2 Chronicles 31:1-21
1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were presenta 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.b
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 chambersc 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.
2 Chronicles 31:1. In Ephraim and Manasseh, for many of these had attended the passover, and placed themselves again under David's house.
2 Chronicles 31:21. He did it with all his heart. King Hezekiah was just the reverse of his father.
REFLECTIONS.
Hezekiah, unable by proclamation to purge his people from idols, warmed their hearts by a taste of the piety of their fathers, and then he succeeded among the better disposed. They most willingly sallied forth in companies, and demolished every work of superstition. In vain did the Micahs cry, “Ye have taken away my gods, and what have I more?” We are not only to put away our sins, but also the occasions of sin, and even in lawful things whenever we have cause to dread future danger. It is much safer to make a small sacrifice than to commit a great sin.
Piety not only warms the heart, it also expands and enlarges the affections. The people put away their idols; and believing in God, they willingly gave their tithes to the industrious levites and priests, with abundance of freewill-offerings to the Lord. It is seldom that men will do much for God, without tasting his good word of grace: the levites laboured for the people, and the people laboured for the levites. The servants of the sanctuary had enough, and an overplus laid up in granaries for winter, that nothing might be damaged, and that the poor might eat during the festivals, as the Lord had commanded.
This good king, having restored the courses of the priests and levites, next came to see the abundance of plenty which thronged the temple, and to appoint officers over it. When there is grace in the heart, and harmony in discipline, the work of the Lord prospers, and the smiles of heaven crown the whole. How happy for the church and nation when the rulers are clothed with righteousness, and the priests with salvation. This good king obtained by piety a long reprieve, and a cloud of blessings for his apostate country. May his blessed example encourage others to do their utmost in their age and nation.