2 ChroniclesChapter 31
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1When all this was over, the Israelites who were there went out to the cities of Judah. They smashed the sacred stone pillars and cut down the Asherah poles. They tore down the high places and the altars all through Judah and Benjamin, and in Ephraim and Manasseh. They kept going until they had destroyed them all. Then all the Israelites went back to their own cities, each to his own land. 2Hezekiah set up the groups of priests and Levites again. Each one had his own work as a priest or a Levite. They offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. They served, gave thanks, and sang praises at the gates of the LORD's house. 3The king gave from his own things for the burnt offerings. These were the morning and evening offerings. They were also the offerings for the Sabbaths, the New Moons, and the set feasts. This was what was written in the Law of the LORD. 4He also commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give a share to the priests and Levites. Then they could give all their time to the Law of the LORD. 5As soon as the order went out, the Israelites gave freely. They gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, oil, and honey. They gave from all the crops of the field. They brought in a large amount, a tenth of everything. 6Some people of Israel and Judah lived in the cities of Judah. They also brought a tenth of their cattle and sheep. They brought a tenth of the holy things set apart for the LORD their God. They put them in large piles. 7They began making the piles in the third month. They finished in the seventh month. 8Hezekiah and his officials came and saw the piles. Then they blessed the LORD and his people Israel. 9Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the piles. 10Azariah the chief priest, from the family of Zadok, answered him. He said, "The people began to bring their gifts to the house of the LORD. Since then, we have had enough to eat, with plenty left over, because the LORD has blessed his people. This huge amount is what is left over." 11Then Hezekiah told them to get storerooms ready in the house of the LORD. And they did. 12They faithfully brought in the gifts, the tenths, and the things set apart for God. Conaniah the Levite was the officer in charge of them. His brother Shimei was next in charge. 13Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers. They worked under Conaniah and his brother Shimei. King Hezekiah chose them. So did Azariah, the chief officer of the house of God. 14Kore son of Imnah the Levite was the guard of the East Gate. He was in charge of the gifts people chose to give to God. He handed out the gifts given to the LORD and the holy gifts. 15Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah worked under him. In the towns of the priests, they faithfully gave shares to the other priests by their groups. They gave to old and young alike. 16They also gave shares to the males three years old or older whose names were in the family records. These were all who would go into the house of the LORD to do their daily work. They served in their groups and did their jobs. 17They gave shares to the priests listed by their families in the records. They also gave to the Levites twenty years old or older, by their jobs and their groups. 18The family records listed all the little ones, wives, sons, and daughters of the whole group. This was because they had been faithful to keep themselves holy. 19Some of the priests, the sons of Aaron, lived on the farmland around their towns. Some lived in other towns. In each place, men were named to hand out shares. They gave a share to every male among the priests. They gave a share to every Levite listed in the family records. 20This is what Hezekiah did all through Judah. He did what was good, right, and true before the LORD his God. 21In every work he began, he served with all his heart. He worked for the house of God and kept the law and the commands. He did it all to seek his God. And so he did well.