2 Chronicles 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).