2 Chronicles 31
1 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.
When all this had finished, the Israelites who were there went to the towns of Judah and smashed the pagan pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and destroyed the high places and altars throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had completely demolished all of them. After that they all went home to their respective towns.
2 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;
Then Hezekiah reallocated the divisions of the priests and Levites, each according to their service: presenting burnt offerings and friendship offerings, serving, giving thanks, and singing praises at the entrances of the Lord's Temple.
3 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.
The king contributed personally towards the morning and evening burnt offerings, and for the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, new moons, and special feasts, as required by the Law of the Lord.
4 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.
He also ordered the people living in Jerusalem to provide for the priests and Levites so that they could dedicate themselves to studying and teaching the Law of the Lord.
5 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.
As soon as the message went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of the grain, new wine, olive oil, and honey, and of all the crops. They brought plenty, a tithe of everything.
6 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.
The people of Israel now living in Judah, and the people of Judah brought a tithe of their herds and flocks. They also brought a tithe of what had been dedicated to the Lord their God, and piled them up.
7 In the third month, began they the heaps, at the foundation, —and, in the seventh, they finished.
They started doing this in the third month, and they finished in the seventh month.
8 And Hezekiah and the rulers came, and saw the heaps, —and blessed Yahweh, and his people Israel.
When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw what had been collected, they thanked the Lord and his people Israel.
9 Then applied Hezekiah unto the priests and the Levites, concerning the heaps.
Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about what had been collected.
10 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.
Azariah, the chief priest of the family of Zadok, answered, “Ever since the people began to bring their contributions into the Lord's Temple, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare. Because the Lord has blessed his people there is so much left over.”
11 Then Hezekiah gave word to prepare chambers, in the house of Yahweh, and they prepared them;
Hezekiah ordered the construction of storehouses in the Lord's Temple. Once they were ready,
12 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;
the people faithfully brought in their offerings, tithes, and dedicated gifts. Conaniah the Levite was the one who was responsible for them, and his brother Shimei was second in command.
13 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.
They were in charge of the following officers: Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers who assisted Conaniah and Shimei his brother. They were appointed by King Hezekiah and Azariah, the chief officer of God's Temple.
14 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.
Kore, son of Imnah, the Levite, the gatekeeper of the East Gate, was responsible for receiving the freewill offerings given to God. He also distributed the offerings given to the Lord, together with the consecrated gifts.
15 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;
Under him were his assistants Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah. They faithfully made the allocations to their fellow Levites in their towns, according to the priestly divisions, sharing equally with the old and young.
16 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:
They also gave allowances to the males listed in the genealogy who were three years of age or older, to all who would enter the Lord's Temple to perform their daily duties of serving according to the responsibilities of their divisions.
17 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;
They also gave allowances to the priests listed by family in the genealogy, and to the Levites twenty years of age or older, according to the responsibilities of their divisions.
18 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;
The genealogy included all the babies, wives, sons, and daughters of the whole community, for they were faithful in making sure they dedicated themselves as holy.
19 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.
In the case of the priests, the descendants of Aaron, those who lived on the farmlands around their towns, men were appointed by name in all the towns to distribute an allocation to every male among the priests and to every Levite as listed in the genealogies.
20 And Hezekiah did thus, throughout all Judah, —and he did that which was good and right and faithful, before Yahweh his God.
This is what Hezekiah did throughout the whole of Judah. He did what was good, right, and true before the Lord his God.
21 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.
In everything he did in working for God's Temple and in following God's laws and commandments, Hezekiah was sincere in his commitment to God. So he was successful in all he did.
