5 And as soon as the commandment H1697 came abroad, H6555 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 brought H935 in abundance H7235 the firstfruits H7225 of corn, H1715 wine, H8492 and oil, H3323 and honey, H1706 and of all the increase H8393 of the field; H7704 and the tithe H4643 of all things brought H935 they in abundantly. H7230
How that G3754 in G1722 a great G4183 trial G1382 of affliction G2347 the abundance G4050 of their G846 joy G5479 and G2532 their G846 deep G899 poverty G2596 G4432 abounded G4052 unto G1519 the riches G4149 of their G846 liberality. G572 For G3754 to G2596 their power, G1411 I bear record, G3140 yea, and G2532 beyond G5228 their power G1411 they were willing of themselves; G830 Praying G1189 us G2257 with G3326 much G4183 intreaty G3874 that we G2248 would receive G1209 the gift, G5485 and G2532 take upon us the fellowship G2842 of the ministering G1248 to G1519 the saints. G40 And G2532 this they did, not G3756 as G2531 we hoped, G1679 but G235 first G4412 gave G1325 their own selves G1438 to the Lord, G2962 and G2532 unto us G2254 by G1223 the will G2307 of God. G2316
And to bring H935 the firstfruits H1061 of our ground, H127 and the firstfruits H1061 of all fruit H6529 of all trees, H6086 year H8141 by year, H8141 unto the house H1004 of the LORD: H3068 Also the firstborn H1060 of our sons, H1121 and of our cattle, H929 as it is written H3789 in the law, H8451 and the firstlings H1062 of our herds H1241 and of our flocks, H6629 to bring H935 to the house H1004 of our God, H430 unto the priests H3548 that minister H8334 in the house H1004 of our God: H430 And that we should bring H935 the firstfruits H7225 of our dough, H6182 and our offerings, H8641 and the fruit H6529 of all manner of trees, H6086 of wine H8492 and of oil, H3323 unto the priests, H3548 to the chambers H3957 of the house H1004 of our God; H430 and the tithes H4643 of our ground H127 unto the Levites, H3881 that the same Levites H3881 might have the tithes H6237 in all the cities H5892 of our tillage. H5656 And the priest H3548 the son H1121 of Aaron H175 shall be with the Levites, H3881 when the Levites H3881 take tithes: H6237 and the Levites H3881 shall bring up H5927 the tithe H4643 of the tithes H4643 unto the house H1004 of our God, H430 to the chambers, H3957 into the treasure H214 house. H1004 For the children H1121 of Israel H3478 and the children H1121 of Levi H3878 shall bring H935 the offering H8641 of the corn, H1715 of the new wine, H8492 and the oil, H3323 unto the chambers, H3957 where are the vessels H3627 of the sanctuary, H4720 and the priests H3548 that minister, H8334 and the porters, H7778 and the singers: H7891 and we will not forsake H5800 the house H1004 of our God. H430
And all the princes H8269 and all the people H5971 rejoiced, H8055 and brought in, H935 and cast H7993 into the chest, H727 until they had made an end. H3615 Now it came to pass, that at what time H6256 the chest H727 was brought H935 unto the king's H4428 office H6486 by the hand H3027 of the Levites, H3881 and when they saw H7200 that there was much H7227 money, H3701 the king's H4428 scribe H5608 and the high H7218 priest's H3548 officer H6496 came H935 and emptied H6168 the chest, H727 and took H5375 it, and carried H7725 it to his place H4725 again. H7725 Thus they did H6213 day H3117 by day, H3117 and gathered H622 money H3701 in abundance. H7230
And they spake H559 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559 The people H5971 bring H935 much more H7235 than enough H1767 for the service H5656 of the work, H4399 which the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 to make. H6213 And Moses H4872 gave commandment, H6680 and they caused it to be proclaimed H6963 H5674 throughout the camp, H4264 saying, H559 Let neither man H376 nor woman H802 make H6213 any more work H4399 for the offering H8641 of the sanctuary. H6944 So the people H5971 were restrained H3607 from bringing. H935
And all the congregation H5712 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 departed H3318 from the presence H6440 of Moses. H4872 And they came, H935 every one H376 whose H834 heart H3820 stirred him up, H5375 and every one whom his spirit H7307 made willing, H5068 and they brought H935 the LORD'S H3068 offering H8641 to the work H4399 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 and for all his service, H5656 and for the holy H6944 garments. H899 And they came, H935 both H5921 men H582 and women, H802 as many as H3605 were willing H5081 hearted, H3820 and brought H935 bracelets, H2397 and earrings, H5141 and rings, H2885 and tablets, H3558 all jewels H3627 of gold: H2091 and every man H376 that offered H5130 offered an offering H8573 of gold H2091 unto the LORD. H3068 And every man, H376 with whom was found H4672 blue, H8504 and purple, H713 and scarlet, H8144 H8438 and fine linen, H8336 and goats' H5795 hair, and red H119 skins H5785 of rams, H352 and badgers' H8476 skins, H5785 brought H935 them. Every one that did offer H7311 an offering H8641 of silver H3701 and brass H5178 brought H935 the LORD'S H3068 offering: H8641 and every man, with whom was found H4672 shittim H7848 wood H6086 for any work H4399 of the service, H5656 brought H935 it. And all the women H802 that were wise H2450 hearted H3820 did spin H2901 with their hands, H3027 and brought H935 that which they had spun, H4299 both of blue, H8504 and of purple, H713 and of scarlet, H8144 H8438 and of fine linen. H8336 And all the women H802 whose heart H3820 stirred H5375 them up in wisdom H2451 spun H2901 goats' H5795 hair. And the rulers H5387 brought H935 onyx H7718 stones, H68 and stones H68 to be set, H4394 for the ephod, H646 and for the breastplate; H2833 And spice, H1314 and oil H8081 for the light, H3974 and for the anointing H4888 oil, H8081 and for the sweet H5561 incense. H7004 The children H1121 of Israel H3478 brought H935 a willing offering H5071 unto the LORD, H3068 every man H376 and woman, H802 whose H834 heart H3820 made them willing H5068 to bring H935 for all manner of work, H4399 which the LORD H3068 had commanded H6680 to be made H6213 by the hand H3027 of Moses. H4872
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 31
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 31 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 31
2Ch 31:1-10. The People Forward in Destroying Idolatry.
1. all Israel … present went out to the cities of Judah—The solemnities of this paschal season left a deep and salutary impression on the minds of the assembled worshippers; attachment to the ancient institutions of their country was extensively revived; ardor in the service of God animated every bosom; and under the impulse of the devout feelings inspired by the occasion, they took measures at the close of the passover for extirpating idolatrous statues and altars out of every city, as at the beginning of the festival they had done in Jerusalem.
Judah and Benjamin—denote the southern kingdom.
Ephraim also and Manasseh—refer to the northern kingdom. This unsparing demolition of the monuments of idolatry would receive all encouragement from the king and public authorities of the former; and the force of the popular movement was sufficient to effect the same results among the tribes of Israel, whatever opposition the power of Hoshea or the invectives of some profane brethren might have made. Thus the reign of idolatry being completely overthrown and the pure worship of God re-established throughout the land, the people returned every one to his own home, in the confident expectation that, through the divine blessing, they would enjoy a happy future of national peace and prosperity.
2-5. Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests, &c.—The king now turned his attention to provide for the orderly performance of the temple-worship—arranging the priests and Levites in their courses, assigning to every one his proper place and functions—and issuing edicts for the regular payment of those dues from which the revenues of the sanctuary were derived. To set a proper example to his subjects, his own proportion was announced in the first instance, for to the king it belonged, out of his privy purse, to defray the expenses of the altar, both stated and occasional (Nu 28:3, 4, 9, 11, 19); and in making this contribution from his own means, Hezekiah followed the course which David and Solomon had taken before him (see 2Ch 8:14; 1Ki 9:25). Afterwards he reappointed the people's dues to the temple; and from its being necessary to issue a royal mandate in reference to this matter, it appears that the sacred tribute had been either totally neglected, or (as the idolatrous princes were known to appropriate it to their own purposes) the people had in many cases refused or evaded the duty. But with the improved state of public feeling, Hezekiah's commandment was readily obeyed, and contributions of first-fruits and tithes were poured in with great liberality from all parts of Judah, as well as from Israel. The first-fruits, even of some articles of produce that were unfit for sacrifice (Le 2:11), such as honey (Margin, "dates"), were appropriated to the priests (Nu 18:12, 13; De 18:4). The tithes (Le 27:31) were intended for the support of the whole Levitical tribe (Nu 18:8, 20, 24).
6, 7. and laid them by heaps—The contributions began to be sent in shortly after the celebration of the passover, which had taken place in the middle of the second month. Some time would elapse before the king's order reached all parts of the kingdom. The wheat harvest occurred in the third month, so that the sheaves of that grain, being presented before any other, formed "the foundation," an under-layer in the corn stores of the temple. The first-fruits of their land produce which were successively sent in all the summer till the close of the fruit and vintage season, that is, the seventh month, continued to raise heap upon heap.
9. Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps—The object of his enquiries was to ascertain whether the supplies afforded the prospect of a sufficient maintenance for the members of the sacred order.
10. Azariah … answered … we have had enough—This is probably the person mentioned (2Ch 26:17), and his reply was to the following purport: There has been an abundant harvest, and a corresponding plenty in the incoming of first-fruits and tithes; the people have testified their gratitude to Him who has crowned the year with His goodness by their liberality towards His servants.
2Ch 31:11-19. Hezekiah Appoints Officers to Dispose of the Tithes.
11-18. Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the Lord—storehouses, granaries, or cellars; either the old ones, which had been allowed through neglect to fall into decay, were to be repaired, or additional ones built. Private individuals brought their own first-fruits to the temple; but the tithes were levied by the Levites, who kept a faithful account of them in their several places of abode and transmitted the allotted proportion to the priests. Officers were appointed to distribute equal rations to all in the cities of the priests who, from age or other reasons, could not repair to the temple. With the exception of children under three years of age—an exception made probably from their being considered too young to receive solid food—lists were kept of the number and age of every male; of priests according to their fathers' house, and Levites from twenty years (see Nu 4:3; 28:24; 1Ch 23:24). But, besides, provision was also made for their wives, daughters, and servants.
18. for in their set office they sanctified themselves—This is the reason assigned for providing for the wives and children out of the revenues of the sanctuary, that priests, withdrawing from those secular pursuits by which they might have maintained their households, devoted themselves entirely to the functions of the ministry.
2Ch 31:20, 21. His Sincerity of Heart.
20. Hezekiah … wrought that which was good and right—He displayed the qualities of a constitutional king, in restoring and upholding the ancient institutions of the kingdom; while his zealous and persevering efforts to promote the cause of true religion and the best interests of his subjects entitled him to be ranked with the most illustrious of his predecessors (2Ki 18:15).