43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard ^aafar off.  ‡

44 ^aAnd at the same time some were appointed over the rooms of the storehouse for the offerings, the firstfruits, and the ^btithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered.  ‡

45 Both the singers and the gatekeepers kept the charge of their God and the charge of the purification, ^aaccording to the command of David and Solomon his son.  ‡

46 For in the days of David ^aand Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.  ‡