Long ago], in the ·time [days] of David and Asaph, there was a ·leader [head; director] of the singers and of the songs of praise and [^Lhymns of] thanksgiving to God. ⁴⁷ So it was in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah. All the people of Israel gave ·something [the daily portions] to the singers and gatekeepers, and they also ·set aside [dedicated] part for the Levites. Then the Levites ·set aside [dedicated] part for the ·descendants [sons] of Aaron.