The Second Book of the Chronicles
2 Chronicles 31
Chapter XXXI · Vol. II, pp. 881–882
1 The people's zeal in destroying idolatry. 2 Hezekiah ordereth the courses of the priests and Levites, and provideth for their work and maintenance. 5 The people's forwardness in bringing in first-fruits and tithes. 11 Hezekiah appointeth officers to dispose of those offerings. 20 The sincerity of Hezekiah.
1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present1 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 destroyed2 them all.3 Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.
B.C. 725, &c.
1 Heb. found.
2 Heb. until to make an end.
3 This noble iconoclast expedition may be called, in one sense, a popular impulse, because it pervaded the people, as well as the king and the nobility. But it was no less on that account an impulse from God (ch. 30. 19), and it was strictly legal, by the supreme law of Heaven, however contrary to idolatrous custom, prescription, and ordinances. See Ex.23.24. De.7.5; 12.3.—C.
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.4
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.5
5 Hezekiah was a rich man. He had, in addition to the revenue of the kingdom, large private possessions, which are described in ch. 32.27-29; out of these he contributed liberally, as was his duty, towards the maintenance of the worship of God. The offerings enjoined on the Israelites are minutely described in Nu.xxviii.—P.
4 Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give ethe portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.6
A.M. 3279 B.C. 725
e Nu.18.9-21. Ne.13.10,11. 1 Co.9.14. Is.8.20.
6 That 'they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar,' is equally a maxim of the Old and New Testament (1 Co. 9. 7, 9, 11, 13, 14), that his servants may 'attend upon God without distraction,' and be 'encouraged in the law of the Lord.'—C.
5 And as soon as the commandment came abroad,7 the children of Israel fbrought in abundance8 the first-fruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey,9 and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.
7 Heb. brake forth.
f Ex.23.19. Le.27.30. De.14.28.
8 In the reign of the idolatrous Ahab, the temple being closed, and the priests and Levites dispersed, all provision for the service of God had ceased; now, in better times, the temple is reopened, the priests and Levites recalled, their legal provision restored; and as soon as the 'commandment comes abroad' the people, whose heart God had opened, 'brought in abundantly' for the support of his service.—C.
9 Or, dates.
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 gtithe of holy things, which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them hby heaps.
7 In the ithird1 month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh2 month.3
i Le.23.16-24.
1 Sivan, the ninth of the civil year, answers to May and June, the commencement of the Jewish harvest.—C.
2 Tisri or Ethanim, the first month of the civil year, answering to September and October.—C.
3 The first-fruits of the field are here referred to. In the third month, just at the close of the wheat-harvest, they began to bring in the first-fruits, and to lay the foundations of the heaps; in the seventh month, at the close of the vintage, they completed their offerings.—P.
8 And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they kblessed the LORD, and his people Israel.
9 Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.
10 Andl Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, mSince the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty:4 for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.5
l 1 Ch.6.14. 2 Ki.25.18. ch.24.6.
m Mal.3.10,11. Hag.2.19. Pr.3.8-10. 1 Ti.6.8; 4.8.
4 Whence it may be inferred, that until 'the commandment came abroad' (ver. 5), the priests were often in want of provisions. Now, by the blessing of God upon a pious king, they have 'enough to eat, and plenty left.' But the liberality and the abundance are both ascribed to the Lord.—C.
5 The disinterestedness of the priests was highly commendable, for they might easily have enriched themselves without being suspected. The whole transaction enlarges our idea of the blessing which had attended the solemnity; for before this the priests were generally careless and ungodly.—I.
11 Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers6 in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them,
6 Or, storehouses.
12 And brought in the offerings, and the tithes, and the dedicated things, faithfully: nover 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 hand7 of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.
7 Heb. at the hand.
14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, othe porter toward the east, was over the free-will-offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of the LORD, and the pmost holy things.
15 And next him8 were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the qcities of the priests, in their set office,9 to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small:
16 Besides their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward,1 even unto every one that entereth into the house of the LORD, his daily portion2 for their service in their charges, according to their courses;3
1 Not that children of three years old entered into the temple for any service; but that provision was allotted to every member of a family when three years old, while his father was attending on the temple-service in his course.—C.
A.M. 3279 B.C. 725
2 Heb. for the things of the day upon his day.
3 The children of priests were allowed to enter the temple courts with their parents, and to partake of the food allotted to the priests. None, however, could enter until they had attained the age of three years. Levites were not permitted to enter on office as temple servitors under twenty years of age.—P.
17 Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites fromr twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses;
r 1 Ch.23.24,27. Nu.8.24; 4.3.
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 sset office they sanctified themselves in holiness:4
s Or, trust, 1 Ch.9.22. ver.15.
4 Sanctity is the same as holiness, and means separation from the world, and dedication to God.—Note, A worldly servant of God is a grievous contradiction: 'ye cannot serve God and mammon.'—C.
19 Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, which were tin 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 uwrought 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 xwith all his heart,5 and yprospered.
x 1 Ki.2.4. 1 Ch.22.19. Ec.9.10.
5 The real meaning of 'decision of character'—an essential ingredient in all true religion.—C.
y Ne.9.20-22. Pr.3.9,10. Hag.1.5-19. Mat.6.33. 1 Ti.4.8. Mal.3.10,11.
Notes
Reflections.—It is comfortable to go home from solemn work with the blessing of God upon us, and our heart inflamed with holy zeal against everything sinful. And well bestowed is that labour or expense which we lay out in abolishing idolatry or restoring the true worship of God. How comely is it when great men, by their generous presents, encourage others to bestow their respective dues upon the service and servants of God! The gospel ministry might be easily and comfortably maintained did every one concerned minister according to his ability. And with great care ought sacred revenues to be preserved and managed, that none of Jesus' servants, or their families, may lack what is necessary: for it is scandalous that some should riot in luxury, while their brethren, more laborious and faithful, should be almost starved for want. But with great confidence may we expect that God will honour and succeed our religious endeavours when we engage in them with our whole heart.