All the people went and demolished<n id="1" /> the temple of Baal. They smashed its altars and idols.<n id="2" /> They killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.

They slaughtered the bulls, and the priests took the blood and splashed it on the altar. Then they slaughtered the rams and splashed the blood on the altar; next they slaughtered the lambs and splashed the blood on the altar.

Then the priests slaughtered them. They offered their blood as a sin offering on the altar to make atonement for all Israel, because the king had decreed<n id="1" /> that the burnt sacrifice and sin offering were for all Israel.p>

They were unable to observe it at the regular<n id="1" /> time because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not assembled in Jerusalem.

<p class="bodytext">They slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and Levites were ashamed, so they consecrated themselves and brought burnt sacrifices to the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple.

They stood at their posts according to the regulations outlined in the law of Moses, the man of God. The priests were splashing the blood as the Levites handed it to them.<n id="1" />

The celebration included<n id="1" /> the entire assembly of Judah, the priests, the Levites, the entire assembly of those who came from Israel, the resident foreigners who came from the land of Israel, and the residents of Judah.

The priests and Levites got up and pronounced blessings on the people. The <sc>Lordsc> responded favorably to them<n id="1" /> as their prayers reached his holy dwelling place in heaven.p>

In the cities of the priests, Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah faithfully assisted him in making disbursements to their fellow priests<n id="1" /> according to their divisions, regardless of age.<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">When they took out the silver that had been brought to the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple, Hilkiah the priest found the law scroll the <sc>Lordsc> had given to Moses.

Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, &#8220;Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.&#8221; Shaphan read it out loud before the king.

All the leaders of the priests and people became more unfaithful and committed the same horrible sins practiced by the nations.<n id="1" /> They defiled the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.p>

He made ten washing basins; he put five on the south side and five on the north side. In them they rinsed the items used for burnt sacrifices; the priests washed in &#8220;The Sea.&#8221;p>

All the Levites who were musicians, including Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives, wore linen. They played cymbals and stringed instruments as they stood east of the altar. They were accompanied by 120 priests who blew trumpets.

Now look, God is with us as our leader. His priests are ready to blow the trumpets to signal the attack against you.<n id="1" /> You Israelites, don&#8217;t fight against the <sc>Lordsc> God of your ancestors,<n id="2" /> for you will not win!&#8221;p>

You will report to Amariah the chief priest in all matters pertaining to the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s law, and to Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the family of Judah, in all matters pertaining to the king.<n id="1" /> The Levites will serve as officials before you. Confidently carry out your duties!<n id="2" /> May the <sc>Lordsc> be with those who do well!&#8221;p>

No one must enter the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple except the priests and Levites who are on duty. They may enter because they are ceremonially pure. All the others should carry out their assigned service to the <sc>Lordsc>.

Jehoiada then assigned the duties of the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple to the priests, the Levites whom David had assigned to the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple. They were responsible for offering burnt sacrifices to the <sc>Lordsc> with joy and music, according to<n id="1" /> the law of Moses and the edict of David.

He assembled the priests and Levites and ordered them, &#8220;Go out to the cities of Judah and collect the annual quota of silver from all Israel for repairs on the temple of your God. Be quick about it!&#8221; But the Levites delayed.p>

God&#8217;s Spirit energized<n id="1" /> Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood up before the people and said to them, &#8220;This is what God says: &#8216;Why are you violating the commands of the <sc>Lordsc>? You will not be prosperous! Because you have rejected the <sc>Lordsc>, he has rejected you!&#8217;&#8221;