Removal of Idolatry

31 When all this was completed, all Israel who had attended 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(A) throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, to the last one.[a] Then all the Israelites returned to their cities, each to his own possession.

Offerings for Levites

Hezekiah reestablished the divisions(B) of the priests and Levites for the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, for ministry, for giving thanks, and for praise in the gates of the camp of the Lord,(C) each division corresponding to his service among the priests and Levites. The king contributed[b] from his own possessions(D) for the regular morning and evening burnt offerings, the burnt offerings of the Sabbaths, of the New Moons, and of the appointed feasts, as written in the law of the Lord.(E) He told the people who lived in Jerusalem to give a contribution(F) for the priests and Levites so that they could devote their energy to the law of the Lord. When the word spread, the Israelites gave liberally of the best of the grain, new wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field, and they brought in an abundance, a tenth(G) of everything. As for the Israelites and Judahites who lived in the cities of Judah, they also brought a tenth of the cattle and sheep, and a tenth of the dedicated things that were consecrated to the Lord their God.(H) They gathered them into large piles. In the third month they began building up the piles, and they finished in the seventh month. When Hezekiah and his officials came and viewed the piles, they praised the Lord and His people Israel.

Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the piles. 10 Azariah, the chief priest of the household of Zadok,(I) answered him, “Since they began bringing the offering to the Lord’s temple, we eat and are satisfied and there is plenty left over because the Lord has blessed His people; this abundance is what is left over.”(J)

11 Hezekiah told them to prepare chambers(K) in the Lord’s temple, and they prepared them. 12 The offering, the tenth, and the dedicated things were brought faithfully. Conaniah the Levite was the officer in charge of them, and his brother Shimei was second.(L) 13 Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were deputies under the authority of Conaniah and his brother Shimei by appointment of King Hezekiah and of Azariah the chief official of God’s temple.

14 Kore son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the East Gate, was over the freewill offerings to God to distribute the contribution to the Lord and the consecrated things.(M) 15 Eden,(N) Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah in the cities of the priests(O) were to faithfully distribute it under his authority to their brothers by divisions, whether large or small. 16 In addition, they distributed it to males registered by genealogy three[c](P) years old and above; to all who would enter the Lord’s temple for their daily duty,(Q) for their service in their responsibilities according to their divisions. 17 They distributed also to those recorded by genealogy of the priests by their ancestral families and the Levites 20 years old and above,(R) by their responsibilities in their divisions; 18 to those registered by genealogy—with all their infants, wives, sons, and daughters—of the whole assembly (for they had faithfully consecrated themselves as holy); 19 and to the descendants of Aaron, the priests, in the common fields of their cities,(S) in each and every city. There were men who were registered by name(T) to distribute a portion to every male among the priests and to every Levite recorded by genealogy.

20 Hezekiah did this throughout all Judah. He did what was good and upright and true before the Lord his God.(U) 21 He was diligent in every deed that he began in the service of God’s temple, in the instruction and the commands, in order to seek his God, and he prospered.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 31:1 Lit Manasseh, until finishing
  2. 2 Chronicles 31:3 Lit The king’s portion
  3. 2 Chronicles 31:16 Or 30; 1Ch 23:3

Ezechia riordina il culto levitico

31 (A)Quando tutte queste cose furono compiute, tutti gli Israeliti che si trovavano lì partirono per le città di Giuda, frantumarono le statue, abbatterono gli idoli di Astarte, demolirono gli alti luoghi e gli altari in tutto Giuda e Beniamino, e in Efraim e in Manasse, in modo che nulla più ne rimase. Poi tutti i figli d’Israele se ne tornarono alle loro città, ciascuno nella sua proprietà.

Ezechia ristabilì le classi dei sacerdoti e dei Leviti nelle loro funzioni, ognuno secondo il genere del suo servizio: sacerdoti e Leviti, per gli olocausti e i sacrifici di riconoscenza, per il servizio, per la lode e per il canto, entro le porte del campo del Signore. Stabilì pure la parte che il re avrebbe prelevato dai suoi beni per gli olocausti, per gli olocausti del mattino e della sera, per gli olocausti dei sabati, dei noviluni e delle feste, come sta scritto nella legge del Signore. Ordinò al popolo, agli abitanti di Gerusalemme, di dare ai sacerdoti e ai Leviti la loro parte, affinché potessero darsi all’adempimento della legge del Signore. Non appena quest’ordine fu pubblicato, i figli d’Israele diedero in gran quantità le primizie del grano, del vino, dell’olio, del miele e di tutti i prodotti dei campi; e portarono la decima di ogni cosa, in abbondanza. I figli d’Israele e di Giuda che abitavano nelle città di Giuda portarono anch’essi la decima degli armenti e delle greggi, e la decima delle cose sante che erano consacrate al Signore, al loro Dio, e delle quali si fecero tanti ammassi. Cominciarono a far affluire tutto in quegli ammassi il terzo mese e finirono il settimo mese. Ezechia e i capi vennero a vedere quanto era stato ammassato e benedissero il Signore e il suo popolo Israele. Poi Ezechia interrogò i sacerdoti e i Leviti relativamente a quegli ammassi; 10 e il sommo sacerdote Azaria, della casa di Sadoc, gli rispose: «Da che si è cominciato a portare le offerte nella casa del Signore, abbiamo mangiato, ci siamo saziati ed è rimasta roba in abbondanza, perché il Signore ha benedetto il suo popolo; ed ecco qui la gran quantità che è rimasta».

11 Allora Ezechia ordinò che si preparassero delle stanze nella casa del Signore; e furono preparate. 12 E vi riposero fedelmente le offerte, la decima e le cose consacrate. Conania, il Levita, ne ebbe la sovrintendenza, e Simei, suo fratello, era suo aiutante. 13 Ieiel, Aazia, Naat, Asael, Ierimot, Iozabad, Eliel, Ismachia, Maat e Benaia erano impiegati sotto la direzione di Conania e di suo fratello Simei, per ordine del re Ezechia e di Azaria, capo della casa di Dio. 14 Il Levita Core, figlio di Imna, guardiano della porta orientale, era responsabile dei doni volontari fatti a Dio per distribuire le offerte fatte al Signore e le cose santissime. 15 Sotto di lui stavano Eden, Miniamin, Iesua, Semaia, Amaria, Secania, nelle città dei sacerdoti, come uomini di fiducia, per fare la distribuzione ai loro fratelli, grandi e piccoli, secondo le loro classi: 16 ai maschi registrati nelle loro genealogie dall’età di tre anni in su; a tutti quelli che entravano giornalmente nella casa del Signore per fare il loro servizio secondo le loro funzioni e secondo le loro classi; 17 ai sacerdoti registrati secondo le loro case patriarcali; ai Leviti dall’età di vent’anni in su, secondo le loro funzioni e secondo le loro classi; 18 a quelli di tutta l’assemblea che erano registrati con tutti i loro bambini, con le loro mogli, con i loro figli e con le loro figlie, perché si consacravano fedelmente al servizio del santuario. 19 Per i sacerdoti, figli di Aaronne, che abitavano in campagna, nelle campagne delle loro città, c’erano, in ogni città, degli uomini designati per nome per distribuire le porzioni a tutti i maschi tra i sacerdoti e a tutti i Leviti registrati nelle genealogie.

20 Ezechia fece così per tutto Giuda; fece ciò che è buono, retto e vero davanti al Signore, suo Dio. 21 In tutto quello che intraprese per il servizio del tempio di Dio, per la legge e per i comandamenti, cercando il suo Dio, mise tutto il cuore nella sua opera e prosperò.

31 When all this had ended, the Israelites who were there went out to the towns of Judah, smashed the sacred stones and cut down(A) the Asherah poles. They destroyed the high places and the altars throughout Judah and Benjamin and in Ephraim and Manasseh. After they had destroyed all of them, the Israelites returned to their own towns and to their own property.

Contributions for Worship(B)

Hezekiah(C) assigned the priests and Levites to divisions(D)—each of them according to their duties as priests or Levites—to offer burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, to minister,(E) to give thanks and to sing praises(F) at the gates of the Lord’s dwelling.(G) The king contributed(H) from his own possessions for the morning and evening burnt offerings and for the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, at the New Moons and at the appointed festivals as written in the Law of the Lord.(I) He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion(J) due the priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the Lord. As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits(K) of their grain, new wine,(L) olive oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. The people of Israel and Judah who lived in the towns of Judah also brought a tithe(M) of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things dedicated to the Lord their God, and they piled them in heaps.(N) They began doing this in the third month and finished in the seventh month.(O) When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw the heaps, they praised the Lord and blessed(P) his people Israel.

Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the heaps; 10 and Azariah the chief priest, from the family of Zadok,(Q) answered, “Since the people began to bring their contributions to the temple of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the Lord has blessed his people, and this great amount is left over.”(R)

11 Hezekiah gave orders to prepare storerooms in the temple of the Lord, and this was done. 12 Then they faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes and dedicated gifts. Konaniah,(S) a Levite, was the overseer in charge of these things, and his brother Shimei was next in rank. 13 Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad,(T) Eliel, Ismakiah, Mahath and Benaiah were assistants of Konaniah and Shimei his brother. All these served by appointment of King Hezekiah and Azariah the official in charge of the temple of God.

14 Kore son of Imnah the Levite, keeper of the East Gate, was in charge of the freewill offerings given to God, distributing the contributions made to the Lord and also the consecrated gifts. 15 Eden,(U) Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah and Shekaniah assisted him faithfully in the towns(V) of the priests, distributing to their fellow priests according to their divisions, old and young alike.

16 In addition, they distributed to the males three years old or more whose names were in the genealogical records(W)—all who would enter the temple of the Lord to perform the daily duties of their various tasks, according to their responsibilities and their divisions. 17 And they distributed to the priests enrolled by their families in the genealogical records and likewise to the Levites twenty years old or more, according to their responsibilities and their divisions. 18 They included all the little ones, the wives, and the sons and daughters of the whole community listed in these genealogical records. For they were faithful in consecrating themselves.

19 As for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who lived on the farmlands around their towns or in any other towns,(X) men were designated by name to distribute portions to every male among them and to all who were recorded in the genealogies of the Levites.

20 This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful(Y) before the Lord his God. 21 In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.(Z)

31 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.