<p class="bodytext">&#8220;We &#8211; the priests, the Levites, and the people &#8211; have cast lots concerning the wood offerings, to bring them to the temple of our God according to our families<n id="1" /> at the designated times year by year to burn on the altar of the <sc>LORDsc> our God, as is written in the law.

<t /><p class="bodytext">On that day the book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing<n id="1" /> of the people. They found<n id="2" /> written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite may ever enter the assembly of God,

I also shook out my garment,<n id="1" /> and I said, &#8220;In this way may God shake out from his house and his property every person who does not carry out<n id="2" /> this matter. In this way may he be shaken out and emptied!&#8221; All the assembly replied, &#8220;So be it!&#8221; and they praised the <sc>LORDsc>. Then the people did as they had promised.<n id="3" />p>

Every day one ox, six select sheep, and some birds were prepared for me, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Despite all this I did not require the food allotted to the governor, for the work was demanding on this people.p>