Hezekiah Reforms Religious Life
September 14, 2021
Commentary
After the Passover the people went to every town in Judah destroying all the local shrines and foreign altars (v. 1). Then Hezekiah divided the priests and Levites into groups who were responsible for offering sacrifices to please the Lord (v. 2). He provided animals from his own herds and flocks to use for the sacrifices (v. 3). He told the people to bring these offerings to the priests and Levites (v. 4). As soon as the people heard what the king wanted, they brought a tenth of everything they had (vv. 5-7). When Hezekiah saw these offerings, he thanked the Lord and the people (v. 8). Then he questioned the priests and Levites about the large number of offerings (v. 9).
Azariah, the high priest at the time, replied, “Ever since the people have been bringing their offerings, we have had more than enough food and supplies” (v. 10). He then ordered store houses to be built, and when they were completed all the extra offerings were taken there (vv. 11-13). Kore was put in charge of receiving the offerings and dividing them among the priests and Levites (v. 14). He had six assistants who were responsible for seeing that all the priests in the other cities throughout Judah received their share of these offerings (vv. 15-18). This consisted of priests and Levites over 30 years of age who worked in the temple plus their wives and children. Hezekiah also appointed some men to take food and supplies to the Priests and Levites (v. 19). Everything He did was right because he obeyed God with all his heart (vv. 20-21).
Application
I would love to have it said that everything I do is right and good because I obey God will all my heart. This is only possible if I live a life that is completely dedicated to the Lord.
2 Chronicles 31:1– 21 (NET)
1 When all this was over, the Israelites who were in the cities of Judah went out and smashed the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and demolished all the high places and altars throughout Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. Then all the Israelites returned to their own homes in their cities.
2 Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and Levites to do their assigned tasks —to offer burnt sacrifices and present offerings and to serve, give thanks, and offer praise in the gates of the Lord’s sanctuary.
3 The king contributed some of what he owned for burnt sacrifices, including the morning and evening burnt sacrifices and the burnt sacrifices made on Sabbaths, new moon festivals, and at other appointed times prescribed in the law of the Lord. 4 He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to contribute the portion prescribed for the priests and Levites so they might be obedient to the law of the Lord. 5 When the edict was issued, the Israelites freely contributed the initial portion of their grain, wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a tenth of everything, which added up to a huge amount. 6 The Israelites and people of Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also contributed a tenth of their cattle and sheep, as well as a tenth of the holy items consecrated to the Lord their God. They brought them and placed them in many heaps. 7 In the third month they began piling their contributions in heaps and finished in the seventh month. 8 When Hezekiah and the officials came and saw the heaps, they praised the Lord and pronounced blessings on his people Israel.
9 When Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the heaps, 10 Azariah, the head priest from the family of Zadok, said to him, “Since the contributions began arriving in the Lord’s temple, we have had plenty to eat and have a large quantity left over. For the Lord has blessed his people, and this large amount remains.” 11 Hezekiah ordered that storerooms be prepared in the Lord’s temple. When this was done, 12 they brought in the contributions, tithes, and consecrated items that had been offered. Konaniah, a Levite, was in charge of all this, assisted by his brother Shimei. 13 Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismakiah, Mahath, and Benaiah worked under the supervision of Konaniah and his brother Shimei, as directed by King Hezekiah and Azariah, the supervisor of God’s temple.
14 Kore son of Imnah, a Levite and the guard on the east side, was in charge of the voluntary offerings made to God and disbursed the contributions made to the Lord and the consecrated items. 15 In the cities of the priests, Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah faithfully assisted him in making disbursements to their fellow priests according to their divisions, regardless of age. 16 They made disbursements to all the males three years old and up who were listed in the genealogical records—to all who would enter the Lord’s temple to serve on a daily basis and fulfill their duties as assigned to their divisions. 17 They made disbursements to the priests listed in the genealogical records by their families, and to the Levites twenty years old and up, according to their duties as assigned to their divisions, 18 and to all the infants, wives, sons, and daughters of the entire assembly listed in the genealogical records, for they faithfully consecrated themselves. 19 As for the descendants of Aaron, the priests who lived in the outskirts of all their cities, men were assigned to disburse portions to every male among the priests and to every Levite listed in the genealogical records.
20 This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what the Lord his God considered good and right and faithful. 21 He wholeheartedly and successfully reinstituted service in God’s temple and obedience to the law, in order to follow his God.