2 Chronicles 31:1-6

Idols Are Destroyed

1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, ¹broke the pillars in pieces, cut down the Asherim and pulled down the high places and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the sons of Israel returned to their cities, each to his possession.

2 And Hezekiah appointed ²the divisions of the priests and the Levites by their divisions, each according to his service, both the priests and the Levites, ³for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister and to give thanks and to praise in the gates of the camp of the LORD.

Reforms Continued

3 He also appointed ⁴the king's portion of his goods for the burnt offerings, namely, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths and for the new moons and for the fixed festivals, ⁵as it is written in the law of the LORD.

4 Also he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give ⁶the portion due to the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to ⁷the law of the LORD.

5 As soon as the order spread, the sons of Israel provided in abundance the first fruits of grain, new wine, oil, honey and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly ⁸the tithe of all.

6 The sons of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and ⁹the tithe of sacred gifts which were consecrated to the LORD their God, and placed them in heaps.

2 Chronicles 31:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

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, 2Ch 31:1-3, 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, 2Ch 31:4-10, 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, 2Ch 31:11-19, and the chapter is closed in praise of the works of Hezekiah, and the success that attended him, 2Ch 31:20,21.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Kings 18:4
• 2. 1 Chronicles 24:1
• 3. 1 Chronicles 23:28-31
• 4. 2 Chronicles 35:7
• 5. Num 28:1-29:40
• 6. Numbers 18:8
• 7. Malachi 2:7
• 8. Nehemiah 13:12
• 9. Leviticus 27:30; Deuteronomy 14:28

Footnotes

• [a]. I.e. wooden symbols of a female deity
• [b]. Lit "even to completion"
• [c]. Lit "said to"
• [d]. Lit "word"
• [e]. Lit "consecrated things"