2 Chronicles 31

King James Version

Full text for 2 Chronicles Chapter 31

1¶ Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images 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, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.

2And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for 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 morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as [it is] written in the law of the LORD.

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

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

6And [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 tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid [them] by heaps.

7In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished [them] in the seventh month.

8And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.

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

10And Azariah the chief priest of 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 left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left [is] this great store.

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

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

13And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and 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.

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

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

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

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

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

19Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, [which were] in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every several city, the men that 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.

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

21And 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] with all his heart, and prospered.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

After the Passover, all Israel engaged in a widespread destruction of idolatrous altars and images throughout the land. King Hezekiah then re-established the courses of the priests and Levites for temple service and commanded the people to provide for them. The people responded with an abundance of firstfruits and tithes, which were diligently collected and distributed to the ministers and their families.

Medium Summary

Following the great Passover, the people of Israel thoroughly cleansed the land by destroying all remnants of idolatry, including images, groves, high places, and altars across Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. King Hezekiah meticulously reorganized the temple service, assigning priests and Levites to their specific duties for offerings and praise. He further mandated that the people provide for these ministers, prompting an overwhelming response of firstfruits and tithes that accumulated into massive heaps. Azariah, the chief priest, confirmed this abundance was a direct blessing from the Lord. Hezekiah then established an organized system with overseers to faithfully manage and distribute these provisions to all priests and Levites, their families, and those serving in the cities.

Long Summary

Upon the completion of the Passover, the children of Israel embarked on a comprehensive campaign to eradicate idolatry, breaking images, cutting down groves, and throwing down high places and altars throughout Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh, utterly destroying them. King Hezekiah then meticulously re-established the courses of the priests and Levites, assigning each to their specific service for burnt offerings, peace offerings, and praise according to the Law of the Lord, also providing a portion from his own substance for these sacrifices. He commanded the people of Jerusalem to give their portions to the priests and Levites to encourage them in the Law. The people responded with extraordinary generosity, bringing in abundant firstfruits of corn, wine, oil, honey, and all field produce, along with tithes of oxen, sheep, and consecrated holy things, forming great heaps that began in the third month and concluded in the seventh. When Hezekiah and his princes witnessed this immense store, they blessed the Lord and His people. Azariah, the chief priest, confirmed that since the offerings began, they had more than enough, attributing the surplus to the Lord's blessing. Hezekiah then ordered chambers prepared in the temple for storage, appointing Cononiah and Shimei as chief overseers, with many others assisting in the faithful management and distribution of these provisions. These portions were systematically given to all priests and Levites, including their wives, sons, and daughters, from three years old and upward, according to their genealogies and courses, ensuring that all who served or were connected to the service received their daily portion. Hezekiah's actions throughout Judah were consistently good, right, and truthful before the Lord, and he prospered in every work he undertook for the service of God's house, the law, and the commandments, because he performed it with all his heart.

Core Concepts

  • Idolatry's DestructionAfter the Passover, the people of Israel undertook a widespread campaign to dismantle all forms of idolatry, breaking images, cutting down groves, and destroying high places and altars across the land.
  • Restoration of Temple ServiceKing Hezekiah meticulously re-established the divinely ordained courses for the priests and Levites, ensuring the proper administration of burnt offerings, peace offerings, and praise in the house of the Lord.
  • Abundant OfferingsIn response to Hezekiah's command, the people brought forth an overwhelming quantity of firstfruits and tithes of all their produce and livestock, accumulating into massive heaps of provisions for the temple ministers.
  • Divine Blessing and ProvisionThe chief priest Azariah affirmed that the immense surplus of offerings was a direct manifestation of the Lord's blessing upon His people, ensuring ample sustenance for the priests and Levites.
  • Orderly DistributionHezekiah established a structured system with appointed overseers to faithfully manage and systematically distribute the collected offerings and tithes to all priests and Levites, their families, and those serving in various cities, according to their genealogies and courses.
  • Hezekiah's Righteous ReignKing Hezekiah consistently acted in a manner described as good, right, and truthful before the Lord, diligently pursuing God's will in all his endeavors concerning the temple service and the law.
  • Prosperity through DevotionThe chapter concludes by noting that Hezekiah prospered in every work he undertook for the service of God's house and in adherence to the law, because he performed it with all his heart.