2 Chronicles31
New King James Version
1Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke the sacred pillars in pieces, cut down the wooden images, and threw down the high places and the altars—from all Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh—until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned to their own cities, every man to his possession.
2And Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites according to their divisions, each man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and peace offerings, to serve, to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the camp of the Lord.
3The king also appointed a portion of his possessions for the burnt offerings: for the morning and evening burnt offerings, the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths and the New Moons and the set feasts, as it is written in the Law of the Lord.
4Moreover he commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute support for the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the Law of the Lord.
5As soon as the commandment was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of grain and wine, oil and honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.
6And the children of Israel and Judah, who dwelt in the cities of Judah, brought the tithe of oxen and sheep; also the tithe of holy things which were consecrated to the Lord their God they laid in heaps.
7In the third month they began laying them in heaps, and they finished in the seventh month.
8And when Hezekiah and the leaders came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord and His people Israel.
9Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.
10And Azariah the chief priest, from the house of Zadok, answered him and said, “Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and have plenty left, for the Lord has blessed His people; and what is left is this great abundance.”
11Now Hezekiah commanded them to prepare rooms in the house of the Lord, and they prepared them.
12Then they faithfully brought in the offerings, the tithes, and the dedicated things; Cononiah the Levite had charge of them, and Shimei his brother was the next.
13Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.
14Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the East Gate, was over the freewill offerings to God, to distribute the offerings of the Lord and the most holy things.
15And under him were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, his faithful assistants in the cities of the priests, to distribute allotments to their brethren by divisions, to the great as well as the small.
16Besides those males from three years old and up who were written in the genealogy, they distributed to everyone who entered the house of the Lord his daily portion for the work of his service, by his division,
17and to the priests who were written in the genealogy according to their father’s house, and to the Levites from twenty years old and up according to their work, by their divisions,
18and to all who were written in the genealogy—their little ones and their wives, their sons and daughters, the whole company of them—for in their faithfulness they sanctified themselves in holiness.
19Also for the sons of Aaron the priests, who were in the fields of the common-lands of their cities, in every single city, there were men who were designated by name to distribute portions to all the males among the priests and to all who were listed by genealogies among the Levites.
20Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and true before the Lord his God.
21And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he 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