'All the males among the children of Aaron may eat it. [It shall be] a statute forever in your generations concerning the offerings made by fire to the LORD. Everyone who touches them must be holy.' "

"Seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and sanctify it. And the altar shall be most holy. Whatever touches the altar must be holy.

"You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy; whatever touches them must be holy.

"If one carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with the edge he touches bread or stew, wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy?" ' " Then the priests answered and said, "No."

For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well."

and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched [it] were made perfectly well.

'Anything on which [any] of them falls, when they are dead shall be unclean, whether [it is] any item of wood or clothing or skin or sack, whatever item [it is,] in which [any] work is done, it must be put in water. And it shall be unclean until evening; then it shall be clean.

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, [what] clearing [of yourselves, what] indignation, [what] fear, [what] vehement desire, [what] zeal, [what] vindication! In all [things] you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.