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2
Chronicles Chapter Thirty-one
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 31
This
chapter begins with the destruction of idolatrous worship, the appointment of
the courses of the priests and Levites, and the royal bounty for sacrifices, 2 Chronicles 31:1,
next follows the order Hezekiah gave, that the people at Jerusalem, and
throughout the land, should make the proper provision for the priests and
Levites, as the law directed; and which was cheerfully complied with, and the
firstfruits and tithes were brought in, in great abundance, insomuch that there
was enough, and plenty left, 2 Chronicles 31:4,
wherefore chambers were prepared in the temple to lay it up in, and persons
appointed to be the overseers of it, and to distribute it faithfully to their
brethren and their families, to small and great, 2 Chronicles 31:11,
and the chapter is closed in praise of the works of Hezekiah, and the success
that attended him, 2 Chronicles 31:20.
2 Chronicles
31:1 Now when all
this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah
and broke the sacred pillars in pieces, cut down the wooden images, and
threw down the 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.
YLT
1And at the completion of
all this, gone out have all Israel who are found present to the cities of
Judah, and break the standing-pillars, and cut down the shrines, and break down
the high places and the altars, out of all Judah and Benjamin, and in Ephraim
and Manasseh, even to completion, and all the sons of Israel turn back, each to
his Possession, to their cities.
Now when all this was finished,.... The temple cleansed,
the priests and Levites sanctified, the passover and feast of unleavened bread
observed, and other seven days of rejoicing kept:
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; which had
been erected by Ahaz, 2 Chronicles 28:2
at or about this time also the brasen serpent was broke to pieces, 2 Kings 18:4,
in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed
them all; which must be understood of such cities in those tribes that had
been taken in former times by the kings of Judah from the kings of Israel; or
such as were now in the hands of the Assyrians, who might not concern
themselves in matters of religion; or this might be done at the connivance of
Hoshea king of Israel, who had no regard to any other idolatry than the worship
of the calves; and besides, having met with trouble from the Assyrians, and
fearing more, might be willing to have his kingdom cleared of idolatry, in hope
the divine displeasure would be removed:
then all the children of Israel returned every man to his
possession into their own cities; and not till then, when
all monuments of idolatry were removed.
2 Chronicles 31:2 2 And Hezekiah appointed the
divisions of the priests and the Levites according to their divisions, each man
according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and peace
offerings, to serve, to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the camp[a] of the Lord.
YLT
2And Hezekiah appointeth the
courses of the priests, and of the Levites, by their courses, each according to
his service, of the priests and of the Levites, for burnt-offering, and for
peace-offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to give praise in the
gates of the camps of Jehovah.
And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests, and the Levites
after their courses,.... As they were fixed by David, and were in the times of
Jehoshaphat, and had been since interrupted, and which Hezekiah now restored,
and placed them in their regular order:
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; or camp of the Lord,
where they were posted, and lay as an host encamped, to keep the watch of the
house of the Lord; the priests, they were appointed to offer the sacrifices of
every sort; the Levites to minister to them in what they needed and required of
them, and others of them to be singers in time of service, and others to be porters
at the gate.
2 Chronicles 31:3 3 The king also appointed
a portion of his possessions 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 Law of the Lord.
YLT
3And a portion of the king,
from his substance, [is] for burnt-offerings, for burnt-offerings of the
morning, and of the evening, and the burnt-offerings of sabbaths, and of new
moons, and of appointed seasons, as it is written in the law of Jehovah.
He appointed also the king's portion of his substance,.... Out of
his own treasury, of his royal bounty, over and above what was usual for kings
to give for their own sacrifices, the treasury of the temple being exhausted,
and the people being brought into low circumstances in the last reign:
for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and
evening burnt offerings; the daily sacrifice offered morning and evening, which had been
neglected, but now revived:
and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons,
and for the set feasts; when beside the daily sacrifice there were additional ones: as
it is written in the law of the Lord; in Numbers 28:9.
2 Chronicles 31:4 4 Moreover he commanded the
people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute support for the priests and the
Levites, that they might devote themselves to the Law of the Lord.
YLT
4And he saith to the people,
to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to give the portion of the priests, and of the
Levites, so that they are strengthened in the law of Jehovah;
Moreover, he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give
the portion of the priests and the Levites,.... What was assigned
unto them by the law of God by tithes, firstfruits, &c.
that they might be encouraged in the law of the Lord; in the study
of it; that they might gain greater knowledge of it themselves, and be better
able to instruct the people, which of late had been much neglected; and that
they might be more at leisure for such service, and be free from all worldly
business, care, and distraction of mind, was the design of this edict.
2 Chronicles 31:5 5 As soon as the commandment
was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of
grain and wine, oil and honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they
brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.
YLT
5and at the spreading forth
of the thing have the sons of Israel multiplied the first-fruit of corn, new
wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field, and the tithe
of the whole in abundance they have brought in.
And as soon as the commandment came abroad,.... Not only
was published in the city of Jerusalem, but the report of it, or rather that
itself, was spread throughout the cities of Judah:
the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of
corn, wine, and oil, and honey; the three first of these are expressed in
the law, Deuteronomy 18:4
but not honey; wherefore the Targum here, and the Jewish writers in general,
interpret it of the "dubsa" of the palm tree, as they call it, the
fruit and liquor of that, which is of a sweet taste, and which the Scenite
Arabs called "dabusa", as PlinyF23Nat. Hist. l. 13. c. 4.
from Juba relates; for so it should be read, and not "dabulan" or
"dablan", as in some copies: but though honey was forbid to be used
in sacrifice, it was not forbidden to be eaten; and as the land of Judea
abounded with honey, properly so called, the priests might have the firstfruits
of that as of other liquors; See Gill on Deuteronomy 8:8,
and of all the increase of the field; of the trees
of it, vines, fig trees, pomegranates, &c. as Kimchi:
and the tithe of all things; even of herbs, as the
same writer, and so the TalmudF24T. Bab. Nedarim, fol. 55. 1. ,
which were free from tithes by the law, see Matthew 23:23,
brought they in abundantly; even of all that their
vineyards, oliveyards, and fields produced.
2 Chronicles 31:6 6 And the children of Israel
and Judah, who dwelt in the cities of Judah, brought the tithe of oxen and
sheep; also the tithe of holy things which were consecrated to the Lord their God they
laid in heaps.
YLT
6And the sons of Israel and
Judah, those dwelling in cities of Judah, they also a tithe of herd and flock,
and a tithe of the holy things that are sanctified to Jehovah their God, have
brought in, and they give -- heaps, heaps;
And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the
cities of Judah,.... As for the supplement "concerning", I see no need
of it; the sense is, that when the king's edict was known by the inhabitants of
the cities in the country, as well as at Jerusalem:
they also brought in the tithes of oxen, and sheep; according to
the law in Leviticus 27:32.
and the tithe of holy things, which were consecrated unto the Lord
their God; which Jarchi understands of the second tithe the Levites were to
give to the priests; but Kimchi of things consecrated to sacred uses, and no
longer for their own, and which were even free from tithing:
and laid them by heaps: heaps upon heaps, such
large quantities were brought in.
2 Chronicles 31:7 7 In the third month they
began laying them in heaps, and they finished in the seventh month.
YLT
7in the third month they
have begun to lay the foundation of the heaps, and in the seventh month they
have finished.
In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps..... The month
Sivan, as the Targum, in which month was the feast of Pentecost, called the
feast of the harvest, Exodus 23:16, for
then barley harvest was ended, and wheat harvest began, and the firstfruits
were brought:
and finished them in the seventh month; the month
Tisri, as the Targum, in which was the feast of tabernacles, sometimes called
the feast of ingathering, of the fruits of the earth, the wine, oil, &c.
and so a proper time for bringing the tithes of all.
2 Chronicles 31:8 8 And when Hezekiah and the
leaders came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord and His people
Israel.
YLT
8And Hezekiah and the heads
come in and see the heaps, and bless Jehovah and His people Israel,
And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps,.... Of the
tithes and firstfruits:
they blessed the Lord; for the great increase
of the fruits of the earth, and for making the people so willing to bring in
the dues to the priests and Levites:
and his people Israel; wished all happiness and
prosperity to them, being found in the way of their duty.
2 Chronicles 31:9 9 Then Hezekiah questioned the
priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.
YLT
9and Hezekiah inquireth at
the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps,
Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites
concerning the heaps. How they came to be so large, or why they let them lie where they
did.
2 Chronicles 31:10 10 And Azariah the chief
priest, from 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 plenty left, for the Lord has blessed
His people; and what is left is this great abundance.”
YLT
10and Azariah the head
priest, of the house of Zadok, speaketh unto him, and saith, `From the
beginning of the bringing of the heave-offering to the house of Jehovah, [there
is] to eat, and to be satisfied, and to leave abundantly, for Jehovah hath
blessed His people, and that left [is] this store.'
And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him,.... Who was
the high priest of the family of Eleazar, in the line of Zadok, made high
priest in Solomon's time, when Abiathar was thrust out; Jarchi takes him to be
the same Azariah that was in the days of Uzziah, 2 Chronicles 26:17,
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; which were
now four mouths since; and the priests and Levites, and their families, had
partaken of them, and eat to satiety, and yet there was great plenty remaining:
for the Lord hath blessed his people: the Targum
is,"the Word of the Lord has blessed them,'given them large crops this
year, and a ready willing mind to bring in what is due for the service of the
temple:
and that which is left is this great store; the heaps the
king and princes saw, and inquired about; or what is left is for the great
multitude of the priests and Levites, and their families, both at Jerusalem,
and in the cities in the country; so Kimchi interprets it.
2 Chronicles 31:11 11 Now Hezekiah commanded them
to prepare rooms in the house of the Lord, and they prepared them.
YLT
11And Hezekiah saith to
prepare chambers in the house of Jehovah, and they prepare,
Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the
Lord,.... Either to build new ones, or fit up those that were built:
and they prepared them; got them ready to lay up
the stores in.
2 Chronicles 31:12 12 Then they faithfully
brought in the offerings, the tithes, and the dedicated things; Cononiah the
Levite had charge of them, and Shimei his brother was the next.
YLT
12and they bring in the
heave-offering, and the tithe, and the holy things faithfully; and over them is
a leader, Conaniah the Levite, and Shimei his brother [is] second;
And brought in the offerings, and the tithes, and the dedicated
things, faithfully,.... Kept nothing back for their own private use, but faithfully
delivered in and laid up the whole that was brought which remained; this was
done by the priests and Levites, in whose hands and care they were:
over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother
was the next; these two had the charge and care of the whole, the one as
deputy to the other.
2 Chronicles 31:13 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 ruler of the house of God.
YLT
13and Jehiel, and Azaziah,
and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah,
and Mahath, and Benaiah, [are] inspectors under the hand of Conaniah and Shimei
his brother, by the appointment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah leader of the
house of God.
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,.... These ten
were assistants to the other two, were under them, and at their command, and
were to be ready at hand to do what they should order and direct them:
at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of
the house of God; these were fixed in their post under the other two by the king
and the high priest, to whom also the other two were accountable.
2 Chronicles 31:14 14 Kore the son of Imnah the
Levite, the keeper of the East Gate, was over the freewill offerings to
God, to distribute the offerings of the Lord and the most holy things.
YLT
14And Kore son of Imnah the
Levite, the gatekeeper at the east, [is] over the willing-offerings of God, to
give the heave-offering of Jehovah, and the most holy things.
And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter towards the east,.... At the
east gate of the temple; see 1 Chronicles 26:17.
was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the
oblations of the Lord; to the priests and Levites, for whose use they were; or to
deliver out the fine flour, oil, and wine, and frankincense, for the meat and
drink offerings:
and the most holy things; which belonged to the
priests only to eat of, as the remainder of the meat offerings, the sin and
trespass offerings, and the shewbread.
2 Chronicles 31:15 15 And under him were
Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, his faithful
assistants in the cities of the priests, to distribute allotments to their
brethren by divisions, to the great as well as the small.
YLT
15And by his hand [are] Eden,
and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shechaniah, in cities of
the priests, faithfully to give to their brethren in courses, as the great so
the small,
And next to him were Eden and Mijamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah,
Amariah, and Shecaniah,.... As Kore was the principal, and his business lay chiefly with
the priests in the temple, and in Jerusalem, these men under him were employed
in distributing to the priests:
in the cities of the priests; in the several parts of
the country:
in their set office; or faithfully:
to give to their brethren by courses, as well to
the great as to the small; to communicate of the stores under their hands,
according to their several courses, both priests and Levites, and to all in
their families, small and great.
2 Chronicles 31:16 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,
YLT
16apart from their genealogy,
to males from a son of three years and upward, to every one who hath gone in to
the house of Jehovah, by the matter of a day in its day, for their service in
their charges, according to their courses;
Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upwards,.... Their
office was not only to give to the priests, but to those of their males in
their genealogy, who were three years old and upwards; for under that age,
according to Kimchi, they were not fit to come into the temple; nor have they
knowledge to keep what is put into their hands; nor fit to handle offerings,
lest they should defile them; but at that age they might be taught how to hold
them, and be used to it; but as for females, he says, they were not admitted at
any age:
even unto everyone that entereth into the house of the Lord; of the said
age, and in the genealogy and register of the priests:
his daily portion for their service in their charges, according to
their courses; food for every day, in consideration of their service in their
several wards, according to their courses in turn.
2 Chronicles 31:17 17 and to the priests who
were written in the genealogy according to their father’s house, and to the
Levites from twenty years old and up according to their work, by their
divisions,
YLT
17and the genealogy of the
priests by the house of their fathers, and of the Levites, from a son of twenty
years and upward, in their charges, in their courses;
Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers,.... As to the
priests registered according to their families from the age before observed, a
portion was given: so to the Levites:
from twenty years old and upward, in their charges, by their
courses; for though originally they were not admitted into the tabernacle
till twenty five years of age, nor to officiate till thirty, but in David's
time they were allowed at twenty years of age and upwards, 1 Chronicles 23:24.
2 Chronicles 31:18 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 sanctified
themselves in holiness.
YLT
18and to the genealogy among
all their infants, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters to all the
congregation, for in their faithfulness they sanctify themselves in holiness.
And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and
their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation,.... These
were all genealogized and registered, wives and children, sons and daughters,
whether small or grown up; and a portion was distributed to them according to
their number, greater or lesser:
for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness; which is to
be understood either of the overseers, who, in their set office, faithfully
distributed the holy things to the persons before described; or else to the
priests, and Levites, to whom, and to whose families, the distribution was
made, because they wholly devoted themselves to the holy service of God.
2 Chronicles 31:19 19 Also for the sons of Aaron
the priests, who were in the fields of the common-lands of their cities,
in every single city, there were men who were designated by name to
distribute portions to all the males among the priests and to all who were
listed by genealogies among the Levites.
YLT
19And to sons of Aaron, the
priests, in the fields of the suburb of their cities, in every city and city,
[are] men who have been defined by name, to give portions to every male among
the priests, and to every one who reckoned himself by genealogy among the
Levites.
Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, which were in the fields of
the suburbs of their cities, in every several city,.... Which
were allowed to them out of the several tribes, and where they dwelt, when it
was not the turn of their course to officiate in the temple; now to these, as
well as to those in Jerusalem, a portion was distributed for the support of
them and their families:
the men that were expressed by name; before mentioned, 2 Chronicles 31:13,
though some understand it of such as were nominated and appointed by them, and
to act under them in the country:
to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all
that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites: as before
declared.
2 Chronicles 31:20 20 Thus Hezekiah did
throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and true before
the Lord
his God.
YLT
20And Hezekiah doth thus in
all Judah, and doth that which is good, and that which is right, and that which
is true, before Jehovah his God;
And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah,.... Settled
the courses of the priests and Levites, and made a provision for them and their
families:
and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the
Lord his God: or did that which was truly right and good, according to the law
and will of God, in the sincerity and uprightness of his soul, and as in the
presence of the omniscient God, he approving and accepting it for Christ's sake.
2 Chronicles 31:21 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 prospered.
YLT
21and in every work that he
hath begun for the service of the house of God, and for the law, and for the
command, to seek to his God, with all his heart he hath wrought and prospered.
And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God,.... In
cleansing the temple, providing sacrifices, placing the priests and Levites
order, taking care of the maintenance of them:
and in the law and in the commandments; in the
observation of all the laws, statutes, and judgments of God, moral, ceremonial,
and judicial:
to seek his God; and serve and worship him, and therein his
honour and glory:
he did it with all his heart; in the most cordial,
sincere, and upright manner:
and prospered; he succeeded in all he undertook, God being
with him, and blessing him in his civil and religious concerns.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)