History · Chapter 31 of 36

2 Chronicles 31

After the Passover, the people go out and destroy idols across Judah and even into the north. Hezekiah reorganizes the priestly and Levite courses and gives from his own substance for the offerings. The people bring tithes and firstfruits in such abundance that heaps pile up for months. Storerooms are prepared and faithful overseers appointed. Hezekiah worked wholeheartedly and prospered.

What happens in 2 Chronicles 31

Following the feast, the worshipers scatter to the cities and smash the images, cut down the groves, and tear down the high places and altars throughout Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. Hezekiah restores the divisions of priests and Levites for their services, and appoints the king's portion for the daily, sabbath, new moon, and feast offerings. He commands the people of Jerusalem to give the priests' and Levites' portion so they can devote themselves to the law.

The people respond generously, bringing firstfruits and tithes of grain, wine, oil, honey, and livestock in heaps that grow from the third to the seventh month. Azariah the chief priest reports there is more than enough. Chambers are prepared in the temple, and trustworthy Levites are appointed to distribute the gifts fairly to great and small alike. Hezekiah did what was good and right and true, seeking God with all his heart, and prospered.

2 Chronicles 31 in context

Chronicles emphasizes that faithful worship requires material support for those who serve. Hezekiah's reforms mirror the priorities of the postexilic community rebuilding temple worship, for whom tithes and honest stewards were living concerns, much like the later reforms of Nehemiah.

The abundance of offerings demonstrates the Chronicler's conviction that wholehearted obedience brings God's blessing on the work of faithful hands.

Main themes of 2 Chronicles 31

2 Chronicles 31 (KJV)

1Now 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. 2And 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. 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 the LORD. 4Moreover 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. 5And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly. 6And concerning 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 holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps. 7In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month. 8And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel. 9Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. 10And Azariah the chief priest of 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 left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store. 11Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them, 12And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next. 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 Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God. 14And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of the LORD, and the most holy things. 15And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small: 16Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto every one that entereth into the house of the LORD, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses; 17Both 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; 18And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness: 19Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, which were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every several city, the men that were expressed by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites. 20And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth 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.

Verses to carry from 2 Chronicles 31

“And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.”2 Chronicles 31:5

“And Azariah the chief priest of 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 left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.”2 Chronicles 31:10

“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.”2 Chronicles 31:20-21

Reflection

Hezekiah gave first from his own substance, and the people followed with joyful abundance. Generosity begins with those who lead. Is your giving to God open-handed or grudging? When we seek Him with a whole heart, provision follows, and there is enough and plenty, not only for us but to share with others.

A prayer from 2 Chronicles 31