2 Chronicles31
New American Standard
1Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, broke the memorial stones in pieces, cut down the Asherim and pulled down the high places and the altars throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the sons of Israel returned to their cities, each to his possession.
2And Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites by their divisions, each according to his service, both the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to serve and to give thanks and to praise in the gates of the camp of the Lord.
3He also appointed the king’s portion of his property for the burnt offerings, namely, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths and for the new moons and for the appointed festivals, as it is written in the Law of the Lord.
4Also he told the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the priests and the Levites, so that they might devote themselves to the Law of the Lord.
5As soon as the order spread, the sons of Israel abundantly provided the first fruits of grain, new wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.
6The sons of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of sacred gifts which were consecrated to the Lord their God, and placed them in heaps.
7In the third month they began to make the heaps, and they finished them by the seventh month.
8When Hezekiah and the rulers came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord and His people Israel.
9Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.
10Azariah, the chief priest of the house of Zadok, said to him, “Since the contributions started coming into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat with plenty left over, for the Lord has blessed His people, and this great quantity is left over.”
11Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare rooms in the house of the Lord, and they prepared them.
12They faithfully brought in the contributions, the tithes, and the consecrated things; and Conaniah the Levite was the officer in charge of them, and his brother Shimei was second.
13Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the authority of Conaniah and his brother Shimei by the appointment of King Hezekiah, and Azariah was the chief officer of the house of God.
14Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the eastern gate, was in charge of the voluntary offerings for God, to distribute the contributions for the Lord and the most holy things.
15Under his authority were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, to distribute their portions faithfully to their brothers by divisions, whether great or small,
16without regard to their genealogical enrollment, to the males from thirty years old and upward—everyone who entered the house of the Lord for his daily obligations—for their work in their duties according to their divisions;
17as well as the priests who were enrolled genealogically according to their fathers’ households, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, by their duties and their divisions.
18The genealogical enrollment included all their little children, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, for the whole assembly, for they consecrated themselves faithfully in holiness.
19Also for the sons of Aaron, the priests, who were in the pasture lands of their cities, or in each and every city, there were men who were designated by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to everyone genealogically enrolled among the Levites.
20Hezekiah did this throughout Judah; and he did what was good, right, and true before the Lord his God.
21Every work which he began in the service of the house of God in the Law and in the commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Chronicles 31.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Hezekiah destroys idolatry. (1-21).
vv1-21
After the passover, the people of Israel applied with vigour to destroy the monuments of idolatry. Public ordinances should stir us up to cleanse our hearts, our houses, and shops, from the filth of sin, and the idolatry of covetousness, and to excite others to do the same. The after-improvement of solemn ordinances, is of the greatest importance to personal, family, and public religion. When they had tasted the sweetness of God's ordinance in the late passover, they were free in maintaining the temple service. Those who enjoy the benefit of a settled ministry, will not grudge the expense of it. In all that Hezekiah attempted in God's service, he was earnest and single in his aim and dependence, and was prospered accordingly. Whether we have few or many talents intrusted to us, may we thus seek to improve them, and encourage others to do the same. What is undertaken with a sincere regard to the glory of God, will succeed to our own honour and comfort at last.
Key Words
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
זֶה: the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
כָּלָה: to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitived (to complete, prepare, consume)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
מָצָא: properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
יָצָא: to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
עִיר: a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
יְהוּדָה: Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
שָׁבַר: to burst (literally or figuratively)
מַצֵּבָה: something stationed, i.e. a column or (memorial stone); by analogy, an idol
Cross References
2 Chronicles 31Parallel account of Hezekiah destroying high places, images, and groves across Israel and Judah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
David's precedent for setting the courses of priests and Levites, followed here by Hezekiah.
Supported by JFB
The foundational Mosaic law commanding Israel to give tithes to the Levites for service.
Supported by JFB
Prophetic parallel of bringing tithes into storehouses, resulting in overflowing divine blessings.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identifies Azariah the chief priest as the same who stood up to King Uzziah.
Supported by JFB
Nehemiah preparing great chambers in the temple for tithes and offerings, following Hezekiah's pattern.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The earlier Levitical charge over the treasures and dedicated things of the house of God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Hezekiah's earlier liberality in providing cattle for the congregation during the passover.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Examines dietary offering rules, clarifying why honey (unfit for burnt sacrifice) was handled.
Supported by JFB
Post-exilic reform appointing officers over chambers for treasures, firstfruits, and tithes.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Davidic census age modification for Levites doing temple work from twenty years old upward.
Supported by JFB
Hezekiah's personal appeal to his walking in truth and with a perfect heart.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Prior historical instance under Joash where the princes and people rejoiced and brought offerings.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Mosaic regulation regarding the suburbs and fields belonging to the cities of the priests.
Supported by JFB