2 Chronicles 31

1Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake in pieces the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim, and brake down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.

1After the celebration ended, all the Israelites who were there went out to the towns of Judah. They smashed the sacred stone pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and tore down the high places and altars throughout Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh until they were all destroyed. Then all the Israelites returned to their own towns and their own property.

2And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, both the priests and the Levites, for burnt-offerings and for peace-offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the camp of Jehovah.

2Hezekiah organized the priests and Levites into divisions. He assigned each man his specific work, whether he was a priest or a Levite. They were responsible for burnt offerings, peace offerings, ministry, giving thanks, and singing praises at the gates of the Lord’s dwelling.

3He appointed also the king’s portion of his substance for the burnt-offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt-offerings, and the burnt-offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of Jehovah.

3The king contributed a portion of his own possessions for the morning and evening burnt offerings, as well as for the offerings on Sabbaths, New Moons, and the set festivals, just as it is written in the Law of the Lord.

4Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to the law of Jehovah.

4He also ordered the people living in Jerusalem to provide the portion due to the priests and Levites, so they could devote themselves entirely to the Law of the Lord.

5And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel gave in abundance the first-fruits of grain, new wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.

5As soon as this order went out, the Israelites generously gave the first part of their harvest of grain, new wine, olive oil, honey, and everything the fields produced. They brought in a large amount, a tenth of everything.

6And the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of dedicated things which were consecrated unto Jehovah their God, and laid them by heaps.

6The people of Israel and Judah who lived in the towns of Judah also brought in a tenth of their cattle and sheep. They brought a tenth of the holy things dedicated to the Lord their God, piling them up in large heaps.

7In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.

7They began piling these gifts in the third month and finished in the seventh month.

8And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed Jehovah, and his people Israel.

8When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw the heaps, they praised the Lord and his people Israel.

9Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.

9Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about these large piles of gifts.

10And Azariah the chief priest, of the house of Zadok, answered him and said, Since the people began to bring the oblations into the house of Jehovah, we have eaten and had enough, and have left plenty: for Jehovah hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.

10Azariah, the high priest from the family of Zadok, answered him, 'Since the people started bringing their gifts to the Lord’s temple, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare. The Lord has blessed his people, and this huge amount is what is left over.'

11Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of Jehovah; and they prepared them;

11Then Hezekiah ordered them to prepare storerooms in the temple of the Lord, and they did so.

12and they brought in the oblations and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully. And over them Conaniah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was second;

12They faithfully brought in the gifts, the tithes, and the dedicated items. Conaniah the Levite was the official in charge of these things, and his brother Shimei was second in command.

13and 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 Conaniah and Shimei his brother, by the appointment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.

13Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were supervisors under Conaniah and his brother Shimei. They were appointed by King Hezekiah and Azariah, the official in charge of the house of God.

14And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter at the east gate, was over the freewill-offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of Jehovah, and the most holy things.

14Kore son of Imnah the Levite, the gatekeeper at the East Gate, was in charge of the voluntary offerings given to God. He distributed the gifts made to the Lord and the most holy offerings.

15And under him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their office of trust, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small:

15Under him were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah. They lived in the towns of the priests and were trusted to distribute the portions fairly to their fellow priests by their divisions, to both the young and the old.

16besides them that were reckoned by genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even every one that entered into the house of Jehovah, as the duty of every day required, for their service in their offices according to their courses;

16They also distributed portions to the males listed in the genealogical records who were three years old or older—everyone who entered the Lord’s temple for their daily duties and service in their divisions.

17and them that were reckoned by genealogy of the priests by their fathers’ houses, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their offices by their courses;

17The priests were enrolled by their families in the genealogical records, and the Levites twenty years old and older were listed according to their duties and divisions.

18and them that were reckoned by genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their office of trust they sanctified themselves in holiness.

18The records included all their little children, wives, sons, and daughters throughout the whole community. This was because they were faithful in keeping themselves holy for their service.

19Also for the sons of Aaron the priests, that were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every city, there were men that were mentioned by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogy among the Levites.

19As for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who lived on the farm lands around their towns, men were appointed by name in every town to give portions to every male among the priests and to everyone listed in the Levite genealogies.

20And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah; and he wrought that which was good and right and faithful before Jehovah his God.

20Hezekiah did this throughout all Judah. He did what was good, right, and true before the Lord his God.

21And 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.

21In everything he started for the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked with all his heart. As a result, he was successful.