CHAPTER 31
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.
Hezekiah
reestablished
the divisions
of the priests
and Levites—
each
corresponding to
their service
among the priests
and 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
When Hezekiah
and his officials
came
and viewed
the heaps,
they blessed
the LORD
and His people
Israel.
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 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.
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.
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.
Under
his authority
Eden,
Miniamin,
Jeshua,
Shemaiah,
Amariah,
and Shecaniah
in the cities
of the priests
faithfully
distributed
to their fellow priests
by divisions,
whether large
or small.
In addition,
they distributed 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.
They also distributed
to the priests
enrolled according to
families
in the genealogy,
and to the Levites
twenty
years of age
or older,
according their duties
and divisions.
The genealogy
included all
the little ones,
wives,
sons,
and daughters
in the whole
assembly.
For
they had faithfully
consecrated themselves
as holy.
As for the priests,
the descendants
of Aaron,
who lived on the farmlands
around their cities,
in each
and every city,
men
were designated
by name
to distribute
a portion
to every
male
among the priests
and to every
Levite
listed by the genealogies.
So this is what
Hezekiah
did
throughout
Judah.
He did
what was good
and upright
and true
before
the LORD
his God.
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.