2 Chronicles 31 - Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Removal of Idolatry

31 When all this was completed, all Israel who had attended went out to the cities of Judah and broke up the sacred pillars, chopped down the Asherah poles, and tore down the high places and altars(A) throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, to the last one.[a] Then all the Israelites returned to their cities, each to his own possession.

Offerings for Levites

2 Hezekiah reestablished the divisions(B) of the priests and Levites for the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, for ministry, for giving thanks, and for praise in the gates of the camp of the Lord,(C) each division corresponding to his service among the priests and Levites. 3 The king contributed[b] from his own possessions(D) for the regular morning and evening burnt offerings, the burnt offerings of the Sabbaths, of the New Moons, and of the appointed feasts, as written in the law of the Lord.(E) 4 He told the people who lived in Jerusalem to give a contribution(F) for the priests and Levites so that they could devote their energy to the law of the Lord. 5 When the word spread, the Israelites gave liberally of the best of the grain, new wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field, and they brought in an abundance, a tenth(G) of everything. 6 As for the Israelites and Judahites who lived in the cities of Judah, they also brought a tenth of the cattle and sheep, and a tenth of the dedicated things that were consecrated to the Lord their God.(H) They gathered them into large piles. 7 In the third month they began building up the piles, and they finished in the seventh month. 8 When Hezekiah and his officials came and viewed the piles, they praised the Lord and His people Israel.

9 Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the piles. 10 Azariah, the chief priest of the household of Zadok,(I) answered him, “Since they began bringing the offering to the Lord’s temple, we eat and are satisfied and there is plenty left over because the Lord has blessed His people; this abundance is what is left over.”(J)

11 Hezekiah told them to prepare chambers(K) in the Lord’s temple, and they prepared them. 12 The offering, the tenth, and the dedicated things were brought faithfully. Conaniah the Levite was the officer in charge of them, and his brother Shimei was second.(L) 13 Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were deputies under the authority of Conaniah and his brother Shimei by appointment of King Hezekiah and of Azariah the chief official of God’s temple.

14 Kore son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the East Gate, was over the freewill offerings to God to distribute the contribution to the Lord and the consecrated things.(M) 15 Eden,(N) Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah in the cities of the priests(O) were to faithfully distribute it under his authority to their brothers by divisions, whether large or small. 16 In addition, they distributed it to males registered by genealogy three[c](P) years old and above; to all who would enter the Lord’s temple for their daily duty,(Q) for their service in their responsibilities according to their divisions. 17 They distributed also to those recorded by genealogy of the priests by their ancestral families and the Levites 20 years old and above,(R) by their responsibilities in their divisions; 18 to those registered by genealogy—with all their infants, wives, sons, and daughters—of the whole assembly (for they had faithfully consecrated themselves as holy); 19 and to the descendants of Aaron, the priests, in the common fields of their cities,(S) in each and every city. There were men who were registered by name(T) to distribute a portion to every male among the priests and to every Levite recorded by genealogy.

20 Hezekiah did this throughout all Judah. He did what was good and upright and true before the Lord his God.(U) 21 He was diligent in every deed that he began in the service of God’s temple, in the instruction and the commands, in order to seek his God, and he prospered.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 31:1 Lit Manasseh, until finishing
  2. 2 Chronicles 31:3 Lit The king’s portion
  3. 2 Chronicles 31:16 Or 30; 1Ch 23:3

Cross references

  1. 31:1 : 2Kg 18:4
  2. 31:2 : 1Ch 23:6-23; 24:1-19
  3. 31:2 : 1Ch 23:28-31
  4. 31:3 : 2Ch 35:7
  5. 31:3 : Nm 28
  6. 31:4 : Nm 18:8
  7. 31:5 : Neh 13:12
  8. 31:6 : Lv 27:30; Dt 14:28
  9. 31:10 : 1Ch 6:8-9
  10. 31:10 : Mal 3:10
  11. 31:11 : 1Kg 6:5
  12. 31:12 : 2Ch 35:9
  13. 31:14 : 1Ch 26:26-28
  14. 31:15 : 2Ch 29:12
  15. 31:15 : Jos 21:9-19
  16. 31:16 : 1Ch 23:3
  17. 31:16 : Ezr 3:4
  18. 31:17 : 1Ch 23:24
  19. 31:19 : Lv 25:34; Nm 35:2-5
  20. 31:19 : 2Ch 31:12-15
  21. 31:20 : 2Kg 20:3; 22:2

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2 Chronicles 31 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

31 And at the completion of all this, gone out have all Israel who are found present to the cities of Judah, and break the standing-pillars, and cut down the shrines, and break down the high places and the altars, out of all Judah and Benjamin, and in Ephraim and Manasseh, even to completion, and al...
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2 Chronicles 31 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

31 And when these things were done rightfully, all Israel went out, that was found in the cities of Judah; and they brake [the] simulacra, and cutted down (the) [maumet] woods, and wasted [the] high places, and destroyed [the] altars, not only of all Judah and Benjamin, but also of Ephraim and Manas...
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2 Chronicles 31 - World English Bible (WEB)

31 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, and broke the pillars in pieces, cut down the Asherah poles, and broke down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, also in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. T...
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2 Chronicles 31 - The Voice (VOICE)

Such a celebration has not happened since Solomon dedicated the temple. This celebration is reminiscent of that time in several ways: all of Israel gathers for the occasion, the king makes lavish donations for the celebration, and the festival lasts an extra week. Like Solomon, Hezekiah focuses on h...
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2 Chronicles 31 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Restoring the Kohanim and Levites31 When all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the towns of Judah and smashed the pillars, smashed the Asherah poles and demolished the high places and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, as well as throughout Ephraim and Manasseh, u...
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2 Chronicles 31 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Pagan Shrines Destroyed31 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke in pieces the pillars and hewed down the Ashe′rim and broke down the high places and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, and in E′phraim and Manas′seh, until they...
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2 Chronicles 31 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Pagan Shrines Destroyed31 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke down the pillars, cut down the sacred poles,[a] and pulled down the high places and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, and in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they ha...
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2 Chronicles 31 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Hezekiah’s Religious Reforms31 When the festival ended, the Israelites who attended went to all the towns of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh, and they smashed all the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and removed the pagan shrines and altars. After this, the Israelites returned to t...
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2 Chronicles 31 - New Life Version (NLV)

Changes Made by Hezekiah31 Now when all this was finished, all the people of Israel who were there went out to the cities of Judah. They broke in pieces the pillars set up for the false gods. They cut down the objects of the false goddess Asherah. And they pulled down the high places and the altars ...
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2 Chronicles 31 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Reforms of Hezekiah(A)31 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and (B)broke the sacred pillars in pieces, cut down the wooden images, and threw down the [a]high places and the altars—from all Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh—until they ...
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2 Chronicles 31 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

31 When all this had ended, the Israelites who were there went out to the towns of Judah, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. They destroyed the high places and the altars throughout Judah and Benjamin and in Ephraim and Manasseh. After they had destroyed all of them, the Israe...
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2 Chronicles 31 - New International Version (NIV)

31 When all this had ended, the Israelites who were there went out to the towns of Judah, smashed the sacred stones and cut down(A) the Asherah poles. They destroyed the high places and the altars throughout Judah and Benjamin and in Ephraim and Manasseh. After they had destroyed all of them, the Is...
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2 Chronicles 31 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

31 The Passover Feast came to an end. The people of Israel who were in Jerusalem went out to the towns of Judah. They smashed the sacred stones. They cut down the poles used to worship the female god named Asherah. They destroyed the high places and the altars. They did those things all through Juda...
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2 Chronicles 31 - New English Translation (NET)

31 When all this was over, the Israelites[a] who were in the cities of Judah went out and smashed the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and demolished[b] all the high places and altars throughout Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh.[c] Then all the Israelites returned to their own homes...
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