31
1 Now
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.
2 Hezekiah
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.
3 He
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.
4 Moreover
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.
5 As 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.
6 The
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.
7 In
the third month,
they began to
lay the foundation
of the heaps,
and finished them
in the seventh
month.
8 When
Hezekiah and the
princes came and
saw the heaps,
they blessed the
LORD and his
people Israel.
9 Then
Hezekiah questioned
the priests and
the Levites about
the heaps.
10 Azariah
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.”
11 Then
Hezekiah commanded them
to prepare rooms
in the LORD’s
house, and they
prepared them.
12 They brought
in the offerings,
the tithes, and
the dedicated
things faithfully. Conaniah
the Levite was
ruler over them,
and Shimei
his brother was
second.
13 Jehiel,
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.
14 Kore
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.
15 Under
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;
16 in 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;
17 and
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;
18 and
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.
19 Also
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.
20 Hezekiah
did so throughout
all Judah; and
he did that
which was good,
right, and
faithful before
the LORD his
God.
21 In
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.