2 Chronicles 31

Chapter Overview

What happens in 2 Chronicles 31

After the Passover, the people go throughout the land destroying idols. Hezekiah organizes the priests and Levites and tells the people to support them with tithes. The people respond so generously that there are piles of offerings left over.

Scripture

Idols Destroyed Throughout the Land

Study note

The revival that began with the Passover celebration continued as the people went out to the cities of Judah and even into Ephraim and Manasseh. They smashed sacred pillars, cut down Asherah poles, and destroyed the hilltop shrines and altars until they were all gone.

1 When the feast was over, the people went to Judah's cities. They smashed the sacred pillars. They chopped down the idol poles. They tore down the hilltop shrines and altars in Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. They kept going until all were gone. Then everyone went home. 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.

Hezekiah Organizes Temple Worship

Study note

Hezekiah assigned the priests and Levites to their divisions for burnt offerings, fellowship offerings, ministry, giving thanks, and praise at the gates of the Lord's camp. He contributed from his own wealth for the daily offerings. He commanded the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the Lord. The people responded generously, bringing the first fruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and a tithe of everything. The surplus piled up in heaps. The chief priest Azariah told the king that since the people began bringing their offerings, there had been more than enough to eat with plenty left over.

2 Hezekiah organized the priests and Levites into groups, each with their own duties. They were to offer burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, to serve God, to give thanks, and to sing praises at the gates of the Lord's camp. And 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 The king gave from his own wealth for the burnt offerings. These included the morning and evening offerings and the offerings for Sabbaths, New Moon festivals, and special feasts. This was just as the Lord's law requires. 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.

4 He told the people of Jerusalem to bring the share that belonged to the priests and Levites. That way, they could spend all their time on the Lord's law. Moreover 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.

5 As soon as the order went out, the Israelites gave generously. They brought the first portion of their grain, new wine, olive oil, honey, and everything their fields produced. They brought a large tenth of everything. And 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.

6 The people of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought a tenth of their cattle and sheep, along with a tenth of the holy things they had set apart for the Lord their God. They piled them in heaps. 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 tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps.

7 They started piling things up in the third month and did not finish until the seventh month. In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.

8 When Hezekiah and the officials came and saw the huge piles, they praised the Lord and blessed his people Israel. And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.

9 Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about all these piles of goods. Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.

10 Azariah the chief priest, from Zadok's family, told him, "Since the people started bringing their gifts to the Lord's temple, we have had more than enough to eat. There is plenty left over. The Lord has blessed his people. This huge pile is what is left." And 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.

Distributing the Offerings

Study note

Hezekiah ordered storerooms to be prepared in the temple, and the people faithfully brought their offerings and tithes. Faithful men were appointed to manage the distribution, making sure every priest and Levite and their families received their share — from the cities and the countryside. Hezekiah carried out what was good, right, and true before the Lord his God. In everything he did for the service of God's temple and for obeying the law and commandments, he sought God wholeheartedly, and he prospered.

11 Hezekiah ordered storerooms to be set up in the Lord's temple, and they were. Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them,

12 The people faithfully brought in their contributions, tithes, and special gifts. Conaniah the Levite was put in charge, with his brother Shimei as his helper. And 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.

13 Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah helped with the work. They served under Conaniah and his brother Shimei. King Hezekiah and Azariah, the leader of God's temple, had put them in charge. And 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.

14 Kore son of Imnah the Levite served as gatekeeper at the East Gate and was in charge of the freewill offerings given to God. He handed out the Lord's offerings and the most holy gifts. And 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.

15 Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah helped him. They gave out shares to fellow priests in the priestly cities. They gave to both old and young. And 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:

16 They also gave shares to all males three years old and older who were listed in the family records. This included everyone who came to the Lord's temple for their daily duties, based on their jobs and the group they belonged to. Beside 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;

17 The priests were registered by their family lines. The Levites 20 years old and older were listed by their duties and groups. Both 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;

18 The lists had all their small children, wives, sons, and daughters. The whole group was listed. They had set themselves apart as holy. And 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:

19 For the priests who were Aaron's descendants and lived on the farmlands around their cities, men were picked by name. They handed out shares to every male priest and to everyone listed in the Levite family records. Also 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.

20 This is what Hezekiah did throughout all of Judah. He did what was good, right, and honest before the Lord his God. And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.

21 In everything he did for serving God's temple and for obeying the law and commands, he put his whole heart into seeking God. And he did well because of it. 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 with all his heart, and prospered.

Key Themes

Themes in 2 Chronicles 31

Generosity that overflows in response to revivalProper support for those who serve God full-timeDestroying idols as a fruit of genuine repentanceOrganization and faithfulness in stewardship

Apply This Today

Living 2 Chronicles 31

After the Passover, the people gave so generously that the offerings formed heaps. True revival overflows into tangible generosity. When your heart is stirred by God, let it show in how you give — your time, your resources, and your support for those who serve.

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