1 Now when all this was finished, H3615 all Israel H3478 that were present H4672 went out H3318 to the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 and brake H7665 the images H4676 in pieces, H7665 and cut down H1438 the groves, H842 and threw down H5422 the high places H1116 and the altars H4196 out of all Judah H3063 and Benjamin, H1144 in Ephraim H669 also and Manasseh, H4519 until they had utterly destroyed H3615 them all. Then all the children H1121 of Israel H3478 returned, H7725 every man H376 to his possession, H272 into their own cities. H5892
2 And Hezekiah H3169 appointed H5975 the courses H4256 of the priests H3548 and the Levites H3881 after their courses, H4256 every man H376 according H6310 to his service, H5656 the priests H3548 and Levites H3881 for burnt offerings H5930 and for peace offerings, H8002 to minister, H8334 and to give thanks, H3034 and to praise H1984 in the gates H8179 of the tents H4264 of the LORD. H3068
3 He appointed also the king's H4428 portion H4521 of his substance H7399 for the burnt offerings, H5930 to wit, for the morning H1242 and evening H6153 burnt offerings, H5930 and the burnt offerings H5930 for the sabbaths, H7676 and for the new moons, H2320 and for the set feasts, H4150 as it is written H3789 in the law H8451 of the LORD. H3068
4 Moreover he commanded H559 the people H5971 that dwelt H3427 in Jerusalem H3389 to give H5414 the portion H4521 of the priests H3548 and the Levites, H3881 that they might be encouraged H2388 in the law H8451 of the LORD. H3068
5 And as soon as the commandment H1697 came abroad, H6555 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 brought H935 in abundance H7235 the firstfruits H7225 of corn, H1715 wine, H8492 and oil, H3323 and honey, H1706 and of all the increase H8393 of the field; H7704 and the tithe H4643 of all things brought H935 they in abundantly. H7230
6 And concerning the children H1121 of Israel H3478 and Judah, H3063 that dwelt H3427 in the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 they also brought in H935 the tithe H4643 of oxen H1241 and sheep, H6629 and the tithe H4643 of holy things H6944 which were consecrated H6942 unto the LORD H3068 their God, H430 and laid H5414 them by heaps. H6194 H6194
7 In the third H7992 month H2320 they began H2490 to lay the foundation H3245 of the heaps, H6194 and finished H3615 them in the seventh H7637 month. H2320
8 And when Hezekiah H3169 and the princes H8269 came H935 and saw H7200 the heaps, H6194 they blessed H1288 the LORD, H3068 and his people H5971 Israel. H3478
9 Then Hezekiah H3169 questioned H1875 with the priests H3548 and the Levites H3881 concerning the heaps. H6194
10 And Azariah H5838 the chief H7218 priest H3548 of the house H1004 of Zadok H6659 answered H559 him, and said, H559 Since the people began H2490 to bring H935 the offerings H8641 into the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 we have had enough H7646 to eat, H398 and have left H3498 plenty: H7230 for the LORD H3068 hath blessed H1288 his people; H5971 and that which is left H3498 is this great store. H1995
11 Then Hezekiah H3169 commanded H559 to prepare H3559 chambers H3957 in the house H1004 of the LORD; H3068 and they prepared H3559 them,
12 And brought in H935 the offerings H8641 and the tithes H4643 and the dedicated H6944 things faithfully: H530 over which Cononiah H3562 the Levite H3881 was ruler, H5057 and Shimei H8096 his brother H251 was the next. H4932
13 And Jehiel, H3171 and Azaziah, H5812 and Nahath, H5184 and Asahel, H6214 and Jerimoth, H3406 and Jozabad, H3107 and Eliel, H447 and Ismachiah, H3253 and Mahath, H4287 and Benaiah, H1141 were overseers H6496 under the hand H3027 of Cononiah H3562 and Shimei H8096 his brother, H251 at the commandment H4662 of Hezekiah H3169 the king, H4428 and Azariah H5838 the ruler H5057 of the house H1004 of God. H430
14 And Kore H6981 the son H1121 of Imnah H3232 the Levite, H3881 the porter H7778 toward the east, H4217 was over the freewill offerings H5071 of God, H430 to distribute H5414 the oblations H8641 of the LORD, H3068 and the most H6944 holy things. H6944
15 And next him were Eden, H5731 and Miniamin, H4509 and Jeshua, H3442 and Shemaiah, H8098 Amariah, H568 and Shecaniah, H7935 in the cities H5892 of the priests, H3548 in their set office, H530 to give H5414 to their brethren H251 by H3027 courses, H4256 as well to the great H1419 as to the small: H6996
16 Beside their genealogy H3187 of males, H2145 from three H7969 years H8141 old H1121 and upward, H4605 even unto every one that entereth H935 into the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 his daily H3117 H3117 portion H1697 for their service H5656 in their charges H4931 according to their courses; H4256
17 Both to the genealogy H3187 of the priests H3548 by the house H1004 of their fathers, H1 and the Levites H3881 from twenty H6242 years H8141 old H1121 and upward, H4605 in their charges H4931 by their courses; H4256
18 And to the genealogy H3187 of all their little ones, H2945 their wives, H802 and their sons, H1121 and their daughters, H1323 through all the congregation: H6951 for in their set office H530 they sanctified H6942 themselves in holiness: H6944
19 Also of the sons H1121 of Aaron H175 the priests, H3548 which were in the fields H7704 of the suburbs H4054 of their cities, H5892 in every several city, H5892 the men H582 that were expressed H5344 by name, H8034 to give H5414 portions H4490 to all the males H2145 among the priests, H3548 and to all that were reckoned by genealogies H3187 among the Levites. H3881
20 And thus did H6213 Hezekiah H3169 throughout all Judah, H3063 and wrought H6213 that which was good H2896 and right H3477 and truth H571 before H6440 the LORD H3068 his God. H430
21 And in every work H4639 that he began H2490 in the service H5656 of the house H1004 of God, H430 and in the law, H8451 and in the commandments, H4687 to seek H1875 his God, H430 he did H6213 it with all his heart, H3824 and prospered. H6743
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 31
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 31 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 31
2Ch 31:1-10. The People Forward in Destroying Idolatry.
1. all Israel … present went out to the cities of Judah—The solemnities of this paschal season left a deep and salutary impression on the minds of the assembled worshippers; attachment to the ancient institutions of their country was extensively revived; ardor in the service of God animated every bosom; and under the impulse of the devout feelings inspired by the occasion, they took measures at the close of the passover for extirpating idolatrous statues and altars out of every city, as at the beginning of the festival they had done in Jerusalem.
Judah and Benjamin—denote the southern kingdom.
Ephraim also and Manasseh—refer to the northern kingdom. This unsparing demolition of the monuments of idolatry would receive all encouragement from the king and public authorities of the former; and the force of the popular movement was sufficient to effect the same results among the tribes of Israel, whatever opposition the power of Hoshea or the invectives of some profane brethren might have made. Thus the reign of idolatry being completely overthrown and the pure worship of God re-established throughout the land, the people returned every one to his own home, in the confident expectation that, through the divine blessing, they would enjoy a happy future of national peace and prosperity.
2-5. Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests, &c.—The king now turned his attention to provide for the orderly performance of the temple-worship—arranging the priests and Levites in their courses, assigning to every one his proper place and functions—and issuing edicts for the regular payment of those dues from which the revenues of the sanctuary were derived. To set a proper example to his subjects, his own proportion was announced in the first instance, for to the king it belonged, out of his privy purse, to defray the expenses of the altar, both stated and occasional (Nu 28:3, 4, 9, 11, 19); and in making this contribution from his own means, Hezekiah followed the course which David and Solomon had taken before him (see 2Ch 8:14; 1Ki 9:25). Afterwards he reappointed the people's dues to the temple; and from its being necessary to issue a royal mandate in reference to this matter, it appears that the sacred tribute had been either totally neglected, or (as the idolatrous princes were known to appropriate it to their own purposes) the people had in many cases refused or evaded the duty. But with the improved state of public feeling, Hezekiah's commandment was readily obeyed, and contributions of first-fruits and tithes were poured in with great liberality from all parts of Judah, as well as from Israel. The first-fruits, even of some articles of produce that were unfit for sacrifice (Le 2:11), such as honey (Margin, "dates"), were appropriated to the priests (Nu 18:12, 13; De 18:4). The tithes (Le 27:31) were intended for the support of the whole Levitical tribe (Nu 18:8, 20, 24).
6, 7. and laid them by heaps—The contributions began to be sent in shortly after the celebration of the passover, which had taken place in the middle of the second month. Some time would elapse before the king's order reached all parts of the kingdom. The wheat harvest occurred in the third month, so that the sheaves of that grain, being presented before any other, formed "the foundation," an under-layer in the corn stores of the temple. The first-fruits of their land produce which were successively sent in all the summer till the close of the fruit and vintage season, that is, the seventh month, continued to raise heap upon heap.
9. Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps—The object of his enquiries was to ascertain whether the supplies afforded the prospect of a sufficient maintenance for the members of the sacred order.
10. Azariah … answered … we have had enough—This is probably the person mentioned (2Ch 26:17), and his reply was to the following purport: There has been an abundant harvest, and a corresponding plenty in the incoming of first-fruits and tithes; the people have testified their gratitude to Him who has crowned the year with His goodness by their liberality towards His servants.
2Ch 31:11-19. Hezekiah Appoints Officers to Dispose of the Tithes.
11-18. Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the Lord—storehouses, granaries, or cellars; either the old ones, which had been allowed through neglect to fall into decay, were to be repaired, or additional ones built. Private individuals brought their own first-fruits to the temple; but the tithes were levied by the Levites, who kept a faithful account of them in their several places of abode and transmitted the allotted proportion to the priests. Officers were appointed to distribute equal rations to all in the cities of the priests who, from age or other reasons, could not repair to the temple. With the exception of children under three years of age—an exception made probably from their being considered too young to receive solid food—lists were kept of the number and age of every male; of priests according to their fathers' house, and Levites from twenty years (see Nu 4:3; 28:24; 1Ch 23:24). But, besides, provision was also made for their wives, daughters, and servants.
18. for in their set office they sanctified themselves—This is the reason assigned for providing for the wives and children out of the revenues of the sanctuary, that priests, withdrawing from those secular pursuits by which they might have maintained their households, devoted themselves entirely to the functions of the ministry.
2Ch 31:20, 21. His Sincerity of Heart.
20. Hezekiah … wrought that which was good and right—He displayed the qualities of a constitutional king, in restoring and upholding the ancient institutions of the kingdom; while his zealous and persevering efforts to promote the cause of true religion and the best interests of his subjects entitled him to be ranked with the most illustrious of his predecessors (2Ki 18:15).