and said to them: Hear me, you Levites. Now consecrate yourselves, consecrate the house of Jehovah the God of your fathers, and carry out the filth from the holy place.

They stood in their place according to the ordinance, according to the Law of Moses the man of God; the priests were sprinkling the blood from the hand of the Levites.

For many in the assembly had not sanctified themselves; therefore the Levites had charge of the slaughter of the Passover for everyone who was not clean, to consecrate them to Jehovah.

And they slaughtered the Passover lambs; and the priests sprinkled the blood with their hands, while the Levites were flaying.

Afterward the Levites shall go in to serve the tent of meeting. Thus you shall cleanse them and wave them, a wave offering.

And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the sons of Israel, to serve in the service of the children of Israel in the tent of meeting, and to make atonement for the children of Israel, that there be no plague among the children of Israel by the children of Israel coming near the sanctuary.

They shall keep your charge and the charge of all the tent; but they shall not come near the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that they not die; they and you also.

And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel; they are a gift to you, given by Jehovah, to do the service of the tent of meeting.

Therefore you and your sons with you shall keep your priesthood in everything at the altar and behind the veil; and you shall serve. I give your priesthood to you as a gift of service, but the stranger who comes near shall be put to death.

For they could not keep it at the regular time, because a sufficient number of priests had not consecrated themselves, nor had the people gathered together at Jerusalem.

I know also, my God, that You examine the heart and take pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people who are found here, to offer willingly to You.

My defense is from God, who saves the upright in heart.

I will wash my hands in innocence; thus I will go around Your altar, O Jehovah,

But justice shall return to righteousness, and all the upright in heart shall follow it.