2 Chronicles 31
Hezekiah's Religious Reforms
1Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke the pillars in pieces, cut down the Asherah poles, and broke down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, also in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.
2Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites after their divisions, every man according to his service, both the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the LORD’s camp.
3He also appointed the king’s portion of his possessions for the burnt offerings: for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the LORD’s law.
4Moreover he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to the LORD’s law.
5As soon as the commandment went out, the children of Israel gave in abundance the first fruits of grain, new wine, oil, honey, and of all the increase of the field; and they brought in the tithe of all things abundantly.
6The children of Israel and Judah, who lived in the cities of Judah, also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and the tithe of dedicated things which were consecrated to the LORD their God, and laid them in heaps.
7In the third month, they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.
8When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD and his people Israel.
9Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites about the heaps.
10Azariah the chief priest, of the house of Zadok, answered him and said, “Since people began to bring the offerings into the LORD’s house, we have eaten and had enough, and have plenty left over, for the LORD has blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.”
11Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare rooms in the LORD’s house, and they prepared them.
12They brought in the offerings, the tithes, and the dedicated things faithfully. Conaniah the Levite was ruler over them, and Shimei his brother was second.
13Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the hand of Conaniah and Shimei his brother, by the appointment of Hezekiah the king and Azariah the ruler of God’s house.
14Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the gatekeeper at the east gate, was over the free will offerings of God, to distribute the LORD’s offerings and the most holy things.
15Under him were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their office of trust, to give to their brothers by divisions, to the great as well as to the small;
16in addition to those who were listed by genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even everyone who entered into the LORD’s house, as the duty of every day required, for their service in their offices according to their divisions;
17and those who were listed by genealogy of the priests by their fathers’ houses, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their offices by their divisions;
18and those who were listed by genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation; for in their office of trust they sanctified themselves in holiness.
19Also for the sons of Aaron the priests, who were in the fields of the pasture lands of their cities, in every city, there were men who were mentioned by name to give portions to all the males among the priests and to all who were listed by genealogy among the Levites.
20Hezekiah did so throughout all Judah; and he did that which was good, right, and faithful before the LORD his God.
21In every work that he began in the service of God’s house, in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart and prospered.
Following the successful Passover celebration, King Hezekiah leads comprehensive religious reforms throughout Judah and beyond, systematically destroying idolatrous worship sites and reestablishing proper temple worship. The king reorganizes the priestly divisions, ensures adequate provision for temple services from his own resources, and commands the people to support the priests and Levites through tithes and offerings. The people respond with overwhelming generosity, bringing such abundant offerings that storage facilities must be prepared and administrators appointed to manage the surplus.
Context
This chapter follows the great Passover celebration in chapter 30 and demonstrates the lasting impact of Hezekiah's spiritual revival on both worship practices and popular devotion.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1Destruction of Idolatrous SitesThe people systematically destroy pillars, Asherah poles, high places, and altars throughout the land.
- 2-3Reorganization of Temple WorshipHezekiah reestablishes priestly divisions and provides royal funding for regular burnt offerings and festivals.
- 4-8Abundant Popular ResponseThe people generously bring tithes and offerings in such abundance that they form great heaps over several months.
- 9-19Administrative OrganizationOfficials are appointed to manage the surplus offerings and ensure proper distribution to priests and Levites throughout the cities.
- 20-21Summary of Hezekiah's FaithfulnessThe chapter concludes by affirming Hezekiah's wholehearted devotion and resulting prosperity.
Hezekiah's Religious Reforms
31:1–31:21Following the Passover celebration, the people destroy idolatrous objects throughout the land. Hezekiah reorganizes temple worship and the people respond with abundant offerings and tithes.
person_contrast
Hezekiah appears in 44 biblical passages typically associated with judgment and authority, yet here uniquely combines idol destruction with meticulous temple stewardship and voluntary popular obedience.
2 Chronicles 31:1
Deuteronomy 7:5lexicalBut you shall deal with them like this: you shall break down their altars, dash their pillars in pieces, cut down their…
Deuteronomy 12:3lexicalYou shall break down their altars, dash their pillars in pieces, and burn their Asherah poles with fire. You shall cut d…
2 Chronicles 34:4lexicalThey broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence; and he cut down the incense altars that were on high above them…
Exodus 34:13lexicalbut you shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and you shall cut down their Asherah poles;
2 Chronicles 34:7lexicalHe broke down the altars, beat the Asherah poles and the engraved images into powder, and cut down all the incense altar…
2 Chronicles 31:2
2 Chronicles 8:14lexicalHe appointed, according to the ordinance of David his father, the divisions of the priests to their service, and the Lev…
2 Chronicles 30:22lexicalHezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who had good understanding in the service of the LORD. So they ate throu…
1 Chronicles 16:4lexicalHe appointed some of the Levites to minister before the LORD’s ark, and to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the LORD…
2 Chronicles 35:10lexicalSo the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites by their divisions, according to the…
1 Chronicles 28:21lexicalBehold, there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of God’s house. Every willing man who…
2 Chronicles 31:3
1 Chronicles 16:40lexicalto offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening, even according to a…
1 Chronicles 23:31lexicaland to offer all burnt offerings to the LORD on the Sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, in number accordi…
Ezekiel 45:17lexicalIt shall be the prince’s part to give the burnt offerings, the meal offerings, and the drink offerings, in the feasts, a…
Leviticus 23:32lexicalIt shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall deny yourselves. In the ninth day of the month at evening, f…
Ezekiel 44:24lexical“‘“In a controversy they shall stand to judge. They shall judge it according to my ordinances. They shall keep my laws a…
2 Chronicles 31:4
Nehemiah 12:44lexicalOn that day, men were appointed over the rooms for the treasures, for the wave offerings, for the first fruits, and for…
2 Chronicles 31:5
Nehemiah 13:12lexicalThen all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, the new wine, and the oil to the treasuries.
Deuteronomy 12:17lexicalYou may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, or of your new wine, or of your oil, or the firstborn of your…
Deuteronomy 14:23lexicalYou shall eat before the LORD your God, in the place which he chooses to cause his name to dwell, the tithe of your grai…
Nehemiah 13:5lexicalhad prepared for him a great room, where before they laid the meal offerings, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tit…
2 Chronicles 32:28lexicalalso storehouses for the increase of grain, new wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of animals, and flocks in folds.
2 Chronicles 31:6
Leviticus 27:32lexicalAll the tithe of the herds or the flocks, whatever passes under the rod, the tenth shall be holy to the LORD.
Deuteronomy 12:17lexicalYou may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, or of your new wine, or of your oil, or the firstborn of your…
Deuteronomy 14:23lexicalYou shall eat before the LORD your God, in the place which he chooses to cause his name to dwell, the tithe of your grai…
Deuteronomy 12:6lexicalYou shall bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the wave offering of your hand, your vows, your free…
Deuteronomy 15:19lexicalYou shall dedicate all the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock to the LORD your God. You shall…
2 Chronicles 31:7
Ezra 3:6lexicalFrom the first day of the seventh month, they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD; but the foundation of the LORD…
2 Chronicles 29:17lexicalNow they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the LORD…
2 Chronicles 31:12
Numbers 18:26lexical“Moreover you shall speak to the Levites, and tell them, ‘When you take of the children of Israel the tithe which I have…
Nehemiah 12:44lexicalOn that day, men were appointed over the rooms for the treasures, for the wave offerings, for the first fruits, and for…
Nehemiah 13:5lexicalhad prepared for him a great room, where before they laid the meal offerings, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tit…
Numbers 18:24lexicalFor the tithe of the children of Israel, which they offer as a wave offering to the LORD, I have given to the Levites fo…
Ezekiel 48:12lexicalIt shall be to them an offering from the offering of the land, a most holy thing, by the border of the Levites.
2 Chronicles 31:13
2 Chronicles 29:12lexicalThen the Levites arose: Mahath, the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of th…
Ezra 10:26lexicalOf the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.
Ezra 10:23lexicalOf the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also called Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
2 Chronicles 31:14
Exodus 36:3lexicalThey received from Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sa…
Nehemiah 13:5lexicalhad prepared for him a great room, where before they laid the meal offerings, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tit…
1 Chronicles 26:1lexicalFor the divisions of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
Ezekiel 48:12lexicalIt shall be to them an offering from the offering of the land, a most holy thing, by the border of the Levites.
2 Chronicles 31:16
2 Chronicles 8:14lexicalHe appointed, according to the ordinance of David his father, the divisions of the priests to their service, and the Lev…
Numbers 3:28lexicalAccording to the number of all the males from a month old and upward, there were eight thousand six hundred keeping the…
Numbers 3:43lexicalAll the firstborn males according to the number of names from a month old and upward, of those who were counted of them,…
Numbers 26:62lexicalThose who were counted of them were twenty-three thousand, every male from a month old and upward; for they were not cou…
2 Chronicles 31:17
2 Chronicles 8:14lexicalHe appointed, according to the ordinance of David his father, the divisions of the priests to their service, and the Lev…
2 Chronicles 31:19
Numbers 3:39lexicalAll who were counted of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the commandment of the LORD, by their families, all…
2 Chronicles 31:21
2 Chronicles 17:4lexicalbut sought the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not in the ways of Israel.
Ezra 7:10lexicalFor Ezra had set his heart to seek the LORD’s law, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Joshua 22:5lexicalOnly take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the…
Deuteronomy 30:10lexicalif you will obey the LORD your God’s voice, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of…
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