The big picture
2 Chronicles 31 opens in verse 1 with “Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 11 with “Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD ; and they prepared…”, and closes in verse 21 with “And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, offerings, priests, house, Hezekiah. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Chronicles · King James Version · 212 Chronicles 31:1-7
1–7: When all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the…
2 Chronicles 31:1–7 opens with “Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah…” and reaches “In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 31 develops its own movement around LORD, offerings, priests, house, Hezekiah, with particular weight carried by offerings, burnt, Israel.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in…” Naming Israel and Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his…” Naming Levites and Hezekiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“He appointed also the king’s portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening…” The line’s distinctive content terms include burnt, offerings, appointed. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
2 Chronicles 31:1-7
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 .
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.
2 Chronicles 31:8-14
8–14: When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the…
2 Chronicles 31:8–14 opens with “And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD , and his people…” and reaches “And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the freewill…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 31 develops its own movement around LORD, offerings, priests, house, Hezekiah, with particular weight carried by LORD, Hezekiah, house.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD , and his people Israel.” Naming Hezekiah and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.” Naming Hezekiah and Levites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the…” Naming Azariah and Since keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Chronicles 31:8-14
King James Version8And 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.
2 Chronicles 31:15-21
15–21: Next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and…
2 Chronicles 31:15–21 opens with “And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the…” and reaches “And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 31 develops its own movement around LORD, offerings, priests, house, Hezekiah, with particular weight carried by priests, courses, genealogy.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests…” Naming Amariah and Eden keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto every one that entereth into the house of…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
2 Chronicles 31:15-21
King James Version15And 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.
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.
Why do Rachel and Leah agree to leave?
They see themselves as alienated from their father's household and support the journey God has commanded.
What does the boundary accomplish?
It limits hostile crossing and places their future conduct under divine witness.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.
