36 I will let as many as 30,000 Jewish soldiers join my army, and they will be paid the same as the other soldiers.
37 Some of them will help guard my main fortresses, and others will be given important jobs in the kingdom. I'll let them live by their own laws and choose their own leaders and officers. In fact, this is how things already are in Judea.
38 The three districts of Judea that belonged to Samaria will become a permanent part of Judea. The high priest will be the only ruler for Judea and these three districts, and everyone must obey him.
39 I have given the city of Ptolemais and the land around it as a gift to the temple in Jerusalem, in order to supply money to help pay for running the temple.
40 Every year, I'll send you 15,000 pieces of silver from the treasuries in places under my control.
41 For the past few years my officials have failed to send you the extra money that they should have sent. Now they will start sending it again to meet the needs of the temple.
42 In the past, you had to pay me 5,000 pieces of silver every year as a tax on the money the temple earned. Now this tax money will go to the priests who serve in the temple.