³⁴ The priests, however, were too few to skin all the burnt offerings;^(A) so their relatives the Levites helped them until the task was finished and until other priests had been consecrated,^(B) for the Levites had been more conscientious in consecrating themselves than the priests had been.

¹¹ The Passover lambs were slaughtered,^(A) and the priests splashed against the altar the blood handed to them, while the Levites skinned the animals.

³ They had not been able to celebrate it at the regular time because not enough priests had consecrated^(A) themselves and the people had not assembled in Jerusalem.

¹⁶ Then they took up their regular positions^(A) as prescribed in the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests splashed against the altar the blood handed to them by the Levites. ¹⁷ Since many in the crowd had not consecrated themselves, the Levites had to kill^(B) the Passover lambs for all those who were not ceremonially clean and could not consecrate their lambs^[a] to the Lord.

⁵ and said: “Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate^(A) yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary.

¹⁷ I know, my God, that you test the heart^(A) and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.^(B)

⁶ I myself have selected your fellow Levites from among the Israelites as a gift to you,^(A) dedicated to the Lord to do the work at the tent of meeting.^{(B) 7} But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain.^(C) I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift.^(D) Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary is to be put to death.^(E)”