Self-interpreting Bible

« back to list of books

« back to list of chapters

2 Chronicles 31

1The people's zeal in destroying idolatry in the cities of Judah, and in some parts of Israel. 2Hezekiah ordereth the courses of the priests and Levites, maketh provision for the stated sacrifices, and for the maintenance of the priests and Levites. 5The people's forwardness in bringing in first fruits and tithes. 11Hezekiah appointeth officers to dispose of those offerings. 20Hezekiah's sincerity of heart.

1 NOW when all this was finished, all Israel that were 1present went out to the cities of Judah, and abrake the 2images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, 3until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.

  • 1: Heb. found.
  • a: 2Ki. 18:4
  • 2: Heb. statutes.
  • 3: Heb. until to make an end.

2 ¶And Hezekiah appointed bthe courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites cfor burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.

3 He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, *to wit, for the dmorning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the esabbaths, and for the fnew moons, and for the gset feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD.

4 Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give hthe portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be iencouraged in jthe law of the LORD.

5 ¶And as soon as the commandment 4came abroad, the children of Israel kbrought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and 5honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.

6 And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the ltithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them 6by heaps.

7 In the mthird 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 nblessed the LORD, and his people Israel.

9 Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.

    10 And oAzariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, pSince the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.

    11 ¶Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare 7chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them,

    12 And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: qover which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next.

    13 And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers 8under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.

    • 8: Heb. at the hand.

    14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, rthe porter toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of the LORD, and the 9most holy things.

    15 And 10next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the scities of the priests, in their 11set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small:

    16 Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto every one that entereth into the house of the LORD, 12his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses;

    • 12: Heb. for the things of the day upon his day.

    17 Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the tLevites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses;

    18 And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their 13set office they sanctified themselves in holiness:

    19 Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, which were uin the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every several city, the men vthat were expressed by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites.

    20 ¶And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wwrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.

    21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it xwith all his heart, and yprospered.