2 Chronicles 31

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. Either 1. In those Cities belonging to Ephraim and Manasseh, which the Kings of Judah had formerly taken from the Kings of Israel. Or, 2. In the Tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. For although these were a part of Hoshea's Kingdom, yet Hezekiah presumed to do this partly by virtue of the Law of God, to which both Israel and Judah owed Subjection, which commanded the extirpation of these things out of the whole Land of Canaan: Partly by the special Impulse and Direction of Gods Spirit, which sometimes did put persons upon Heroical and Extraordinary Actions not to be drawn into Imitation: And partly because he knew that 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 these Images of Baal and the things belonging to them; which is all that was done at this time.

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 i. e. Within the Gates of the House of the Lord: which is here called tents, partly because all Houses are oft so called, as Iudg. 19. 9. & 20. 8. Psal. 69, 25. And partly because the Host of the Lord, to wit, the priests and Levites, frequently so called, encamped there and kept their Stations and Orders there by course..

He appointed also the kings portion of his substance, for the burnt-offerings Which had hitherto been and were to be taken out of the Treasures of the Temple which were collected from the People, 1 Chron. 26. 20. Nehem. 10. 32, 33. but that he might ease them in their present Poverty, which his Predecessor had brought upon them, and engage them to a more chearful attendance upon Gods Service, he took the Burden upon himself., to wit, for the morning and evening burnt-offerings, and the burntofferings of 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 i. e. Freed from worldly Cares and Distractions, and enabled to give up themselves entirely to the serious Study of Gods Law, in which many of them were ignorant, and to the Instruction, and Direction, and quickning of the People in their several Duties..

And as soon as the commandment came abroad Either 1. As soon as the Report of this Command of the King, v. 4. was got abroad into other parts. Or, 2. as soon as the King enlarged and extended that Command to all the Parts of his kingdom, which v. 4. was confined to them that dwell in Jerusalem., the children of Israel brought in abundance the first-fruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey Or, Dates, as the Hebrew Writers generally, and many other Learned Hebricians understand this word, which is given to them, because of the Sweetness of their Tast in some sort resembling Honey. For the Law requires no Tithes but of the Fruits of Trees, or of the Earth, or of Beasts., 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 They brought in not only the same Tithes which the Dwellers in Jerusalem did, to wit, of corn, and wine, and oil, &c. which they had in their own Storehouses in that City; but also Oxen and Sheep, which were more proper to the Country: For under the Cities of Iudah, are comprehended the Suburbs and Territories adjacent and belonging to them, as is evident from the Nature of the thing and the Law of God., and the tithe of holy things, which were consecrated unto the LORD their God This may be taken either 1. By way of Explication, even the Tithe of Holy things, &c. Or rather 2. By way of Addition, the Tithe of all Holy things which were consecrated unto the Lord, whether by Vow, or voluntary Promise, or otherwise; as the Tithes of Gains by Merchandise, or Spoils of War, &c. of which see Gen. 14. 20. & 28. 22. Numb. 31. 28. 30., and laid them by heaps.

In the third month To wit, of the Sacred Year, Exod. 12. 2. in which their Harvest began. they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month In which their Harvest ended and the Feast of Tabernacles was kept, Exod. 23. 16. Levit. 23. 34..

And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD Both for giving such plentiful Provisions to his Land in this Year, and for giving his People such Liberal and Pious Hearts towards this good Work., and his people Israel They praised them for their forwardness and faithfulness in it..

Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps How it came to pass that no more of their Provision was spent, and that there yet remained such great Heaps of it..

And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok Either 1. the High-priest, called also Zadok, 1 Chron. 6. 12. because he was of his Line and Family. Or, 2 The Chief Priest, or the Head of that Family of Zadok or of Eleazar; as there was another Chief Priest of the Family of Abiathar or of Ithama.... See 2 Sam. 8. 17. 1 Chron. 24. 3. but both Subject to the High-Priest., answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings Which they did from the beginning of the Harvest according to the manner. into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD has blessed his people In an Extraordinary Degree., and that which is left is this great store.

Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD Largely so called, to wit, in the Courts, or in the Chambers adjoyning to the House.; and they prepared them,

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

And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benajah, were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother i. e. To dispose of those Provisions by their Direction, and to be accountable to them therein., at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God Either the Supreme Ruler, to wit, the High-priest: or the Chief Ruler under him and in his stead, being appointed by him to inspect this Work. See above, v. 10. & 1 Chron. 9. 11. Ier. 20. 1..

And Kore the son of Imnah, the Levite, the porter toward the east At the East-gate of the Lords House; of which see on ch. 23. 5., was over the free-willofferings of God, to distribute To the Priests and Levites, to whom they were appropriated by God. the oblations of the LORD, and the most holy things To wit, the remainders of the Free-will-offering, Levit. 2. 3, 10. The Sin-offering and Trespass-offering, Levit. 6. 18, 22. & 7. 1. and the Show-bread, Levit. 24. 9..

And next him were Eden, and Minjamin, and Jeshua, and Shemajah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests Who were intrusted with the Receiving and Distributing of the several Portions belonging to the Priests who abode in their several Cities, whilest their... rethren came up to Jerusalem., in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small.

Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward To whom a Portion of these things was allotted, as is here implied., even unto every one that entreth into the house of the LORD That were capable of entring thither and doing Service there, which they were at twenty years old, as is expressed here, v. 17. & 1 Chron. 23. 24. Through the whole Company of the Priests and Levites., his daily portion for their service in their charges, according to their courses:

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:

And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation This is alledged as a Reason why their Wives and Children were provided for out of the Holy things, because they sequestred themselves from worldly Affairs, by which they might otherwise have provided for their Families, and intirely devoted themselves to Holy Administrations.: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness.

Also the sons of Aaron the priests which were in the fields Who are opposed to those that lived in or resorted to the great City, Jerusalem. of the suburbs of their cities, in every several city, the men that were expressed by name, to give portion to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogies, among the Levites.

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

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.