1
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 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.
2
And 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.
3
He 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.
4
Moreover 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.
5
And 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.
6
And 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.
7
In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and
finished them in the seventh month.
8
And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the
LORD, and his people Israel.
And when Hezekiah and the princes saw the heaps, they blessed God and the people.
9
Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the
heaps.
10
And 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.
11
Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and
they prepared them,
12
And 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.
13
And 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.
14
And 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.
15
And 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:
16
Beside 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;
17
Both 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;
18
And 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:
19
Also 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.
20
And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was
good and right and truth before the LORD his God.
21
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, and prospered.