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)

The Reforms of Hezekiah(A)

31 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and (B)broke the sacred pillars in pieces, cut down the wooden images, and threw down the [a]high places and the altars—from all Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh—until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned to their own cities, every man to his possession.

And Hezekiah appointed (C)the divisions of the priests and the Levites according to their divisions, each man according to his service, the priests and Levites (D)for burnt offerings and peace offerings, to serve, to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the [b]camp of the Lord. The king also appointed a [c]portion of his (E)possessions[d] for the burnt offerings: for the morning and evening burnt offerings, the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths and the New Moons and the set feasts, as it is written in the (F)Law of the Lord.

Moreover he commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute (G)support[e] for the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to (H)the Law of the Lord.

As soon as the commandment was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance (I)the firstfruits of grain and wine, oil and honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the (J)tithe of everything. And the children of Israel and Judah, who dwelt in the cities of Judah, brought the tithe of oxen and sheep; also the (K)tithe of holy things which were consecrated to the Lord their God they laid in heaps.

In the third month they began laying them in heaps, and they finished in the seventh month. And when Hezekiah and the leaders came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord and His people Israel. Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. 10 And Azariah the chief priest, from the (L)house of Zadok, answered him and said, (M)“Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and have plenty left, for the Lord has blessed His people; and what is left is this great (N)abundance.”

11 Now Hezekiah commanded them to prepare (O)rooms[f] in the house of the Lord, and they prepared them. 12 Then they faithfully brought in the offerings, the tithes, and the dedicated things; (P)Cononiah the Levite had charge of them, and Shimei his brother was the next. 13 Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king and Azariah the (Q)ruler of the house of God. 14 Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the East Gate, was over the (R)freewill offerings to God, to distribute the offerings of the Lord and the most holy things. 15 And under him were (S)Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, his faithful assistants in (T)the cities of the priests, to distribute (U)allotments to their brethren by divisions, to the great as well as the small.

16 Besides those males from three years old and up who were written in the genealogy, they distributed to everyone who entered the house of the Lord his daily portion for the work of his service, by his division, 17 and to the priests who were written in the genealogy according to their father’s house, and to the Levites (V)from twenty years old and up according to their work, by their divisions, 18 and to all who were written in the genealogy—their little ones and their wives, their sons and daughters, the whole company of them—for in their faithfulness they [g]sanctified themselves in holiness.

19 Also for the sons of Aaron the priests, who were in (W)the fields of the common-lands of their cities, in every single city, there were men who were (X)designated by name to distribute portions to all the males among the priests and to all who were listed by genealogies among the Levites.

20 Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he (Y)did what was good and right and true before the Lord his God. 21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he (Z)prospered.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 31:1 Places for pagan worship
  2. 2 Chronicles 31:2 Temple
  3. 2 Chronicles 31:3 share
  4. 2 Chronicles 31:3 property
  5. 2 Chronicles 31:4 the portion due
  6. 2 Chronicles 31:11 storerooms
  7. 2 Chronicles 31:18 consecrated

31 Nang matapos nga ang lahat ng ito, ang buong Israel na nakaharap ay lumabas sa mga bayan ng Juda, at pinagputolputol ang mga haligi na pinakaalaala, at ibinuwal ang mga Asera, at iginiba ang mga mataas na dako at ang mga dambana mula sa buong Juda at Benjamin, sa Ephraim man at sa Manases, hanggang sa kanilang naigibang lahat. Nang magkagayo'y ang lahat ng mga anak ni Israel ay nagsibalik, bawa't isa'y sa kaniyang pag-aari, sa kanilang sariling mga bayan.

At inihalal ni Ezechias ang mga bahagi ng mga saserdote, at ng mga Levita ayon sa kanilang pagkakabahagi, bawa't lalake ay ayon sa kaniyang katungkulan, ang mga saserdote at gayon din ang mga Levita, na ukol sa mga handog na susunugin at sa mga handog tungkol sa kapayapaan, upang magsipangasiwa, at upang mangagpasalamat, at upang mangagpuri sa mga pintuang-daan ng hantungan ng Panginoon.

Itinakda naman niya ang bahagi ng hari sa kaniyang pag-aari na ukol sa mga handog na susunugin, sa makatuwid baga'y sa mga handog na susunugin sa umaga at sa hapon, at ang mga handog na susunugin sa mga sabbath, at sa mga bagong buwan, at sa mga takdang kapistahan, na gaya ng nakasulat sa kautusan ng Panginoon.

Bukod dito'y inutusan niya ang bayan na tumatahan sa Jerusalem, na ibigay ang pagkain ng mga saserdote at ng mga Levita, upang magsitalaga sa kautusan ng Panginoon.

At paglabas ng utos, ang mga anak ni Israel ay nangagbigay na sagana ng mga unang bunga ng trigo, alak, at langis, at pulot, at sa lahat na bunga sa bukid; at ang ikasangpung bahagi ng lahat na bagay ay dinala nila na sagana.

At ang mga anak ni Israel at ni Juda, na nagsisitahan sa mga bayan ng Juda, sila nama'y nangagdala ng ikasangpung bahagi ng mga baka at mga tupa, at ng ikasangpung bahagi ng mga itinalagang bagay na mga itinalaga sa Panginoon nilang Dios, at inilagay ang mga yaon na bunton bunton.

Nang ikatlong buwan ay nangagpasimula silang naglagay ng pasimula ng mga bunton, at nangatapos sa ikapitong buwan.

At nang pumaroon si Ezechias at ang mga prinsipe at makita ang mga bunton, kanilang pinuri ang Panginoon, at ang kaniyang bayang Israel.

Nang magkagayo'y nagtanong si Ezechias sa mga saserdote at sa mga Levita tungkol sa mga bunton.

10 At si Azarias na punong saserdote sa bahay ni Sadoc, ay sumagot sa kaniya, at nagsabi, Mula ng magpasimulang magdala ang bayan ng mga alay sa bahay ng Panginoon, kami ay nagsikain at nangabusog kami, at lumabis ng sagana sapagka't pinagpala ng Panginoon ang kaniyang bayan; at ang naiwan ay ang malaking kasaganaang ito.

11 Nang magkagayo'y nagutos si Ezechias na maghanda ng mga silid sa bahay ng Panginoon; at inihanda nila.

12 At kanilang pinagdalhan ng mga alay at ng mga ikasangpung bahagi, at ng mga itinalagang bagay, na may pagtatapat. At sa mga yaon ay katiwala si Chonanias na Levita, at si Simi na kaniyang kapatid ay siyang ikalawa.

13 At si Jehiel, at si Azazias, at si Nahat, at si Asael, at si Jerimoth, at si Josabad, at si Eliel, at si Ismachias, at si Mahaath, at si Benaias, ay mga tagapangasiwa sa kapangyarihan ng kamay ni Chonanias, at ni Simi na kaniyang kapatid, ayon sa pagkahalal ni Ezechias, na hari, at ni Azarias na tagapamahala sa bahay ng Dios.

14 At si Core na anak ni Imna na Levita, na tagatanod-pinto sa silanganang pintuang-daan, ay katiwala sa mga kusang handog sa Dios, upang magbahagi ng mga alay sa Panginoon, at ng mga kabanalbanalang bagay.

15 At nasa kapangyarihan niya si Eden, at si Benjamin, at si Jeshua, at si Semaias, si Amarias, at si Sechanias, sa mga bayan ng mga saserdote, sa kanilang takdang katungkulan, upang magbigay sa kanilang mga kapatid ng ayon sa mga bahagi, gayon sa malaki na gaya sa maliit:

16 Bukod doon sa nangabilang sa mga talaan ng lahi ng mga lalake, na mula sa tatlong taong gulang na patanda, sa makatuwid baga'y sa bawa't pumapasok sa bahay ng Panginoon, ayon sa kailangan sa bawa't araw, na ukol sa kanilang paglilingkod sa kanilang mga katungkulan ayon sa kanilang mga bahagi.

17 At silang mangabilang sa pamamagitan ng talaan ng lahi ng mga saserdote ayon sa sangbahayan ng kanilang mga magulang, at ang mga Levita mula sa dalawangpung taong gulang na patanda, sa kanilang mga katungkulan ayon sa kanilang mga bahagi;

18 At silang nangabilang sa pamamagitan ng talaan ng lahi ng lahat nilang mga bata, ng kanilang mga asawa, at ng kanilang mga anak na lalake at babae, sa buong kapisanan: sapagka't sa kanilang takdang katungkulan ay nangagpakabanal:

19 Gayon din sa mga anak ni Aaron na mga saserdote, na nangasa bukiran ng mga nayon ng kanilang mga bayan, sa bawa't iba't ibang bayan, may mga lalake na nasaysay sa pangalan, upang magbigay ng mga pagkain sa lahat na lalake na saserdote, at sa lahat na nangabilang ayon sa talaan ng lahi ng mga Levita.

20 At ganito ang ginawa ni Ezechias sa buong Juda; at siya'y gumawa ng mabuti, at matuwid, at tapat sa harap ng Panginoon niyang Dios.

21 At sa bawa't gawain na kaniyang pinasimulan sa paglilingkod sa bahay ng Dios, at sa kautusan at sa mga utos, upang hanapin ang kaniyang Dios, kaniyang ginawa ng buong puso niya, at guminhawa.

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.