The big picture
The feast has ended, and Hezekiah, king of Judah, turns to the daily care of God's temple. Worshippers remove the remaining false altars before going home. The king assigns duties to priests and Levites, the groups serving at the temple, and gives from his own wealth. People from Israel and Judah, the divided parts of God's people, bring food and animals. The gifts grow into heaps. Store rooms, named stewards and family records help make sure the right people receive their share.
In this chapter
- The Feast Leads to Lasting Change 2 Chronicles 31:1-4
Those who attended the feast destroy false images and altars across several tribal regions.
- The Gifts Grow Into Great Heaps 2 Chronicles 31:5-10
The people bring the first part of their crops and a tenth of their produce.
- Named Stewards Guard and Share the Gifts 2 Chronicles 31:11-15
Hezekiah orders rooms prepared in the temple for the growing supplies.
- Records Keep Families Within the Provision 2 Chronicles 31:16-21
Family records guide the portions for priests, Levites and their households.
Central truth
Hezekiah supports lasting worship through willing gifts, clear duties and careful distribution to the families serving God's house.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Chronicles · King James Version · 212 Chronicles 31:1-4
The Feast Leads to Lasting Change
Those who attended the feast destroy false images and altars across several tribal regions. Then they return to their homes. Hezekiah gives priests and Levites their turns of service for sacrifice, thanks and praise. He supplies the regular offerings from his own wealth. He also tells Jerusalem's people to provide the share due to those who serve. This allows them to give their attention to God's law. The joy of the feast leads into work and support that must continue through ordinary days.
In everyday life
A village caretaker removes broken fittings after a successful hall reopening, then posts a rota for cleaning and heating. The organiser pays the first bills and asks regular users to share the costs. One joyful day needs a way to continue. Hezekiah's plan supports commanded worship and the people assigned to serve God.
Notice
2 Chronicles 31:4 Support for priests and Levites is linked to their attention to God's law. The gifts free them to carry out their assigned service.
2 Chronicles 31:1-4
King James Version1Now 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.
2 Chronicles 31:5-10
The Gifts Grow Into Great Heaps
The people bring the first part of their crops and a tenth of their produce. Animals and other gifts set apart for God arrive too. The heaps begin in the third month and keep growing until the seventh. Hezekiah and the officials see them and bless God and the people. Asked about the surplus, the chief priest says they have eaten enough and much remains. He credits God's blessing on the people. The visible abundance is more than a display; it is food meeting real needs.
In everyday life
A beekeeper stacks jars brought for the village winter fund until every shelf is full. The steward shows that families have received their shares and plenty still remains. The surplus comes after needs are met, not because supplies were withheld. These temple heaps are sacred gifts, credited to God's blessing on his people.
Notice
2 Chronicles 31:10 The priest says they have eaten enough before describing what remains. The heaps are a surplus after provision, not evidence that the servants have gone unfed.
2 Chronicles 31:5-10
King James Version5And 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.
2 Chronicles 31:11-15
Named Stewards Guard and Share the Gifts
Hezekiah orders rooms prepared in the temple for the growing supplies. Cononiah oversees them, with his brother Shimei next in charge and others helping. Kore manages willing gifts and the most holy portions. Men in the priests' towns distribute shares according to the groups serving. Both great and small receive what is due. The gifts need faithful handling after they arrive. Named people answer for storage and distribution, so generosity can reach those for whom it was intended.
In everyday life
A pantry steward labels each shelf and gives two trusted helpers separate duties for receiving and sharing food. Delivery records follow boxes to small hamlets as well as larger streets. No household's share depends on being important. These temple stewards distribute offerings set apart to God among those serving him.
Notice
2 Chronicles 31:15 The shares go to small and great alike. The distribution follows assigned service rather than using rank to decide whose needs deserve attention.
2 Chronicles 31:11-15
King James Version11Then 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:
2 Chronicles 31:16-21
Records Keep Families Within the Provision
Family records guide the portions for priests, Levites and their households. Wives, sons, daughters and young children are included, not only the men performing duties. Named helpers also serve those living in the fields around the priests' towns. The arrangements reach beyond the temple's walls. The account closes by praising Hezekiah's good and faithful work throughout Judah. He seeks God with his whole heart in worship and obedience. His care includes the people and families whose daily needs make that service possible.
In everyday life
A school-meal clerk checks dependants on a holiday food list, including children who live beyond the bus route. She sends parcels through named drivers so outlying homes are not missed. Accurate names help the provision reach whole families. Hezekiah's records support households dedicated to sacred service under God's law.
Notice
2 Chronicles 31:18 Women and children appear in the family records used for support. The system cares for whole households rather than only the men on active duty.
2 Chronicles 31:16-21
King James Version16Beside 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Chronicles 31:1 begins with “Now 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…”
Where the chapter turns
2 Chronicles 31:11 forms a natural hinge: “Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them,”
The final note
2 Chronicles 31:21 leaves the reader with “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…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, offerings, priests, house, Hezekiah, Levites help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
