It was almost time for the Jewish Passover Feast. Many people went up from the country to Jerusalem. They went there for the special washing that would make them pure before the Passover Feast.

犹太人的逾越节近了，有许多人从乡下上耶路撒冷去，要在节前洁净自己。

犹太人的逾越节近了，有许多人从乡下上耶路撒冷去，要在过节前洁净自己。

犹太人的逾越节近了，有许多人从乡下上耶路撒冷去，要在过节前洁净自己。

犹太人的逾越节快到了，有很多人从乡下上耶路撒冷，预备在过节前洁净自己。

犹太人的逾越节快到了，有许多人在过节前从各乡上耶路撒冷去，要在那里洁净自己。

犹太人的逾越节快到了。许多人从乡下上耶路撒冷去，要在节日前洁净自己。

猶太人的逾越節近了，有許多人從鄉下上耶路撒冷去，要在節前潔淨自己。

猶太人的逾越節近了，有許多人從鄉下上耶路撒冷去，要在過節前潔淨自己。

猶太人的逾越節近了，有許多人從鄉下上耶路撒冷去，要在過節前潔淨自己。

猶太人的逾越節快到了，有很多人從鄉下上耶路撒冷，預備在過節前潔淨自己。

猶太人的逾越節快到了，有許多人在過節前從各鄉上耶路撒冷去，要在那裡潔淨自己。

猶太人的逾越節近了；逾越節以前，有許多人從鄉下上耶路撒冷，要行禮使自己清潔。

猶太人的逾越節快到了。許多人從鄉下上耶路撒冷去，要在節日前潔淨自己。

猶太人逾越節伊邇、多有自鄉上耶路撒冷者、於節前自潔也、

猶太人逾越節伊邇、先期、多人由田間上耶路撒冷、欲自潔、

猶太人逾越節近矣、節前、多人由鄉間上耶路撒冷、欲自潔、

會猶太人之免難節將屆、節前多有自鄉間上耶路撒冷者、先行取潔、

When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover.

Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves.

It was now almost time for the Jewish Passover celebration, and many people from all over the country arrived in Jerusalem several days early so they could go through the purification ceremony before Passover began.

Now the Jewish Passover was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the country to purify themselves before the Passover.

Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the country prior to the Passover, in order to purify themselves.

And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.

Now the passover of the Jews was at hand: and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the passover, to purify themselves.

The Jewish Passover was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the country to purify themselves before the Passover.

And the Jews’ passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.

Now the Jewish Feast of Passover was near, and many people went up to Jerusalem from the rural areas before the Passover to cleanse themselves ritually.

Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand. Many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.

Many people in the crowd hadn’t set themselves apart to the Lord. They weren’t“ clean.” They couldn’t set apart their lambs to him. So the Levites had to kill the Passover lambs for all of them.Many people came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun. Most of them hadn’t made themselves pure and“ clean.” But they still ate the Passover meal. That was against what was written in the law. But Hezekiah prayed for them. He said,“ The Lord is good. May he forgive everyonewho wants to worship God with all their heart. God is the Lord, the God of their people. May God forgive them even if they aren’t‘ clean’ in keeping with the rules of the temple.”The Lord answered Hezekiah’s prayer. He healed the people.

It was almost time for the Jewish Passover Feast. So Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

It was six days before the Passover Feast. Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived. Lazarus was the one Jesus had raised from the dead.

The Jewish Passover Feast was near.

The Lord said to Moses,“ Go to the people. Today and tomorrow set them apart for me. Have them wash their clothes.

The blood of goats and bulls is sprinkled on people. So are the ashes of a young cow. They are sprinkled on people the law called“ unclean.” The people are sprinkled to make them holy. That makes them“ clean” on the outside.But Christ offered himself to God without any flaw. He did this through the power of the eternal Holy Spirit. So how much cleaner will the blood of Christ make us! It washes away our feelings of guilt for committing sin. Sin always leads to death. But now we can serve the living God.

Eat the meat while your coat is tucked into your belt. Put your sandals on your feet. Take your walking stick in your hand. Eat the food quickly. It is the Lord’ s Passover.“ That same night I will pass through Egypt. I will strike down all those born first among the people and animals. And I will judge all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord.The blood on your houses will be a sign for you. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. No deadly plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.“ Always remember this day. You and your children after you must celebrate this day as a feast to honor the Lord. You must do this for all time to come. It is a law that will last forever.

all of them gathered together. They went to the open area in front of the Water Gate. They told Ezra to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses. The Lord had given Israel that Law so they would obey him. Ezra was the teacher of the Law.Ezra the priest brought the Law out to the whole community. It was the first day of the seventh month. The group was made up of men, women, and children old enough to understand what Ezra was going to read.He read the Law to them from sunrise until noon. He did it as he faced the open area in front of the Water Gate. He read it to the men, the women, and the children old enough to understand. And all the people paid careful attention as Ezra was reading the Book of the Law.Ezra, the teacher of the Law, stood on a high wooden stage. It had been built for the occasion. Mattithiah, Shema and Anaiah stood at his right side. So did Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah. Pedaiah, Mishael and Malkijah stood at his left side. So did Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him. That’s because he was standing above them. As he opened the book, the people stood up.Ezra praised the Lord. He is the great God. All the people lifted up their hands and said,“ Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down. They turned their faces toward the ground and worshiped the Lord.The Levites taught the Law to the people. They remained standing while the Levites taught them. The Levites who were there included Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai and Hodiah. They also included Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah.All these Levites read to the people parts of the Book of the Law of God. They made it clear to them. They told them what it meant. So the people understood what was being read.Nehemiah was the governor. Ezra was a priest and the teacher of the Law. They spoke up. So did the Levites who were teaching the people. All these men said to the people,“ This day is set apart to honor the Lord your God. So don’t weep. Don’t be sad.” All the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.Nehemiah said,“ Go and enjoy some good food and sweet drinks. Send some of it to people who don’t have any. This day is holy to our Lord. So don’t be sad. The joy of the Lord makes you strong.”The Levites calmed all the people down. They said,“ Be quiet. This is a holy day. So don’t be sad.”Then all the people went away to eat and drink. They shared their food with others. They celebrated with great joy. Now they understood the words they had heard. That’s because everything had been explained to them.

The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were plotting to arrest Jesus secretly. They wanted to kill him.

The time for enjoying good food would end. Then Job would make plans for his children to be made pure and“ clean.” He would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them. He would do it early in the morning. He would think,“ Perhaps my children have sinned. Maybe they have spoken evil things against God in their hearts.” That’s what Job always did for his children when he felt they had sinned.

Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning. The Jewish leaders did not want to be made“ unclean.” They wanted to be able to eat the Passover meal. So they did not enter the palace.

I wash my hands to show that I’m not guilty. Lord, I come near your altar.

Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners. Make your hearts pure, you who can’t make up your minds.

But some of them couldn’t celebrate the Passover Feast on that day. That’s because they weren’t“ clean.” They had gone near a dead body. So they came to Moses and Aaron that same day.

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world. It was time for him to go to the Father. Jesus loved his disciples who were in the world. So he now loved them to the very end.

You go to the feast. I am not going up to this feast. This is because my time has not yet fully come.”After he said this, he stayed in Galilee.But when his brothers had left for the feast, he went also. But he went secretly, not openly.

Everyone should take a careful look at themselves before they eat the bread and drink from the cup.

Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish feasts.

Samuel replied,“ Yes, I’ve come in peace. I’ve come to offer a sacrifice to the Lord. Set yourselves apart to him and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he set Jesse and his sons apart to the Lord. He invited them to the sacrifice.

The Israelites had made their homes in their towns. In the seventh month all of them gathered together in Jerusalem.Then Joshua began to build the altar for burnt offerings to honor the God of Israel. Joshua was the son of Jozadak. The other priests helped Joshua. So did Zerubbabel and his men. They built the altar according to what is written in the Law of Moses. Moses was a man of God. Zerubbabel was the son of Shealtiel.The people who built the altar were afraid of the nations around them. But they built it anyway. They set it up where it had stood before. They sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord. They offered the morning and evening sacrifices on it.Then they celebrated the Feast of Booths. They did it according to what is written in the Law. They sacrificed the number of burnt offerings required for each day.After they celebrated the Feast of Booths, they sacrificed the regular burnt offerings. They offered the New Moon sacrifices. They also offered the sacrifices for all the appointed sacred feasts of the Lord. And they sacrificed the offerings the people chose to give him.On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord. They did it even though the foundation of the Lord’ s temple hadn’t been laid yet.

Six stone water jars stood nearby. The Jews used water from that kind of jar for special washings. They did that to make themselves pure and“ clean.” Each jar could hold 20 to 30 gallons.

Jesus finished saying all these things. Then he said to his disciples,

So Jacob spoke to his family and to everyone with him. He said,“ Get rid of the statues of false gods you have with you. Make yourselves pure by washing and changing your clothes.

Moses went down the mountain to the people. After he set them apart for the Lord, they washed their clothes.Then he spoke to the people. He said,“ Get ready for the third day. Don’t have sex.”

They found me doing this in the temple courtyard. I had already been made pure and‘ clean’ in the usual way. There was no crowd with me. I didn’t stir up any trouble.