1 When all this was complete, all Israel present went out to the towns of Judah, broke the pillars, cut down the sacred poles, wrecked the high places and the altars, and did away with them entirely throughout Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. Then all the Israelites returned to their towns, everyone to his property.
2 Hezekiah re-established the priestly and levitical orders, each man in his proper order according to his duties, whether priest or Levite, to bring burnt offerings and communion sacrifices, to serve and to give thanks and praise within the gates of Yahweh's camp.
3 He also established a king's portion from his possessions for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, New Moons and festivals, as laid down in the Law of Yahweh.
4 He furthermore requested the people living in Jerusalem to present the portion for the priests and Levites so that they might devote themselves to the Law of Yahweh.
5 As soon as the order had been promulgated, the Israelites provided the first fruits of grain, new wine, olive oil, honey and every other kind of agricultural produce in abundance; they brought in an abundant tithe of everything.
6 The Israelites and Judaeans living in the towns of Judah also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and the tithe of sacred gifts consecrated to Yahweh their God, laying them in heaps.
7 They began accumulating the heaps in the third month and had finished them by the seventh.
8 When Hezekiah and the officials came to inspect the heaps they praised Yahweh and his people Israel.
9 While Hezekiah was questioning the priests and Levites about the heaps,
10 Azariah, the chief priest, of the family of Zadok, replied as follows, 'Since they began bringing the contributions to the Temple of Yahweh,' he said, 'we have had enough to eat and quantities left over, for Yahweh has blessed his people; this mass of stuff is left.'
11 Hezekiah then ordered them to have storerooms prepared in the Temple of Yahweh and, when they had got them ready,
12 they conscientiously brought in the contributions, tithes and consecrated gifts, Conaniah the Levite was put in charge of them, with Shimei his brother as his assistant,
13 and with Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jeremith, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah as overseers under Conaniah and his brother Shimei, by order of King Hezekiah and of Azariah, the chief of the Temple of God.
14 Kore son of Jimnah the Levite, keeper of the eastern gate, was made responsible for the voluntary offerings to God and for providing the portion set aside for Yahweh and the most holy gifts.
15 Supporting him loyally in the priestly towns were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah and Shechaniah, who made the distributions to their brothers in their various orders, whether high or low,
16 irrespective of their official genealogy, to the males of thirty years and upwards -- to each one who attended the Temple of Yahweh to fulfil his daily obligations -- for the performance of their duties appropriate to their orders:
17 the priests being registered according to family and the Levites of twenty years and upwards according to their duties within their orders.
18 And the official genealogy included all their household, their wives, their sons and their daughters, throughout the community, since these men were obliged to keep sanctifying themselves anew.
19 The Aaronite priests who lived on the pasture lands belonging to their towns, had men named in every town to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to everyone included in the official genealogy of the Levites.
20 Hezekiah did this throughout all Judah. He did what Yahweh his God regards as good and right and loyal.
21 Everything that he undertook, whether in the service of the Temple of God or in connection with the law or the commandments, he did in absolute devotion to his God, and so succeeded.
Versículos relacionados com 2 Chronicles, 31:
2 Chronicles 31 reports how Hezekiah organized the administration of temple and kingdom resources, establishing a system of offerings and tithes to support priests and Levites, as well as other religious activities. The chapter also highlights the prosperity of the kingdom of Judah under the reign of Hezekiah. Following are five verses related to the topics addressed in 2 chronicles 31:
Proverbs 3:9-10: "Honor to the Lord with your goods, and with the firstfruits of all your income. And your barns will be filled with abundance, and they will overflow with your Lagas." This verse highlights the importance of honoring God with our financial resources and how this can result in material blessings.
Malachi 3:10: "Bring all tithes to the treasure house, that there may be maintenance in my house, and then prove me, says the Lord of hosts, if I do not open the windows of heaven, and do not pour out You are such a blessing, which warns you of the greatest wealth. " This verse emphasizes the importance of bringing tithes to God's house and the promise of blessings resulting from this practice.
Acts 20:35: "In everything I have shown that, working thus, it is necessary to assist the sick, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, who said," More blessed thing is to give than to receive. " This verse highlights the importance of helping the needy with our resources and how this is a way of serving God.
Luke 21:1-4: "And looking at him, he saw the rich lay his offers in the treasure ark; he also saw a poor widow lay there two small coins; Poor widow; for all of those laid for God's offerings from what he left; but this one of his poverty laid all the livelihood he had. " This verse highlights the importance of personal sacrifice in our offerings to God, regardless of the size of the contribution.
Matthew 6:33: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." This verse highlights the importance of putting God's things first in our lives and trusting that He will supply all our needs.
Fejezetek: