Immerse: Chronicles Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 150
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IMMERSE
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CHRONICLES
12:29-46
brought together from the region around Jerusalem and from the villages
of the Netophathites. They also came from B
eth-gilgal and the rural areas
near Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built their own settlements
around Jerusalem. The priests and Levites first purified themselves; then
they purified the people, the gates, and the wall.
I led the leaders of Judah to the top of the wall and organized two large
choirs to give thanks. One of the choirs proceeded southward along the
top of the wall to the Dung Gate. Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah
followed them, along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, Judah, Benjamin,
Shemaiah, and Jeremiah. Then came some priests who played trumpets,
including Zechariah son of Jonathan, son of Shemaiah, son of Mattaniah,
son of Micaiah, son of Zaccur, a descendant of Asaph. And Zechariah’s
colleagues were Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah,
and Hanani. They used the musical instruments prescribed by David, the
man of God. Ezra the scribe led this procession. At the Fountain Gate they
went straight up the steps on the ascent of the city wall toward the City of
David. They passed the house of David and then proceeded to the Water
Gate on the east.
The second choir giving thanks went northward around the other way
to meet them. I followed them, together with the other half of the people,
along the top of the wall past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall,
then past the Ephraim Gate to the Old City Gate, past the Fish Gate and
the Tower of Hananel, and on to the Tower of the Hundred. Then we
continued on to the Sheep Gate and stopped at the Guard Gate.
The two choirs that were giving thanks then proceeded to the Temple
of God, where they took their places. So did I, together with the group of
leaders who were with me. We went together with the t rumpet-playing
priests—Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and
Hananiah—and the singers—Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jeho
hanan, Malkijah, Elam, and Ezer. They played and sang loudly under the
direction of Jezrahiah the choir director.
Many sacrifices were offered on that joyous day, for God had given the
people cause for great joy. The women and children also participated in
the celebration, and the joy of the people of Jerusalem could be heard far
away.
On that day men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for
the offerings, the first part of the harvest, and the tithes. They were respon
sible to collect from the fields outside the towns the portions required by
the Law for the priests and Levites. For all the people of Judah took joy
in the priests and Levites and their work. They performed the service of
their God and the service of purification, as commanded by David and
his son Solomon, and so did the singers and the gatekeepers. The custom
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