What do we learn from "ha'Kohanim Hayu li'Me'at"?
'Rashi': Those who sanctified themselves [to be proper for Avodah] were few, so the Leviyim strengthened them until the work was finished, and until the Kohanim were sanctified.
Malbim: It is one reason why the Kohanim needed Leviyim to help - there was much Avodah that day, and few Kohanim. Another reason was, many of the Kohanim were not sanctified. Also refer to 29:35:1:1.
How did the Leviyim strengthen the Kohanim?
Radak: They made them zealous to become Tahor. Kohanim should do all the Avodah from Kabalah and onwards 1 . The Leviyim needed to help flay, because it was Sha'as ha'Dechak; there were not enough Tahor Kohanim to flay.
Yuma 27a excludes flaying (Kohanim need not do it)! (PF)
What do we learn from "veha'Leviyim Yishrei Levav Lehiskadesh"?
'Rashi': This explains why the Leviyim sanctified more than the Kohanim. All the days of the evil kings, the Kohanim, Leviyim and Yir'ei Shamayim disguised themselves and hid. When Chizkiyah, a Tzadik, came, they could not become Tahor immediately; they did so gradually 1 .
Malbim: Leviyim are more zealous to separate from desire, and their hearts rule with Yir'as Hashem via the straightness planted in their hearts.
Earlier, Yehu pretended to want to serve Ba'al, in order to kill its worshippers. Perhaps people feared to admit that they want to serve Hashem in Taharah, lest Chizkiyah is pretending! (PF)
