1The people's zeal in destroying idolatry in the cities of Judah, and in some parts of Israel. 2Hezekiah ordereth the courses of the priests and Levites, maketh provision for the stated sacrifices, and for the maintenance of the priests and Levites. 5The people's forwardness in bringing in first fruits and tithes. 11Hezekiah appointeth officers to dispose of those offerings. 20Hezekiah's sincerity of heart.
1NOW when all 1this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brakea the 2images in pieces, and cut down 3the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, 4in Ephraim also and Manasseh, 5until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.
1 Namely, that which concerned the maintenance of the high feast of the Passover, recorded in the previous chapter.
a 2 Kings 18:4.
2 See Lev. 26 on verse 1.
3 See of the groves and high places, made to the honor and service of idols, Lev. 26 on verse 30.
4 Namely, in the cities, which those of Judah had taken away from the kingdom of Israel. See 2 Chron. 13:19; 15:8.
5 Other, until they had made an end.
2¶And Hezekiah appointed the 6courses 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 7praise in 8the gates of the tents of the LORD.
6 See 2 Chron. 8 on verse 14.
7 Namely, the Lord.
8 Namely, of the temple, where the priests and the Levites, in their order and division, were each to heed and observe their ministry and service, as in a camp. Compare herewith the annotation Num. 4 on verse 3.
39He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the 10burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings 11for the sabbaths, and for the 12new moons, and for the 13set feasts, asbit is written in the law of the LORD.
9 Namely, appointed Hezekiah. As if he said: The king has so disposed of services and offices of the temple, and set the same in order, to the end that everyone would heed and mind his own charge, as that he also has not left himself herein uncharged, ordaining and appointing, that the offerings mentioned here in the text, should be taken out of his own revenues. From which it seems that they were formerly paid and found at the charge of the treasure of the temple, whereof see 1 Chron. 26:20.
10 See of these, Exod. 29:38, 39, etc.; Num. 28:3, 4, etc.
11 See Num. 28:9, 10.
12 See Num. 28:11, 12, etc.
13 See Leviticus 23.
b Numbers 28; 29.
4Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give 14the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be 15encouraged 16in the law of the LORD.
14 Namely, which belonged to them by God’s appointment for their maintenance, Num. 18:8, etc.
15 That is, would have time and courage to perform their service well, without being drawn away from it to obtain their livelihood some other way.
16 That is, in searching, meditating and expounding the law of the Lord; and in performing the service of God commanded in the law.
5 ¶ 17And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel 18brought in abundance the 19firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and 20honey, and of all the increase of the field; and 21the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.
17 That is, when at that time the commandment of the king became known.
18 Hebr. multiplied.
19 See of these laws and ordinances of God Exod. 23:19; 34:26; Lev. 2:14, etc.; Num. 15:17, 18, 19, etc.; Deut. 26:1, 2, etc.
20 Other, dates. The Hebrew word signifies honey, but is taken here by the Hebrews for dates, or fruits of trees that bear sweet fruits, which in respect of their sweetness are like unto honey; for, God had nowhere commanded in His law to give the first fruits of honey, but of fruits of trees of the earth, and of beasts.
21 See of this Lev. 27 on verse 30.
6And 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 22heaps.
22 Hebr. heaps, heaps. See Gen. 14 on verse 10.
7In the 23third month they began to lay the 24foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the 25seventh month.
23 Namely, of the holy or ecclesiastical year. See 2 Chron. 15 on verse 10; Exod. 12 on verse 2. In this month the harvest began in Canaan.
24 That is, to make the first beginning of those heaps.
25 See of this month Lev. 23 on verse 14. It did much agree with our September, when the fruits of that land were carried into the barns.
8And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they 26blessed the LORD, 27and his people Israel.
26 That is, praised and thanked the Lord, for giving the people an heart to bring in their gifts so freely and willingly. See Gen. 14:20 and the annotation.
27To bless the people is to wish all good and happiness unto them. Compare Gen. 31:55 and the annotation.
9Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.
10And Azariah the 28chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring 29the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath 30blessed his people; and 31that which is left is this great store.
28 Hebr. the priest the head, or, that was the head. Also 2 Kings 25:18.
29 Hebr. heave offering. That is, these gifts and offerings. For the Hebrew word here heave offering is taken in a general signification. See Num. 5 on verse 9. The Hebrew word is also used in verse 12 and in verse 14.
30 That is, done them good. See Gen. 12 on verse 2.
31 Or, so that the remainder, is this multitude; namely, which is here present, and which ye see.
11¶Then Hezekiah commanded to 32prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them,
32 That is, make ready. See of these chambers 1 Kings 6:5, and the annotation.
12And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was 33ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next.
33 That is, the most important treasurer, who was set over these treasures of the temple. Next to him was Shimei, his brother, as an under-commissioner, and under him were the other receivers, who are named in the following verse. See the ordinance for this 1 Chron. 26:20, 21.
13And 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 34the ruler of the house of God.
34 Or, leader, that is, the chief priest, verse 10.
14And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter 35toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to 36distribute the oblations of the LORD, and the 37most holy things.
35 That is, at the east gate of the temple. See of this gate 2 Chron. 23 on verse 5.
36 Hebr. to give.
37 Hebr. the holiness of holinesses. Understand the remainder of the freewill meat offerings, Lev. 2:3, 10, and the sin offerings, Lev. 6:17, 25, the trespass offerings, Lev. 7:1, the showbreads, Lev. 24:9. See also Num. 18:9.
15And 38next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, inc the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, 39as well to the great as to the small:
38 Understand his adjoined fellow helpers, who were under his oversight, care and discretion.
c Joshua 21:9.
39 According to the law Deut. 18:8.
1640Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto 41every one that entereth into the house of the LORD, his 42daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses;
40 Hebr. beside their reckoning or their account of families; that is, together with those who were written down in their genealogies of all who were males. The sense is: that they did not give only to the priests, who did service in the temple, their portion, but also to their sons.
41 That is, who could be used in the service of the temple, and consequently were to have their maintenance out of the ecclesiastical goods.
42 Hebr. for the things of the day upon his day, that is, to do there what was to be done every day. See the like phrase Exod. 5:13. Other, for the daily work upon every day.
17Both to the 43genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites fromd twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses;
43 That is, who were written in the genealogies of the priests, to whom not only their maintenance was given, but to the Levites likewise.
d 1 Chron. 23:27.
18And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, 44through all the congregation: for 45in their set office they sanctified themselves in 46holiness:
44 Understand the assembly of the priests and Levites, who were to look after the worship of God in the temple; in order that they were not only maintained in their own particular persons, but also care was taken for their wives and children.
45 See of the Hebrew word 1 Chron. 9 on verse 22. Other, in or according to their faithfulness, or, upon their fidelity; that is, trusting upon the faithfulness of the distributors (whereof mention is made in verse 15) that to them their temporal maintenance would be provided by them.
46 That is, sanctified themselves very carefully and diligently. Other, hallowed themselves to the holy things.
19Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, which were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, 47in every several city, the men that were 48expressed by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to 49all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites.
47 Hebr. in all (or, every) city and city.
48 As verse 15.
49 Hebr. all numbering or reckoning by families.
20¶And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and 50truth before the LORD his God.
50 Hebr. truth or faithfulness.
21And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and 51in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
51 See 2 Chron. 14 on verse 4.