And Hezekiah appointed (A)the divisions of the priests and the Levites according to their divisions, each man according to his service, the priests and Levites (B)for burnt offerings and peace offerings, to serve, to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the [a]camp of the Lord. The king also appointed a [b]portion of his (C)possessions[c] 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 (D)Law of the Lord.

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

As soon as the commandment was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance (G)the firstfruits of grain and wine, oil and honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the (H)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 (I)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 (J)house of Zadok, answered him and said, (K)“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 (L)abundance.”

11 Now Hezekiah commanded them to prepare (M)rooms[e] in the house of the Lord, and they prepared them. 12 Then they faithfully brought in the offerings, the tithes, and the dedicated things; (N)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 (O)ruler of the house of God. 14 Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the East Gate, was over the (P)freewill offerings to God, to distribute the offerings of the Lord and the most holy things. 15 And under him were (Q)Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, his faithful assistants in (R)the cities of the priests, to distribute (S)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 (T)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 [f]sanctified themselves in holiness.

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

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Footnotes

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

And Hezekiah appointed working groups of the priests and the Levites, each according to their divisions, according to the service for priests and Levites,[a] for burnt offerings, for peace offerings, to serve, to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the camps of Yahweh. And the gift of the king was out of his own possessions for the burnt offerings—the burnt offerings for the morning and the evening and for Sabbaths, new moon festivals, and appointed feasts, as is written in the law of Yahweh. Then he said to the people, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to give a gift for the priests and the Levites, so that they might be strong in the law of Yahweh. And the word spread. The Israelites gave abundantly from the firstfruits of grain, new wine, olive oil, honey, and all kinds of grains from the field. And they brought tithes of everything in abundance. Then the people of Israel and Judah who were living in the cities of Judah, they also brought a tithe of cattle and sheep and a tithe of consecrated objects to Yahweh their God. And they gave heaps upon heaps. In the third month the heaps began to pile up, and in the seventh month they ceased. When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed Yahweh and his people Israel. And Hezekiah questioned[b] the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. 10 And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, saying, “Since the offerings began to be brought to the house of Yahweh, we have eaten and been satisfied, and have much to spare, for Yahweh has blessed his people. Now see this abundant remainder!”

11 And Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of Yahweh, and they were prepared. 12 Then they brought the offerings and tithes and holy objects faithfully. And over them as leader was Conaniah the Levite. And Shimei his brother was second in rank. 13 And Jehiel, Azaziah, Nathan, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were chief officers under the hand of Conaniah and Shimei, his brother, by appointment of King Hezekiah. And Azaraiah was leader of the house of God. 14 Now Kore the son of Imlah, the Levite, the gatekeeper of the east gate was over the freewill offerings of God, to give offerings to Yahweh and the most holy things. 15 And at his hand were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah in the cities of the priests and entrusted[c] to give to their brothers by working groups, according to the eldest to the youngest, 16 besides their enrollment by genealogy, to males from three years old and upward, to all who came into the house of Yahweh, as each day required[d] for their service in their posts according to their working groups. 17 And the enrollment of the priests was according to the house of their fathers, and the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, according to their posts by their working groups. 18 And they were enrolled with all their little ones, their wives, their sons, and their daughters for the whole assembly because of their faithfulness. And they sanctified themselves in holiness. 19 And for the descendants[e] of Aaron, the priests, who were in the fields of the pasturelands of their cities, in each and every one of their cities[f] were men who were designated by name to give shares to every male among the priests and to everyone enrolled among the Levites.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 31:2 Literally “according to the mouth of his service, for priests and Levites”
  2. 2 Chronicles 31:9 Or “sought”
  3. 2 Chronicles 31:15 Literally “in faithfulness”
  4. 2 Chronicles 31:16 Literally “for the word of the day by his day”
  5. 2 Chronicles 31:19 Or “sons”
  6. 2 Chronicles 31:19 Literally “in every city and the city”