Lexicon :: Strong's H8334 - šāraṯ

According to the ordinances of his father David, he appointed the divisions of the priests over their service, of the Levites over their responsibilities to offer praise and to minister before the priests following the daily requirement, and of the gatekeepers by their divisions with respect to each temple gate, for this had been the command of David, the man of God.

the food at his table, his servants’ residence, his attendants’ service and their attire, his cupbearers and their attire, and the burnt offerings he offered at the LORD’s temple, it took her breath away.

“But as for us, the LORD is our God. We have not abandoned him; the priests ministering to the LORD are descendants of Aaron, and the Levites serve at their tasks.

These were the ones who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.

So when Jehu executed judgment on the house of Ahab, he found the rulers of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah’s brothers who were serving Ahaziah, and he killed them.

“No one is to enter the LORD’s temple but the priests and those Levites who serve; they may enter because they are holy, but all the people are to obey the requirement of the LORD.

“My sons, don’t be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand in his presence, to serve him, and to be his ministers and burners of incense.”

Hezekiah reestablished the divisions of the priests and Levites for the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, for ministry, for giving thanks, and for praise in the gates of the camp of the LORD, each division corresponding to his service among the priests and Levites.

I sent them to Iddo, the leader at Casiphia, with a message for[fn] him and his brothers, the temple servants at Casiphia, that they should bring us ministers for the house of our God.

We will also bring the firstborn of our sons and our livestock, as prescribed by the law, and will bring the firstborn of our herds and flocks to the house of our God, to the priests who serve in our God’s house.

On the seventh day, when the king was feeling good from the wine, Ahasuerus commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas ​— ​the seven eunuchs who personally served him ​— ​

The king’s personal attendants suggested, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king.

The king inquired, “What honor and special recognition have been given to Mordecai for this act? ”

The king’s personal attendants replied, “Nothing has been done for him.”

My eyes favor the faithful of the land

so that they may sit down with me.

The one who follows the way of integrity

may serve me.

Bless the LORD, all his armies,

his servants who do his will.

and making the winds his messengers,[fn]

flames of fire his servants.

If a ruler listens to lies,

all his officials will be wicked.

“As for the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD

to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD,

and to become his servants —

all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it

and who hold firmly to my covenant —

All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered to you;

the rams of Nebaioth will serve you

and go up on my altar as an acceptable sacrifice.

I will glorify my beautiful house.

But you will be called the LORD’s priests;

they will speak of you as ministers of our God;

you will eat the wealth of the nations,

and you will boast in their riches.

“then also my covenant with my servant David may be broken. If that could happen, then he would not have a son reigning on his throne and the Levitical priests would not be my ministers.

They also took the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, sprinkling basins, dishes, and all the bronze articles used in the temple service.

“ ‘When you say, “Let’s be like the nations, like the clans of other countries, serving wood and stone,” what you have in mind will never happen.

“The chamber that faces north is for the priests who keep charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, the ones from the sons of Levi who may approach the LORD to serve him.”

“Once the priests have entered, they are not to go out from the holy area to the outer court until they have removed the clothes they minister in, for these are holy. They are to put on other clothes before they approach the public area.”

“You are to give a bull from the herd as a sin offering to the Levitical priests who are from the offspring of Zadok, who approach me in order to serve me.” This is the declaration of the Lord GOD.

“Yet they will occupy my sanctuary, serving as guards at the temple gates and ministering at the temple. They will slaughter the burnt offerings and other sacrifices for the people and will stand before them to serve them.

“It will be a holy area of the land to be used by the priests who minister in the sanctuary, who approach to serve the LORD. It will be a place for their houses, as well as a holy area for the sanctuary.

He said to me, “These are the kitchens where those who minister at the temple will cook the people’s sacrifices.”

Grain and drink offerings have been cut off

from the house of the LORD;

the priests, who are ministers of the LORD, mourn.

Let the priests, the LORD’s ministers,

weep between the portico and the altar.

Let them say,

“Have pity on your people, LORD,

and do not make your inheritance a disgrace,

an object of scorn among the nations.

Why should it be said among the peoples,

‘Where is their God? ’ ”