2 Chronicles 31

1 When all this had ended, the Israelites in attendance went out to the cities of Judah and broke up the sacred pillars, chopped down the Asherah poles, and tore down the high places and altars throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the Israelites returned to their cities, each to his own property.

2 Hezekiah reestablished the divisions of the priests and Levites—each of them according to their duties as priests or Levites—for the burnt offerings and peace offerings, for ministry, for giving thanks, and for singing praises at the gates of the LORD’s dwelling.

3 The king contributed from his own possessions for the regular morning and evening burnt offerings and for the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts, as written in the Law of the LORD.

4 Moreover, he commanded the people living in Jerusalem to make a contribution for the priests and Levites so that they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD.

5 As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously provided the firstfruits of the grain, new wine, oil, and honey, and of all the produce of the field, and they brought in an abundance—a tithe of everything.

6 And the Israelites and Judahites who lived in the cities of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things consecrated to the LORD their God, and they laid them in large heaps.

7 In the third month they began building up the heaps, and they finished in the seventh month.

8 When Hezekiah and his officials came and viewed the heaps, they blessed the LORD and His people Israel.

9 Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and Levites about the heaps,

10 and Azariah, the chief priest of the household of Zadok, answered him, “Since the people began to bring their contributions into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and there is plenty left over, because the LORD has blessed His people; this great abundance is what is left over.”

11 Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare storerooms in the house of the LORD, and they did so.

12 And they faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes, and dedicated gifts. Conaniah the Levite was the officer in charge of 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 his brother Shimei, by appointment of King Hezekiah and of Azariah the chief official of the house of God.

14 Kore son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the East Gate, was in charge of the freewill offerings given to God, distributing the contributions to the LORD and the consecrated gifts.

15 Under his authority, Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah faithfully distributed portions to their fellow priests in their cities, according to their divisions, old and young alike.

16 In addition, they distributed portions to the males registered by genealogy who were three years of age or older—to all who would enter the house of the LORD for their daily duties for service in the responsibilities of their divisions—

17 and to the priests enrolled according to their families in the genealogy, as well as to the Levites twenty years of age or older, according to their responsibilities and divisions.

18 The genealogy included all the little ones, wives, sons, and daughters of the whole assembly. For they had faithfully consecrated themselves as holy.

19 As for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who lived on the farmlands around each of their cities or in any other city, men were designated by name to distribute a portion to every male among the priests and to every Levite listed by the genealogies.

20 So this is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what was good and upright and true before the LORD his God.

21 He acted with all his heart in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law and the commandments, in order to seek his God. And so he prospered.

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.

2 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 [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 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 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 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 In the third 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 blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.

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

10 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.

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

12 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought [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] with all his heart, and prospered.

1 And when all these things were made ready, all the children of Israel that were found among the cities of Judah went out, and brake down the pillars, and cut down the groves, and brake down the high places and the altars out of all Judah, and Benjamin, and Ephraim, and Manasseh, until they had made them clean. And the children of Israel returned unto their possession unto their cities.

2 And Hezekiah set the priests and the Levites in their order, every man according to his service, both of the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise, in the gates of the camp of the LORD.

3 And the king gave his portion of his substance for burnt offerings morning and evening, and for burnt offerings on the sabbath day, and for new moons, and for feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD.

4 And he spake unto the people that dwelt at Jerusalem, that they should give part to the priests and to the Levites, that they might keep the law of the LORD more earnestly.

5 And when the word went forth, the children of Israel gave much firstfruits of corn, and wine, and oil, and honey, and all the produce of the field; and they brought in much tithes of all kinds.

6 And the children of Israel and Judah, which dwelt in the cities of Judah, brought also tithes of oxen and sheep, and tithes of that which was sanctified, which they had dedicated unto the LORD their God, and made heaps here and heaps there.

7 In the third moon they began to lay heaps, and in the seventh moon they straightened it.

8 And when Hezekiah went in with the princes, and saw the multitude, they praised the LORD, and his people Israel.

9 And Hezekiah asked the priests and the Levites for heaps.

10 And Azariah the priest, the chief of the house of Zadok, said unto him, Since the time that they began to bring the heaves into the house of the LORD, we have eaten, and been filled, and there is yet much left: for the LORD hath blessed his people, therefore this multitude is left.

11 Then the king commanded that boxes should be prepared in the house of the LORD. And they prepared them

12 And they put in the heave, and the tithes, and the holy things, faithfully. And over the same was prince Hananiah the Levite, and Shimei his brother the other,

13 And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Jesmachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, appointed by the hand of Hananiah, and by the hand of Shimei his brother, according to the commandment of king Hezekiah. But Azariah was prince in the house of God.

14 And Kore the son of Jemnah the Levite, the keeper of the gate toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, which were given to the LORD to heave, and over the most holy.

15 And under his hand were: Eden, and Minjamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, and Amariah, and Zechaniah, in the cities of the priests, on faith to give unto their brethren after their order, to the least as well as to the greatest;

16 And to them that were counted men of three years old and upward, of all that entered into the house of the LORD, every one in his day to their service in their charge, according to their order;

17 Even they that were counted for priests in the house of their fathers, and the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, in their guard after their order;

18 And they that were numbered among their children, and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, among all the congregation. For they sanctified the holy things faithfully.

19 And there were men named among the children. Aaron the priests, in the fields of the suburbs, in all the cities, to give part to all the men of the priests, and to all that were numbered with the Levites.

20 So Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and did that which was good, and right, and true, in the sight of the LORD his God.

21 And in all that he began to do in the service of the house of God, according to the law and the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart; therefore he was fortunate.