⁴⁴ At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms^(A) for the contributions, firstfruits and tithes.^(B) From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites.^{(C) 45} They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did also the musicians and gatekeepers, according to the commands of David^(D) and his son Solomon.^{(E) 46} For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph,^(F) there had been directors for the musicians and for the songs of praise^(G) and thanksgiving to God. ⁴⁷ So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the musicians and the gatekeepers. They also set aside the portion for the other Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.^(H)

¹⁰ I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them,^(A) and that all the Levites and musicians responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields.^{(B) 11} So I rebuked the officials and asked them, “Why is the house of God neglected?”^(C) Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts.

¹² All Judah brought the tithes^(D) of grain, new wine and olive oil into the storerooms.^{(E) 13} I put Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and a Levite named Pedaiah in charge of the storerooms and made Hanan son of Zakkur, the son of Mattaniah, their assistant, because they were considered trustworthy. They were made responsible for distributing the supplies to their fellow Levites.^(F)