2 Chronicles 31

Idols Are Destroyed

1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, ¹broke the pillars in pieces, cut down the Asherim and pulled down the high places and the altars throughout all 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.

2 And Hezekiah appointed ²the divisions of the priests and the Levites by their divisions, each according to his service, both the priests and the Levites, ³for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister and to give thanks and to praise in the gates of the camp of the LORD.

Reforms Continued

3 He also appointed ⁴the king's portion of his goods 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 fixed festivals, ⁵as it is written in the law of the LORD.

4 Also he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give ⁶the portion due to the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to ⁷the law of the LORD.

5 As soon as the order spread, the sons of Israel provided in abundance the first fruits of grain, new wine, oil, honey and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly ⁸the tithe of all.

6 The sons of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and ⁹the tithe of sacred gifts which were consecrated to the LORD their God, and placed them in heaps.

7 In the third month they began to make the heaps, and finished them by the seventh month.

8 When Hezekiah and the rulers came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD and ¹⁰His people Israel.

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

10 Azariah the chief priest ¹¹of the house of Zadok said to him, "¹²Since the contributions began to be brought 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."

11 Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare ¹³rooms in the house of the LORD, and they prepared them.

12 They faithfully brought in the contributions and the tithes and the consecrated things; and Conaniah the Levite was the officer in charge ¹⁴of them and his brother Shimei was second.

13 Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath and Benaiah were overseers under the authority of Conaniah and Shimei his brother by the appointment of King Hezekiah, and ¹⁵Azariah was the chief officer of the house of God.

14 Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the eastern gate, was over the freewill offerings of God, to apportion the contributions for the LORD and the most holy things.

15 Under his authority were ¹⁶Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah and Shecaniah in ¹⁷the cities of the priests, to distribute faithfully their portions to their brothers by divisions, whether great or small,

16 without * regard to their genealogical enrollment, to the males from ¹⁸thirty years old and upward -everyone who entered the house of the LORD ¹⁹for his daily obligations -for their work in their duties according to their divisions;

17 as well as the priests who were enrolled genealogically according to their fathers' households, and the Levites ²⁰from twenty years old and upwards, by their duties and their divisions.

18 The 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.

19 Also for the sons of Aaron the priests who were in ²¹the pasture lands of their cities, or in each and every city, ²²there were men who were designated by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to everyone genealogically enrolled among the Levites.

20 Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah; and ²³he did what was good, right and true before the LORD his God.

21 Every work which he began in the service of the house of God in law and in commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and ²⁴prospered.

2 Chronicles 31 Commentary

Chapter 31

Hezekiah destroys idolatry.

- 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.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Kings 18:4
• 2. 1 Chronicles 24:1
• 3. 1 Chronicles 23:28-31
• 4. 2 Chronicles 35:7
• 5. Num 28:1-29:40
• 6. Numbers 18:8
• 7. Malachi 2:7
• 8. Nehemiah 13:12
• 9. Leviticus 27:30; Deuteronomy 14:28
• 10. Deuteronomy 33:29; Psalms 33:12; Psalms 144:15
• 11. 1 Chronicles 6:8, 9
• 12. Malachi 3:10
• 13. 1 Kings 6:5, 8
• 14. 2 Chronicles 35:9
• 15. 2 Chronicles 31:10
• 16. 2 Chronicles 29:12
• 17. Joshua 21:9-19
• 18. 1 Chronicles 23:3
• 19. Ezra 3:4
• 20. 1 Chronicles 23:24
• 21. Leviticus 25:34; Numbers 35:2-5
• 22. 2 Chronicles 31:12-15
• 23. 2 Kings 20:3; 2 Kings 22:2
• 24. Deuteronomy 29:9; Proverbs 3:9, 10

Footnotes

• [a]. I.e. wooden symbols of a female deity
• [b]. Lit "even to completion"
• [c]. Lit "said to"
• [d]. Lit "word"
• [e]. Lit "consecrated things"
• [f]. Lit "found"
• [g]. Lit "him, and he said"
• [h]. Lit "from the hand of"
• [i]. Lit "under his hand"
• [j]. Heb "three"
• [k]. Lit "with all"
• [l]. Lit "in their faithfulness"

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 31

This chapter begins with the destruction of idolatrous worship, the appointment of the courses of the priests and Levites, and the royal bounty for sacrifices, 2Ch 31:1-3, next follows the order Hezekiah gave, that the people at Jerusalem, and throughout the land, should make the proper provision for the priests and Levites, as the law directed; and which was cheerfully complied with, and the firstfruits and tithes were brought in, in great abundance, insomuch that there was enough, and plenty left, 2Ch 31:4-10, wherefore chambers were prepared in the temple to lay it up in, and persons appointed to be the overseers of it, and to distribute it faithfully to their brethren and their families, to small and great, 2Ch 31:11-19, and the chapter is closed in praise of the works of Hezekiah, and the success that attended him, 2Ch 31:20,21.