1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.

And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the Lord.

He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the Lord.

Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the Lord.

And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.

And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the Lord their God, and laid them by heaps.

In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.

And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord, and his people Israel.

Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.

10 And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the Lord hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.

11 Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the Lord; and they prepared them,

12 And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next.

13 And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.

14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of the Lord, and the most holy things.

15 And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small:

16 Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto every one that entereth into the house of the Lord, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses;

17 Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses;

18 And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness:

19 Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, which were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every several city, the men that were expressed by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites.

20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God.

21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

Commentary

Verse 1

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Manasseh - By the special impulse and direction of God's spirit. And he knew Hoshea contented himself with the worship of the calves, and did not practise that great idolatry which his predecessors had used, and therefore would patiently suffer the breaking of the images of Baal, and the things belonging to them.
McArther Bible Commentary
Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. The first two names referred to the Southern Kingdom; the last two represented the Northern Kingdom. The Passover had been a real revival, and they carried the conviction of it back to their homes to "utterly destroy" all the idolatry. So the reign of idolatry ended, and the worship of God was restored. The people went home in hope of divine blessing and a future of peace and prosperity.
Bible Cross References
Exodus 34:13 2 Kings 18:4 2 Kings 18:22 2 Chronicles 32:12 2 Chronicles 33:3 2 Chronicles 34:7

Verse 2

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
The tents - Within the gates of the house of the Lord: which is here called tents, because the host of the Lord, the priests and Levites, encamped there. And perhaps to intimate, that it was shortly to be removed.
McArther Bible Commentary
divisions of the priests and the Levites. The priestly service had not been supported by the government during the reign of the wicked kings, so Hezekiah restored that support as God originally ordained it (cf. 2Ch 8:12-14; 1Ch 24:1 ff.).
Bible Cross References
Luke 1:8 1 Chronicles 23:28 1 Chronicles 24:1

Verse 3

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Of his substance - Which had hitherto been taken out of the treasures of the temple, but that he might ease the people in their present poverty, which his predecessor had brought upon them, and engage them to a more chearful attendance upon God's service, he took the burden upon himself.
Bible Cross References
Colossians 2:16 Numbers 28:4 2 Chronicles 35:7 Ezekiel 45:17

Verse 4

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Encouraged - Freed them from worldly cares and distractions, and enabled to give up themselves entirely to the serious study of God's law, and to the instruction, and direction, and quickening of the people.
Bible Cross References
Hebrews 7:5 Numbers 18:8 Deuteronomy 18:8 Ezekiel 44:30 Malachi 2:7

Verse 5

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Came abroad - As Soon as the king extended that command to all the parts of his kingdom, which, (2 Chronicles 31:4) , was confined to them that dwelt in Jerusalem. Honey - Or, dates, as the Hebrew writers generally, understand this word, which were given to them, because of the sweetness of their taste in some sort resembling honey. For the law requires no tithes, but of the fruits of trees, or of the earth, or of beasts.
Bible Cross References
Romans 8:23 Leviticus 27:30 Nehemiah 13:12

Verse 6

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
By heaps - What the priests and the Levites had occasion for, they made use of, and the overplus was laid in heaps.
McArther Bible Commentary
tithe. Since the priests and Levites served the nation, they were to be supported by the people through the taxation of the tithe. According to Lev 27:30-33 and Num 18:21, Num 18:24, the people were to give the tenth (tithe) to supply all the needs of the Levites. They were robbing God when they did not give the tithe (Mal 3:8). Deu 12:6-7 called for a second tithe that was to support the nation's devotion to the temple by being used for the national festivals at the temple in Jerusalem. This was called the festival tithe. Deu 14:28-29 called for a third tithe every three years for the poor. The sum of this tax plan totaled about 23 percent annually.
Bible Cross References
Exodus 36:5 Leviticus 27:30 Deuteronomy 14:28 2 Chronicles 31:7

Verse 7

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Third month - Of the sacred year, in which their harvest began. Seventh - In which their harvest ended and the feast of tabernacles was kept.
McArther Bible Commentary
third … seventh month. From the time of the Feast of Firstfruits or Pentecost in May/June until the Feast of Tabernacles in September/October.
Bible Cross References
2 Chronicles 31:6 2 Chronicles 31:8

Verse 8

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Blessed the Lord - Both for giving such plentiful provisions to his land and for giving his people such liberal hearts. And they praised the people for their forwardness and faithfulness in it.
Bible Cross References
Deuteronomy 33:29 2 Chronicles 31:7 2 Chronicles 31:9 Psalm 33:12 Psalm 144:15

Verse 9

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Questioned - How it came to pass that no more of their provision was spent and that there yet remained such great heaps of it.
Bible Cross References
2 Chronicles 31:8 2 Chronicles 31:10

Verse 10

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:8 1 Chronicles 6:9 2 Chronicles 31:9 2 Chronicles 31:13 Ezekiel 44:30 Malachi 3:10

Verse 11

McArther Bible Commentary
rooms. These were stone houses, granaries, and cellars to replace the old, decayed ones. In these places, the Levites stored the tithes (2Ch 31:12).
Bible Cross References
1 Kings 6:5 1 Kings 6:8 Ezekiel 40:17

Verse 12

Bible Cross References
2 Chronicles 31:13 2 Chronicles 31:19 2 Chronicles 35:9

Verse 13

Bible Cross References
2 Chronicles 29:12 2 Chronicles 31:10 2 Chronicles 31:14 2 Chronicles 35:8

Verse 14

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Most holy things - The remainders of the freewill - offering, the sin - offering, and trespass - offering, and the shew - bread; to see that all had a competent maintenance for themselves and their families.
Bible Cross References
Genesis 46:17 2 Chronicles 31:13 2 Chronicles 31:15

Verse 15

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
And next, &c. - These were intrusted with receiving and distributing the several portions belonging to the priests who abode in their several cities, whilst their brethren came up to Jerusalem.
Bible Cross References
Joshua 21:9 1 Chronicles 9:22 2 Chronicles 29:12 2 Chronicles 31:14

Verse 16

McArther Bible Commentary
three years old. Possibly, this refers to children of the priests who accompanied their fathers and received their portions in the temple. Under three, they were probably still being nursed, needing no food. The families of the priests were cared for (2Ch 31:18).
Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 23:3 Ezra 3:4

Verse 17

McArther Bible Commentary
twenty years old. See notes on 1Ch 23:3. Cf. Num 4:3; Num 28:24.
Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 23:24 2 Chronicles 31:18

Verse 18

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
For, &c. - This is alleged as a reason why their wives and children were provided for out of the holy things, because they sequestered themselves from worldly affairs, by which they might otherwise have provided for their families.
Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 9:22 2 Chronicles 31:17 2 Chronicles 31:19

Verse 19

McArther Bible Commentary
common-lands. This refers to the forty-eight Levitical cities (cf. Jos 21:1-42). The tithe taxes collected from everyone were used not only for festivals at the temple, but also for regular daily support of the priests living and leading throughout the Land (see note on 2Ch 31:6).
Bible Cross References
Leviticus 25:34 Numbers 35:2 2 Chronicles 31:12 2 Chronicles 31:18

Verse 20

McArther Bible Commentary
See notes on 2Ki 18:5-7.
Bible Cross References
2 Kings 18:3 2 Kings 20:3 2 Kings 22:2

Verse 21

Bible Cross References
Deuteronomy 29:9 Proverbs 3:9 Proverbs 3:10