2 Chronicles 31
They Brought So Much It Lay in Heaps
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The High Places Torn Down
31:1When all these things were finished, all Israel present in Judah’s cities went out. They shattered the pillars, cut down the sacred groves, and demolished the high places and altars throughout Judea and Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasse, to completion. Then all Israel returned, each to his inheritance and their cities.
The Divisions of Priests and Levites
31:2Hezekiah arranged the divisions of priests and Levites, and each one’s divisions according to his own ministry, priests and Levites for the burnt offering and the sacrifice of salvation, to praise, give thanks, and minister at the gates in the courtyards of the Lord’s house.
31:3The king’s portion from his belongings was for the morning and evening burnt offerings and burnt offerings for Sabbaths, new moons, and the festivals written in the Lord’s law.
31:4He told the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and Levites, so that they could be strong in the ministry of the Lord’s house.
The Firstfruits and Tithes Heaped Up
31:5When he commanded the matter, the sons of Israel increased the firstfruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and every crop of the field. They brought all the tithes abundantly—
31:6the sons of Israel and Judah. Those living in Judah’s cities also brought tithes of calves and sheep and tithes of goats, consecrated them to the Lord their God, brought them in, and laid heaps upon heaps.
31:7In the third month the heaps began to be laid, and in the seventh month they were completed.
31:8Hezekiah and the rulers came and saw the heaps. They blessed the Lord and His people Israel.
31:9Hezekiah questioned the priests and Levites about the heaps.
31:10Azarias, the priest who headed Sadok’s house, answered him: “Since the firstfruits began coming into the Lord’s house, we have eaten, drunk, and left a remainder, because the Lord has blessed His people. We have still left this great quantity.”
The Chambers Prepared and the Stewards Appointed
31:11Hezekiah ordered chambers to be prepared in the Lord’s house, and they prepared them.
31:12They faithfully brought the firstfruits and tithes there. Chonenias the Levite was overseer of them, and his brother Semei was his deputy.
31:13Iiel, Ozazias, Naeth, Asael, Jerimoth, Jozabath, Eliel, Samachia, Maath, Banaias, and his sons were appointed through Chonenias and his brother Semei, as King Hezekiah and Azarias, the leader of the Lord’s house, commanded.
31:14Kore son of Jemna the Levite, gatekeeper toward the east, was over the gifts, to distribute the firstfruits to the Lord and the most holy things
31:15through Odom, Benjamin, Jeshua, Semei, Amarias, and Sechonias, through the priests, faithfully distributing to their brothers by divisions, to great and small alike,
31:16apart from the male offspring from three years old and upward, for everyone entering the Lord’s house for the daily account, for ministry in their appointed divisions.
31:17This was the enrollment of the priests by ancestral houses, and the Levites in their divisions from twenty years old and upward, according to their appointment,
31:18in enrollment with all the offspring of their sons and daughters, for the whole multitude, because in faithfulness they purified the holy place
31:19for Aaron’s sons who served as priests. Those from their cities, men designated by name in every city, distributed a portion to every male among the priests and everyone counted among the Levites.
31:20Hezekiah did this throughout Judah. He did what was good and right before the Lord his God.
31:21In every work he began in service in the Lord’s house, and in the law and ordinances, he sought his God with his whole soul, acted, and prospered.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.