31 1 The people destroy idolatry. 2 Hezekiah appointeth Priests and Levites, 4 And provideth for their livings. 13 He ordaineth overseers to distribute to every one his portion.
1 And when all these things were finished, all Israel, that were found in the cities of Judah, went out and [a]brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake down the high places, and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had made an end: afterward all the [b]children of Israel returned every man to his possession, into their own cities.
2 And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the Priests and Levites by their turns, every man according to his office, both Priests and Levites for the burnt offering and peace offerings, to minister and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the [c]tents of the Lord.
3 (And the king’s portion was of his own substance for the burnt offerings, even for the burnt offerings of the morning and of the evening, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, and for the new moons and for the solemn feasts, (A)as it is written in the Law of the Lord)
4 He commanded also the people that dwelt in Jerusalem, to give a [d]part to the Priests, and Levites, that they might be [e]encouraged in the law of the Lord.
5 ¶ And when the commandment was [f]spread, the children of Israel brought abundance of firstfruits, of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field, and the tithes of all things brought they abundantly.
6 And the children of Israel and Judah that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought the tithes of bullocks and sheep, and the holy tithes [g]which were consecrated unto the Lord their God, and laid them on [h]many heaps.
7 In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.
8 ¶ And when Hezekiah and the princes came, and saw the heaps, they [i]blessed the Lord and his people Israel.
9 And Hezekiah questioned with the Priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.
10 And Azariah the chief Priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have [j]eaten, and have been satisfied, and there is left in abundance: for the Lord hath blessed his people, and this abundance that is left.
11 ¶ And Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the Lord: and they prepared them,
12 And carried in the firstfruits, and the tithes, and the dedicated things faithfully: and over them was Conaniah the Levite the chief, and Shimei his brother the second.
13 And Jehiel, and Azaziah and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers [k]by the appointment of Conaniah, and Shimei his brother, and by the commandment of Hezekiah the King, and of Azariah the chief of the house of God.
14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, porter toward the East, was over the things that were willingly offered unto God, to distribute the oblations of the Lord, and the holy things that were consecrated.
15 And at his hand were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shechaniah, in the cities of the Priests, to distribute with fidelity to their brethren by courses, both to the great and small,
16 Their daily portion: beside their generation, being males [l]from three years old and above, even to all that entered into the house of the Lord to their office in their charge, according to their courses:
17 Both to the generation of the Priests after the house of their fathers, and to the Levites from twenty years old and above, according to their charge in their courses:
18 And to the generation of all their children, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters throughout all the Congregation: for by their [m]fidelity are they partakers of the holy things.
19 Also to the sons of Aaron, the Priests, which were in the fields and suburbs of their cities, in every city the men that were appointed by names, should give portions to all the males of the Priests, and to all the generation of the Levites.
20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and did well, and uprightly, and truly before the Lord his God.
21 And in all the works that he began for the service of the house of God, both in the Law and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 31:1 According to the commandment of the Lord, Deut. 7:25; Josh. 7:1.
- 2 Chronicles 31:1 That is, all they which came to the Passover.
- 2 Chronicles 31:2 That is, in the Temple, where they assembled as in a tent.
- 2 Chronicles 31:4 The tithes and first fruits for the maintenance of the Priests and Levites.
- 2 Chronicles 31:4 That their minds might not be entangled with provision of worldly things, but that they might wholly and cheerfully serve the Lord.
- 2 Chronicles 31:5 Or, published.
- 2 Chronicles 31:6 Which they had dedicated to the Lord by a vow.
- 2 Chronicles 31:6 For the relief of the Priests, Levites, widows, pupils, fatherless, strangers, and such as were in necessity.
- 2 Chronicles 31:8 They praised the Lord and prayed for all prosperity to his people.
- 2 Chronicles 31:10 He showeth that this plenteous liberality is expedient for the maintenance of the ministers, and that God therefore prospereth his people, and increaseth by his blessing that which is given.
- 2 Chronicles 31:13 Hebrew, by the hand.
- 2 Chronicles 31:16 Who had also a portion and allowance in this distribution.
- 2 Chronicles 31:18 Meaning, that either by the faithful distributions of the officers, everyone had their part in the things that were offered, or else that their wives and children were relieved, because the Levites were faithful in their office, and so depended on them.