1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went
out to the cities of Judah, and broke in pieces the pillars, and hewed down
the Asherim, and broke down the high places and the altars out of all Judah
and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them
all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession,
into their own cities. 2 Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and
the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, both the
priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and for peace-offerings, to
minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the camp of
Yahweh. 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 Yahweh. 4 Moreover
he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion of the
priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to the law of
Yahweh. 5 As soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel
gave in abundance the first fruits of grain, new wine, and oil, and honey,
and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought
they in abundantly. 6 The children of Israel and Judah, who lived in the
cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the
tithe of dedicated things which were consecrated to Yahweh 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 When Hezekiah and
the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed Yahweh, and his people
Israel. 9 Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning
the heaps. 10 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 Yahweh, we have eaten and had enough, and have left plenty: for
Yahweh has blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.
11 Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of Yahweh; and
they prepared them. 12 They brought in the offerings and the tithes and
the dedicated things faithfully: and over them Conaniah the Levite was ruler,
and Shimei his brother was second. 13 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 Conaniah and Shimei his brother, by
the appointment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of
God. 14 Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter at the east
gate, was over the freewill-offerings of God, to distribute the
offerings of Yahweh, and the most holy things. 15 Under him were Eden, and
Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of
the priests, in their office of trust, to give to their brothers by courses,
as well to the great as to the small: 16 besides those who were reckoned
by genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even everyone who
entered into the house of Yahweh, as the duty of every day required, for
their service in their offices according to their courses; 17 and those
who were reckoned by genealogy of the priests by their fathers’ houses, and
the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their offices by their
courses; 18 and those who were reckoned by genealogy of all their little
ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the
congregation: for in their office of trust they sanctified themselves in
holiness. 19 Also for the sons of Aaron the priests, who were in the
fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every city, there were men who were
mentioned by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and
to all who were reckoned by genealogy among the Levites. 20 Thus did
Hezekiah throughout all Judah; and he worked that which was good and right
and faithful before Yahweh his God. 21 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.
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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