| Back to Home Page | Back to Book Index
|
2
Chronicles Chapter Thirty-one
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 31
This
chapter begins with the destruction of idolatrous worship
the appointment of
the courses of the priests and Levites
and the royal bounty for sacrifices
2 Chronicles 31:1
next follows the order Hezekiah gave
that the people at Jerusalem
and
throughout the land
should make the proper provision for the priests and
Levites
as the law directed; and which was cheerfully complied with
and the
firstfruits and tithes were brought in
in great abundance
insomuch that there
was enough
and plenty left
2 Chronicles 31:4
wherefore chambers were prepared in the temple to lay it up in
and persons
appointed to be the overseers of it
and to distribute it faithfully to their
brethren and their families
to small and great
2 Chronicles 31:11
and the chapter is closed in praise of the works of Hezekiah
and the success
that attended him
2 Chronicles 31:20.
2 Chronicles
31:1 Now when all
this was finished
all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah
and broke the sacred pillars in pieces
cut down the wooden images
and
threw down the high places and the altars—from all Judah
Benjamin
Ephraim
and Manasseh—until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children
of Israel returned to their own cities
every man to his possession.
YLT
1And at the completion of
all this
gone out have all Israel who are found present to the cities of
Judah
and break the standing-pillars
and cut down the shrines
and break down
the high places and the altars
out of all Judah and Benjamin
and in Ephraim
and Manasseh
even to completion
and all the sons of Israel turn back
each to
his Possession
to their cities.
Now when all this was finished
.... The temple cleansed
the priests and Levites sanctified
the passover and feast of unleavened bread
observed
and other seven days of rejoicing kept:
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; which had
been erected by Ahaz
2 Chronicles 28:2
at or about this time also the brasen serpent was broke to pieces
2 Kings 18:4
in Ephraim also and Manasseh
until they had utterly destroyed
them all; which must be understood of such cities in those tribes that had
been taken in former times by the kings of Judah from the kings of Israel; or
such as were now in the hands of the Assyrians
who might not concern
themselves in matters of religion; or this might be done at the connivance of
Hoshea king of Israel
who had no regard to any other idolatry than the worship
of the calves; and besides
having met with trouble from the Assyrians
and
fearing more
might be willing to have his kingdom cleared of idolatry
in hope
the divine displeasure would be removed:
then all the children of Israel returned every man to his
possession into their own cities; and not till then
when
all monuments of idolatry were removed.
2 Chronicles 31:2 2 And Hezekiah appointed the
divisions of the priests and the Levites according to their divisions
each man
according to his service
the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and peace
offerings
to serve
to give thanks
and to praise in the gates of the camp[a] of the Lord.
YLT
2And Hezekiah appointeth the
courses of the priests
and of the Levites
by their courses
each according to
his service
of the priests and of the Levites
for burnt-offering
and for
peace-offerings
to minister
and to give thanks
and to give praise in the
gates of the camps of Jehovah.
And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests
and the Levites
after their courses
.... As they were fixed by David
and were in the times of
Jehoshaphat
and had been since interrupted
and which Hezekiah now restored
and placed them in their regular order:
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; or camp of the Lord
where they were posted
and lay as an host encamped
to keep the watch of the
house of the Lord; the priests
they were appointed to offer the sacrifices of
every sort; the Levites to minister to them in what they needed and required of
them
and others of them to be singers in time of service
and others to be porters
at the gate.
2 Chronicles 31:3 3 The king also appointed
a portion of his possessions for the burnt offerings: for the morning and
evening burnt offerings
the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths and the New Moons
and the set feasts
as it is written in the Law of the Lord.
YLT
3And a portion of the king
from his substance
[is] for burnt-offerings
for burnt-offerings of the
morning
and of the evening
and the burnt-offerings of sabbaths
and of new
moons
and of appointed seasons
as it is written in the law of Jehovah.
He appointed also the king's portion of his substance
.... Out of
his own treasury
of his royal bounty
over and above what was usual for kings
to give for their own sacrifices
the treasury of the temple being exhausted
and the people being brought into low circumstances in the last reign:
for the burnt offerings
to wit
for the morning and
evening burnt offerings; the daily sacrifice offered morning and evening
which had been
neglected
but now revived:
and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths
and for the new moons
and for the set feasts; when beside the daily sacrifice there were additional ones: as
it is written in the law of the Lord; in Numbers 28:9.
2 Chronicles 31:4 4 Moreover he commanded the
people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute support for the priests and the
Levites
that they might devote themselves to the Law of the Lord.
YLT
4And he saith to the people
to the inhabitants of Jerusalem
to give the portion of the priests
and of the
Levites
so that they are strengthened in the law of Jehovah;
Moreover
he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give
the portion of the priests and the Levites
.... What was assigned
unto them by the law of God by tithes
firstfruits
&c.
that they might be encouraged in the law of the Lord; in the study
of it; that they might gain greater knowledge of it themselves
and be better
able to instruct the people
which of late had been much neglected; and that
they might be more at leisure for such service
and be free from all worldly
business
care
and distraction of mind
was the design of this edict.
2 Chronicles 31:5 5 As soon as the commandment
was circulated
the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of
grain and wine
oil and honey
and of all the produce of the field; and they
brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.
YLT
5and at the spreading forth
of the thing have the sons of Israel multiplied the first-fruit of corn
new
wine
and oil
and honey
and of all the increase of the field
and the tithe
of the whole in abundance they have brought in.
And as soon as the commandment came abroad
.... Not only
was published in the city of Jerusalem
but the report of it
or rather that
itself
was spread throughout the cities of Judah:
the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of
corn
wine
and oil
and honey; the three first of these are expressed in
the law
Deuteronomy 18:4
but not honey; wherefore the Targum here
and the Jewish writers in general
interpret it of the "dubsa" of the palm tree
as they call it
the
fruit and liquor of that
which is of a sweet taste
and which the Scenite
Arabs called "dabusa"
as PlinyF23Nat. Hist. l. 13. c. 4.
from Juba relates; for so it should be read
and not "dabulan" or
"dablan"
as in some copies: but though honey was forbid to be used
in sacrifice
it was not forbidden to be eaten; and as the land of Judea
abounded with honey
properly so called
the priests might have the firstfruits
of that as of other liquors; See Gill on Deuteronomy 8:8
and of all the increase of the field; of the trees
of it
vines
fig trees
pomegranates
&c. as Kimchi:
and the tithe of all things; even of herbs
as the
same writer
and so the TalmudF24T. Bab. Nedarim
fol. 55. 1.
which were free from tithes by the law
see Matthew 23:23
brought they in abundantly; even of all that their
vineyards
oliveyards
and fields produced.
2 Chronicles 31:6 6 And the children of Israel
and Judah
who dwelt in the cities of Judah
brought the tithe of oxen and
sheep; also the tithe of holy things which were consecrated to the Lord their God they
laid in heaps.
YLT
6And the sons of Israel and
Judah
those dwelling in cities of Judah
they also a tithe of herd and flock
and a tithe of the holy things that are sanctified to Jehovah their God
have
brought in
and they give -- heaps
heaps;
And concerning the children of Israel and Judah
that dwelt in the
cities of Judah
.... As for the supplement "concerning"
I see no need
of it; the sense is
that when the king's edict was known by the inhabitants of
the cities in the country
as well as at Jerusalem:
they also brought in the tithes of oxen
and sheep; according to
the law in Leviticus 27:32.
and the tithe of holy things
which were consecrated unto the Lord
their God; which Jarchi understands of the second tithe the Levites were to
give to the priests; but Kimchi of things consecrated to sacred uses
and no
longer for their own
and which were even free from tithing:
and laid them by heaps: heaps upon heaps
such
large quantities were brought in.
2 Chronicles 31:7 7 In the third month they
began laying them in heaps
and they finished in the seventh month.
YLT
7in the third month they
have begun to lay the foundation of the heaps
and in the seventh month they
have finished.
In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps..... The month
Sivan
as the Targum
in which month was the feast of Pentecost
called the
feast of the harvest
Exodus 23:16
for
then barley harvest was ended
and wheat harvest began
and the firstfruits
were brought:
and finished them in the seventh month; the month
Tisri
as the Targum
in which was the feast of tabernacles
sometimes called
the feast of ingathering
of the fruits of the earth
the wine
oil
&c.
and so a proper time for bringing the tithes of all.
2 Chronicles 31:8 8 And when Hezekiah and the
leaders came and saw the heaps
they blessed the Lord and His people
Israel.
YLT
8And Hezekiah and the heads
come in and see the heaps
and bless Jehovah and His people Israel
And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps
.... Of the
tithes and firstfruits:
they blessed the Lord; for the great increase
of the fruits of the earth
and for making the people so willing to bring in
the dues to the priests and Levites:
and his people Israel; wished all happiness and
prosperity to them
being found in the way of their duty.
2 Chronicles 31:9 9 Then Hezekiah questioned the
priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.
YLT
9and Hezekiah inquireth at
the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps
Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites
concerning the heaps. How they came to be so large
or why they let them lie where they
did.
2 Chronicles 31:10 10 And Azariah the chief
priest
from 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 plenty left
for the Lord has blessed
His people; and what is left is this great abundance.”
YLT
10and Azariah the head
priest
of the house of Zadok
speaketh unto him
and saith
`From the
beginning of the bringing of the heave-offering to the house of Jehovah
[there
is] to eat
and to be satisfied
and to leave abundantly
for Jehovah hath
blessed His people
and that left [is] this store.'
And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him
.... Who was
the high priest of the family of Eleazar
in the line of Zadok
made high
priest in Solomon's time
when Abiathar was thrust out; Jarchi takes him to be
the same Azariah that was in the days of Uzziah
2 Chronicles 26:17
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; which were
now four mouths since; and the priests and Levites
and their families
had
partaken of them
and eat to satiety
and yet there was great plenty remaining:
for the Lord hath blessed his people: the Targum
is
"the Word of the Lord has blessed them
'given them large crops this
year
and a ready willing mind to bring in what is due for the service of the
temple:
and that which is left is this great store; the heaps the
king and princes saw
and inquired about; or what is left is for the great
multitude of the priests and Levites
and their families
both at Jerusalem
and in the cities in the country; so Kimchi interprets it.
2 Chronicles 31:11 11 Now Hezekiah commanded them
to prepare rooms in the house of the Lord
and they prepared them.
YLT
11And Hezekiah saith to
prepare chambers in the house of Jehovah
and they prepare
Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the
Lord
.... Either to build new ones
or fit up those that were built:
and they prepared them; got them ready to lay up
the stores in.
2 Chronicles 31:12 12 Then they faithfully
brought in the offerings
the tithes
and the dedicated things; Cononiah the
Levite had charge of them
and Shimei his brother was the next.
YLT
12and they bring in the
heave-offering
and the tithe
and the holy things faithfully; and over them is
a leader
Conaniah the Levite
and Shimei his brother [is] second;
And brought in the offerings
and the tithes
and the dedicated
things
faithfully
.... Kept nothing back for their own private use
but faithfully
delivered in and laid up the whole that was brought which remained; this was
done by the priests and Levites
in whose hands and care they were:
over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler
and Shimei his brother
was the next; these two had the charge and care of the whole
the one as
deputy to the other.
2 Chronicles 31:13 13 Jehiel
Azaziah
Nahath
Asahel
Jerimoth
Jozabad
Eliel
Ismachiah
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.
YLT
13and Jehiel
and Azaziah
and Nahath
and Asahel
and Jerimoth
and Jozabad
and Eliel
and Ismachiah
and Mahath
and Benaiah
[are] inspectors under the hand of Conaniah and Shimei
his brother
by the appointment of Hezekiah the king
and Azariah leader 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
were overseers
under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother
.... These ten
were assistants to the other two
were under them
and at their command
and
were to be ready at hand to do what they should order and direct them:
at the commandment of Hezekiah the king
and Azariah the ruler of
the house of God; these were fixed in their post under the other two by the king
and the high priest
to whom also the other two were accountable.
2 Chronicles 31:14 14 Kore the son of Imnah the
Levite
the keeper of the East Gate
was over the freewill offerings to
God
to distribute the offerings of the Lord and the most holy things.
YLT
14And Kore son of Imnah the
Levite
the gatekeeper at the east
[is] over the willing-offerings of God
to
give the heave-offering of Jehovah
and the most holy things.
And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite
the porter towards the east
.... At the
east gate of the temple; see 1 Chronicles 26:17.
was over the freewill offerings of God
to distribute the
oblations of the Lord; to the priests and Levites
for whose use they were; or to
deliver out the fine flour
oil
and wine
and frankincense
for the meat and
drink offerings:
and the most holy things; which belonged to the
priests only to eat of
as the remainder of the meat offerings
the sin and
trespass offerings
and the shewbread.
2 Chronicles 31:15 15 And under him were
Eden
Miniamin
Jeshua
Shemaiah
Amariah
and Shecaniah
his faithful
assistants in the cities of the priests
to distribute allotments to their
brethren by divisions
to the great as well as the small.
YLT
15And by his hand [are] Eden
and Miniamin
and Jeshua
and Shemaiah
Amariah
and Shechaniah
in cities of
the priests
faithfully to give to their brethren in courses
as the great so
the small
And next to him were Eden and Mijamin
and Jeshua
and Shemaiah
Amariah
and Shecaniah
.... As Kore was the principal
and his business lay chiefly with
the priests in the temple
and in Jerusalem
these men under him were employed
in distributing to the priests:
in the cities of the priests; in the several parts of
the country:
in their set office; or faithfully:
to give to their brethren by courses
as well to
the great as to the small; to communicate of the stores under their hands
according to their several courses
both priests and Levites
and to all in
their families
small and great.
2 Chronicles 31:16 16 Besides those males from
three years old and up who were written in the genealogy
they distributed to
everyone who entered the house of the Lord his daily portion for the
work of his service
by his division
YLT
16apart from their genealogy
to males from a son of three years and upward
to every one who hath gone in to
the house of Jehovah
by the matter of a day in its day
for their service in
their charges
according to their courses;
Beside their genealogy of males
from three years old and upwards
.... Their
office was not only to give to the priests
but to those of their males in
their genealogy
who were three years old and upwards; for under that age
according to Kimchi
they were not fit to come into the temple; nor have they
knowledge to keep what is put into their hands; nor fit to handle offerings
lest they should defile them; but at that age they might be taught how to hold
them
and be used to it; but as for females
he says
they were not admitted at
any age:
even unto everyone that entereth into the house of the Lord; of the said
age
and in the genealogy and register of the priests:
his daily portion for their service in their charges
according to
their courses; food for every day
in consideration of their service in their
several wards
according to their courses in turn.
2 Chronicles 31:17 17 and to the priests who
were written in the genealogy according to their father’s house
and to the
Levites from twenty years old and up according to their work
by their
divisions
YLT
17and the genealogy of the
priests by the house of their fathers
and of the Levites
from a son of twenty
years and upward
in their charges
in their courses;
Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers
.... As to the
priests registered according to their families from the age before observed
a
portion was given: so to the Levites:
from twenty years old and upward
in their charges
by their
courses; for though originally they were not admitted into the tabernacle
till twenty five years of age
nor to officiate till thirty
but in David's
time they were allowed at twenty years of age and upwards
1 Chronicles 23:24.
2 Chronicles 31:18 18 and to all who were
written in the genealogy—their little ones and their wives
their sons and
daughters
the whole company of them—for in their faithfulness they sanctified
themselves in holiness.
YLT
18and to the genealogy among
all their infants
their wives
and their sons
and their daughters to all the
congregation
for in their faithfulness they sanctify themselves in holiness.
And to the genealogy of all their little ones
their wives
and
their sons
and their daughters
through all the congregation
.... These
were all genealogized and registered
wives and children
sons and daughters
whether small or grown up; and a portion was distributed to them according to
their number
greater or lesser:
for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness; which is to
be understood either of the overseers
who
in their set office
faithfully
distributed the holy things to the persons before described; or else to the
priests
and Levites
to whom
and to whose families
the distribution was
made
because they wholly devoted themselves to the holy service of God.
2 Chronicles 31:19 19 Also for the sons of Aaron
the priests
who were in the fields of the common-lands of their cities
in every single city
there were men who were designated by name to
distribute portions to all the males among the priests and to all who were
listed by genealogies among the Levites.
YLT
19And to sons of Aaron
the
priests
in the fields of the suburb of their cities
in every city and city
[are] men who have been defined by name
to give portions to every male among
the priests
and to every one who reckoned himself by genealogy among the
Levites.
Also of the sons of Aaron the priests
which were in the fields of
the suburbs of their cities
in every several city
.... Which
were allowed to them out of the several tribes
and where they dwelt
when it
was not the turn of their course to officiate in the temple; now to these
as
well as to those in Jerusalem
a portion was distributed for the support of
them and their families:
the men that were expressed by name; before mentioned
2 Chronicles 31:13
though some understand it of such as were nominated and appointed by them
and
to act under them in the country:
to give portions to all the males among the priests
and to all
that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites: as before
declared.
2 Chronicles 31:20 20 Thus Hezekiah did
throughout all Judah
and he did what was good and right and true before
the Lord
his God.
YLT
20And Hezekiah doth thus in
all Judah
and doth that which is good
and that which is right
and that which
is true
before Jehovah his God;
And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah
.... Settled
the courses of the priests and Levites
and made a provision for them and their
families:
and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the
Lord his God: or did that which was truly right and good
according to the law
and will of God
in the sincerity and uprightness of his soul
and as in the
presence of the omniscient God
he approving and accepting it for Christ's sake.
2 Chronicles 31:21 21 And in every work that he
began in the service of the house of God
in the law and in the commandment
to
seek his God
he did it with all his heart. So he prospered.
YLT
21and in every work that he
hath begun for the service of the house of God
and for the law
and for the
command
to seek to his God
with all his heart he hath wrought and prospered.
And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God
.... In
cleansing the temple
providing sacrifices
placing the priests and Levites
order
taking care of the maintenance of them:
and in the law and in the commandments; in the
observation of all the laws
statutes
and judgments of God
moral
ceremonial
and judicial:
to seek his God; and serve and worship him
and therein his
honour and glory:
he did it with all his heart; in the most cordial
sincere
and upright manner:
and prospered; he succeeded in all he undertook
God being
with him
and blessing him in his civil and religious concerns.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)