2 Chronicles 31

1 When all this had ended, the Israelites in attendance went out to the cities of Judah and broke up the sacred pillars, chopped down the Asherah poles, and tore down the high places and altars throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the Israelites returned to their cities, each to his own property.

Now, when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went forth unto the cities of Judah, and brake in pieces the pillars—and cut down the Sacred Stems—and threw down the high places and the altars, out of all Judah and Benjamin—and throughout Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had made an end, —then all the sons of Israel returned every man to his own possession, unto their own cities.

2 Hezekiah reestablished the divisions of the priests and Levites—each of them according to their duties as priests or Levites—for the burnt offerings and peace offerings, for ministry, for giving thanks, and for singing praises at the gates of the LORD’s dwelling.

And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests, and the Levites, over their courses, every man according to the requirements of his service, both priests and Levites, for ascending-sacrifice and for peace-offerings, —to be in attendance and to give thanks and to offer praise, in the gates of the camps of Yahweh;

3 The king contributed from his own possessions for the regular morning and evening burnt offerings and for the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts, as written in the Law of the LORD.

also the portion of the king out of his own substance, for the ascending-sacrifices, —[even] for the ascending-sacrifices of the morning and of the evening, and the ascending-sacrifices for the sabbaths, and for the new moons and for the appointed feasts, —as written in the law of Yahweh.

4 Moreover, he commanded the people living in Jerusalem to make a contribution for the priests and Levites so that they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD.

And he bade the people who were dwelling in Jerusalem give the portion of the priests and the Levites, —to the end they might persevere in the law of Yahweh.

5 As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously provided the firstfruits of the grain, new wine, oil, and honey, and of all the produce of the field, and they brought in an abundance—a tithe of everything.

And, as soon as the thing spread abroad, the sons of Israel caused to abound the firstfruit of corn, new wine, and oil, and honey, and all the increase of the field, -yea, the tithe of all—in abundance, brought they in.

6 And the Israelites and Judahites who lived in the cities of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things consecrated to the LORD their God, and they laid them in large heaps.

And, as for the sons of Israel and Judah who were dwelling in the cities of Judah, even they, a tithe of oxen, and sheep, and a tithe of hallowed things, which had been hallowed unto Yahweh their God, did bring in and pile up—heaps, heaps.

7 In the third month they began building up the heaps, and they finished in the seventh month.

In the third month, began they the heaps, at the foundation, —and, in the seventh, they finished.

8 When Hezekiah and his officials came and viewed the heaps, they blessed the LORD and His people Israel.

And Hezekiah and the rulers came, and saw the heaps, —and blessed Yahweh, and his people Israel.

9 Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and Levites about the heaps,

Then applied Hezekiah unto the priests and the Levites, concerning the heaps.

10 and Azariah, the chief priest of the household of Zadok, answered him, “Since the people began to bring their contributions into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat and there is plenty left over, because the LORD has blessed His people; this great abundance is what is left over.”

And Azariah, the chief priest of the house of Zadok, spake unto him, —and said—From the time of beginning to bring in, the heave-offering, into the house of Yahweh—to eat and to be full, there hath still been left, even to this abundance. For, Yahweh, hath blessed his people, and, that which is left, is this great plenty.

11 Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare storerooms in the house of the LORD, and they did so.

Then Hezekiah gave word to prepare chambers, in the house of Yahweh, and they prepared them;

12 And they faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes, and dedicated gifts. Conaniah the Levite was the officer in charge of them, and his brother Shimei was second.

and brought in the heave-offering and the tithe and the hallowed things, faithfully, —and, over them, as chief ruler, was Cononiah the Levite, and Shimei his brother, next;

13 Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the authority of Conaniah and his brother Shimei, by appointment of King Hezekiah and of Azariah the chief official 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, —overseers under the direction of Cononiah and Shemei his brother, by the appointment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the chief ruler of the house of God.

14 Kore son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the East Gate, was in charge of the freewill offerings given to God, distributing the contributions to the LORD and the consecrated gifts.

And, Kore, son of Imnah the Levite, the door-keeper on the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, —to give the heave-offering of Yahweh, and the most holy things.

15 Under his authority, Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah faithfully distributed portions to their fellow priests in their cities, according to their divisions, old and young alike.

And, under his direction, were Eden and Miniamin and Jeshua and Shemaiah, Amariah and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in trust to give unto their brethren by courses, as the great so the small;

16 In addition, they distributed portions to the males registered by genealogy who were three years of age or older—to all who would enter the house of the LORD for their daily duties for service in the responsibilities of their divisions—

besides registering them by males, from three years old and upward, unto every one that entered into the house of Yahweh, in the need of a day upon its day, —by their service, in their watches, according to their courses:

17 and to the priests enrolled according to their families in the genealogy, as well as to the Levites twenty years of age or older, according to their duties and divisions.

both the registering of the priests, by their ancestral houses, and the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, —in their watches, in their courses;

18 The genealogy included all the little ones, wives, sons, and daughters in the whole assembly. For they had faithfully consecrated themselves as holy.

even to the registering of all their little ones, their wives and their sons and their daughters, unto all the convocation, —for, in their trust, they hallowed themselves in holiness;

19 As for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who lived on the farmlands around each of their cities or in any other city, men were designated by name to distribute a portion to every male among the priests and to every Levite listed by the genealogies.

also unto the sons of Aaron the priests in the fields of the pasture land of their cities, in every several city, men who were expressed by name, —to give portions to every male among the priests, and to all registered among the Levites.

20 So this is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what was good and upright and true before the LORD his God.

And Hezekiah did thus, throughout all Judah, —and he did that which was good and right and faithful, before Yahweh his God.

21 He was diligent in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law and the commandments, in order to seek his God. And so he prospered.

And, in all the work which he began in the service of the house of God—and in the law—and in the commandment, to seek unto his God, with all his heart, he wrought, and prospered.