8
and twelve male goats for the sin of all Israel, according to the number of the twelve leaders of the tribes of Israel.
9
The priests and the Levites stood dressed in their robes, according to their tribes, for the services of the Lord God of Israel according to the scroll from Moses; and the gatekeepers stood at each gate.
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The Israelites who came from exile celebrated the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month, after the priests and the Levites were purified together.
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Not everyone returning from exile was purified, but the Levites were all purified together.
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The Levites sacrificed the Passover lamb on behalf of the returned exiles, for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.
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The Israelites who had returned from exile, those who had separated themselves from the scandal of the neighboring peoples and sought the Lord, ate the Passover meal.
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They also celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days, rejoicing before the Lord,
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because he had changed the attitude of the king of the Assyrians toward them, to prepare them for the service of the Lord God of Israel.