2 Chronicles 31: Hezekiah breaks the idols and sets up the offerings
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What happens?
After the Passover, all Israel who were there go out through Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh and break the pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and pull down the high places and altars. Hezekiah sets up the divisions of the priests and Levites and gives the king's portion for the offerings, and the people bring first fruits and tithes in such abundance that they lie in heaps. Azariah the chief priest says they have eaten and had enough and much is left over, then Hezekiah has rooms prepared in Yahweh's house, men are put in charge of the store and its handing out, and the chapter ends by saying that Hezekiah did what was good, right and faithful before Yahweh and prospered.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter. Azariah the chief priest speaks in verse 10, answering Hezekiah's question about the heaps. Hezekiah's commands in verses 4 and 11 are reported, not quoted. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke the pillars in pieces, cut down the Asherah poles, and broke down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, also in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.
In plain English: When all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke the pillars in pieces, cut down the Asherah poles, and pulled down the high places and the altars from all Judah and Benjamin, and in Ephraim and Manasseh also, until they had finished. Then all the people of Israel returned, each man to his possession, to their cities.
The Hebrew word: "Asherah poles" is asherah, which the dictionary gives as "Asherah (or Astarte) a Phoenician goddess; also an image of the same". This Bible says "Asherah" or a longer form in 37 of the 40 verses that use it.
Good to know: says of Hezekiah that "He removed the high places, broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah", and adds that he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made and called it Nehushtan. This verse does not mention the serpent. It adds the altars and says where the breaking was done: all Judah and Benjamin, and Ephraim and Manasseh.
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2Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites after their divisions, every man according to his service, both the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of Yahweh’s camp.
In plain English: Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites by their divisions, each man according to his service, the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to serve, to give thanks and to praise in the gates of the camp (literally: camps) of Yahweh.
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3He also appointed the king’s portion of his possessions for the burnt offerings: for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in Yahweh’s law.
In plain English: The king's portion from his own property was for the burnt offerings: the burnt offerings of the morning and the evening, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, for the new moons and for the appointed feasts, as it is written in the law of Yahweh.
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4Moreover he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to Yahweh’s law.
In plain English: He told the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, so that they might be strong (this Bible: give themselves) in the law of Yahweh.
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5As soon as the commandment went out, the children of Israel gave in abundance the first fruits of grain, new wine, oil, honey, and of all the increase of the field; and they brought in the tithe of all things abundantly.
In plain English: As soon as the word spread, the people of Israel gave in abundance the first of the grain, new wine, fresh oil, honey and all the produce of the field, and they brought in the tithe of everything in abundance.
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6The children of Israel and Judah, who lived in the cities of Judah, also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and the tithe of dedicated things which were consecrated to Yahweh their God, and laid them in heaps.
In plain English: The people of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in a tithe of cattle and sheep, and a tithe of holy things that were consecrated to Yahweh their God, and they made heaps and heaps (literally: heaps, heaps).
The Hebrew word: "Heaps" is arem, which the dictionary gives as "a heap; specifically, a sheaf". The Hebrew says it twice in a row, "heaps, heaps". This Bible says "heap" or a longer form in 9 of the 10 verses that use the word.
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7In the third month, they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.
In plain English: In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and in the seventh month they finished.
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8When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed Yahweh and his people Israel.
In plain English: Hezekiah and the officials came and saw the heaps, and they blessed Yahweh and his people Israel.
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9Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites about the heaps.
In plain English: Hezekiah asked the priests and the Levites about the heaps.
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10Azariah the chief priest, of the house of Zadok, answered him and said, “Since people began to bring the offerings into Yahweh’s house, we have eaten and had enough, and have plenty left over, for Yahweh has blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.”
In plain English: Azariah the chief priest (literally: head priest), of the house of Zadok, said to him, "Since they began to bring the offering into Yahweh's house, we have eaten and been satisfied and have had plenty left over, for Yahweh has blessed his people, and what is left is this great store."
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11Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare rooms in Yahweh’s house, and they prepared them.
In plain English: Then Hezekiah told them to prepare rooms in Yahweh's house, and they prepared them.
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12They brought in the offerings, the tithes, and the dedicated things faithfully. Conaniah the Levite was ruler over them, and Shimei his brother was second.
In plain English: They brought in the offering, the tithe and the holy things faithfully (literally: in faithfulness). Conaniah the Levite was the officer over them, and Shimei his brother was second.
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13Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, 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 God’s house.
In plain English: Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, 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 God's house.
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14Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the gatekeeper at the east gate, was over the free will offerings of God, to distribute Yahweh’s offerings and the most holy things.
In plain English: Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the gatekeeper at the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute Yahweh's offering and the most holy things (literally: the holy things of the holy things).
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15Under him were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their office of trust, to give to their brothers by divisions, to the great as well as to the small;
In plain English: Under his hand were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in trust (literally: in faithfulness), to distribute to their brothers by divisions, to the great and to the small alike,
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16in addition to those who were listed by genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even everyone who entered into Yahweh’s house, as the duty of every day required, for their service in their offices according to their divisions;
In plain English: besides those who were listed by genealogy among the males from three years old and upward, everyone who went into Yahweh's house for the matter of each day, for their service according to their duties and their divisions;
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17and those who were listed by genealogy of the priests by their fathers’ houses, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their offices by their divisions;
In plain English: and those who were listed by genealogy among the priests by their fathers' houses, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, by their duties and their divisions;
Good to know: says that "by the last words of David the sons of Levi were counted, from twenty years old and upward". This verse gives the same age for the Levites. The text does not say more.
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18and those who were listed by genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation; for in their office of trust they sanctified themselves in holiness.
In plain English: and those who were listed by genealogy with all their little ones, their wives, their sons and their daughters, for the whole assembly; for in their trust (literally: in their faithfulness) they had sanctified themselves in holiness.
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19Also for the sons of Aaron the priests, who were in the fields of the pasture lands of their cities, in every city, there were men who were mentioned by name to give portions to all the males among the priests and to all who were listed by genealogy among the Levites.
In plain English: Also for the descendants of Aaron the priests, in the fields of the pasture land of their cities, in every city there were men designated by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to all who were listed by genealogy among the Levites.
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20Hezekiah did so throughout all Judah; and he did that which was good, right, and faithful before Yahweh his God.
In plain English: Hezekiah did this throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and faithful (or: true) before Yahweh his God.
The Hebrew word: "Faithful" is emet, which the dictionary gives as "stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness".
How it is translated: This Bible says "truth" or a longer form in 84 of the 125 verses that use this word, and "faithful" or a longer form in 14.
What changes: Read as "faithful", Hezekiah did what was good, right and faithful before Yahweh. Read as "true", he did what was good, right and true. The text does not say which.
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21In every work that he began in the service of God’s house, in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart and prospered.
In plain English: In every work that he began in the service of God's house, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart and prospered.
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