The duties of the priests and Levites that day are described as the service of their God and the service of purification. Service refers to the performance of duties, or more specifically to the observance and fulfillment of religious practices and ceremonies. Here the priests and Levites performed their religious duties in the Temple. New Jerusalem Bible refers to “the liturgy of their God and the rites of purification.” Good News Translation interprets of their God to mean that they carried out what God had commanded. For purification see verse 30 above.

Special attention is paid to the singers and the gatekeepers. The instructions and precedent for their service are found in the command of David and his son Solomon (see 1 Chr 23–26; 2 Chr 8.14). The last clause may be rendered “the singers and the gatekeepers did their work according to the way that [King] David and his son [King] Solomon had said.”

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Nehemiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .