2 Chronicles 31

Idolatrous Objects Are Destroyed

1When all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke the pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and tore down the high places and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, and in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned to their cities, each to his possession.

Hezekiah Organizes Priests and Levites

2Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and Levites according to their divisions, each according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and offerings of well-being, to minister, give thanks, and praise in the gates of the camp of the LORD. 3The king’s portion from his possessions was for the burnt offerings: for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for Sabbaths, new moons, and appointed festivals, as written in the instruction of the LORD. 4He commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the priests and Levites, so that they might devote themselves to the instruction of the LORD. 5As soon as the word spread, the children of Israel gave in abundance the firstfruits of grain, new wine, oil, honey, and all the produce of the field, and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything. 6The children of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought the tithe of cattle and sheep and the tithe of holy things 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 in the seventh month they finished them.

The Priests Receive Abundant Provision

8When Hezekiah and the officials came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD and his people Israel. 9Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites concerning the heaps. 10Azariah the chief priest from the house of Zadok said to him, “From the time the people began to bring the contribution into the house of the LORD, we have eaten and been satisfied and have much left, for the LORD has blessed his people, and this abundance is what remains.” 11Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD, and they prepared them. 12They brought in the contribution, the tithe, and the holy 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 appointment of King Hezekiah and Azariah ruler of the house of God.

Distribution to Priests and Levites

14Kore son of Imnah the Levite, the gatekeeper at the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the contribution of the LORD and the most holy things. 15Under his hand were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah in the cities of the priests, faithfully distributing to their brothers by divisions, to great and small alike, 16besides those enrolled by genealogy, males from three years old and upward, all who entered the house of the LORD for the daily requirement, for their service in their duties according to their divisions. 17The enrollment of the priests was by ancestral houses, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward according to their duties and their divisions. 18The genealogical enrollment included all their little children, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, the whole assembly, for in their faithfulness they consecrated themselves in holiness. 19And for the sons of Aaron, the priests, in the fields of the pasturelands of their cities, in every city, men who were designated by name gave portions to every male among the priests and to everyone enrolled among the Levites.

Hezekiah Prospers

20Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah. He did what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. 21In every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the instruction and the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart and prospered.