Nehemiah 12:40-43

The two groups met again at the *temple, which was the house of God. There they praised and they thanked God. The priests led with their *trumpets. But all the people praised and thanked God. They were all happy because God had helped them to build the walls. They made such a noise that people far away could hear the sound of happiness. Now the other people round *Judah would know that the *Jews served the real God. Everyone would know that God had helped his people to build the walls of Jerusalem again.

v44 At that time the people appointed men to look after the special rooms. They stored the gifts, the first of the fruit and grain and the *tithes in these rooms. The men had to go out to the fields round the cities. They went there to collect the share for the priests and the *Levites. That was what God’s law ordered. The people in *Judah were pleased with the priests and the *Levites who served. v45 The priests and the *Levites served God and they made things holy. The singers and those who guarded the gates did this too. This was the command of David and his son Solomon. v46 Many years earlier, in the days of David and Asaph, there was a chief of the singers. He led the people when they sang songs to praise and to thank God. v47 At the time of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, all the *Israelites gave daily gifts. They gave a share for the singers. And they gave a share for the people who guarded the gates. They also gave a share to the *Levites. And the *Levites gave a share to the *descendants of Aaron.