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OLD TESTAMENT

2 Chronicles 31

The Holy Bible · English

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Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke the pillars in pieces, cut down the Asherah poles, and broke down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, also in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 1. Manasses, whether king Osee consented, or the people of Juda followed the dictates of their zeal, neglecting the regular order of things, which forbids the subjects of one kingdom to interfere thus with those of another. Grotius. Saint Augustine q. in Deuteronomy 7. and 12.—If Ezechias gave orders, we may suppose that he was assured of his neighbour’s consent. Josias (Calmet. 34:6) followed his example after most part of Israel was led away captive, and the country obeyed the king of Assyria. Calmet.

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Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites after their divisions, every man according to his service, both the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the LORD’s camp.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 2. Praise: lit. “confess.” Bible.—There is a confession of God’s perfections, as well as of sin. Worthington.—Gates, within their respective courts. Calmet.—The Turks style the palace of their emperor, “the sublime porte.” Bible.—Camp, or temple. Septuagint “in the gates, in the courts of the house of the Lord.” Menochius.—Grabe has not in the gates. Bible.—We know that they did not sing there, but in the courts, ( Calmet.) or halls. Bible.

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He also appointed the king’s portion of his possessions for the burnt offerings: for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the LORD’s law.

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EXPLANATION

Verse 3. Substance. Since David had place the ark in the palace of Sion, it seems the kings had furnished the solemn victims for morning and evening, on all the festivals. Solomon also engaged to do it every day; and his magnificence herein astonished the queen of Saba. Calmet. 8:13 and 9:4 and 3 Kennicott. 9:25. Ezechiel (45) assigns revenues to the prince for this purpose; but, as the people were often without any, they paid each the third part of a sicle, to furnish the victims. 2 Ezra 10:32. Calmet.—The king did not wish to exempt himself from contributing, while he required that the people should support the priests. The troublesome times had greatly impaired the revenues of the temple, and so forth Tirinus.

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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 LORD’s law.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 4. Portion. Lit. “parts,” ( Bible.) first-fruits and tithes. Menochius.—Lord, without being taken off by worldly cares. It would be well if Christian princes would make an adequate provision for the ministers of religion: (verse 16. Tirinus.) as the law of nature dictates, that those who serve the public should be supported by it. D.

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As soon as the commandment went out, the children of Israel gave in abundance the first fruits of grain, new wine, oil, honey, and of all the increase of the field; and they brought in the tithe of all things abundantly.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 5. Honey for the priests, not for sacrifice. Leviticus 2:11. It may include dates, or palm wine. See Pliny xiii. 4. Calmet.—Forth; only wheat, barley, the fruits of vine, olive, pomegranate, fig, and palm-trees. R. Solomon. Leviticus 27:30. Calmet.

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The children of Israel and Judah, who lived in the cities of Judah, also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and the tithe of dedicated things which were consecrated to the LORD their God, and laid them in heaps.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 6. Things, out of which the Levites had to give tithes to the priests. Lyran. Numbers 18:26. Menochius.—Vowed. Hebrew “consecrated to.… God, and laid them in heaps.” Bible.

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In the third month, they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.

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EXPLANATION

Verse 7. Them, bringing from Pentecost till the harvest was ended.

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When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD and his people Israel.

Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites about the heaps.

Azariah the chief priest, of the house of Zadok, answered him and said, “Since people began to bring the offerings into the LORD’s house, we have eaten and had enough, and have plenty left over, for the LORD has blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.”

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 10. Sadoc, being his grandson, (1 Chronicles 6:12. Calmet.) or the father of Sellum. Jun.—People, with abundance; so that more would belong to the priests. Calmet.

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Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare rooms in the LORD’s house, and they prepared them.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 11. Storehouses. Septuagint παστοφορια. Solomon had prepared such. Tirinus.—But they had gone to ruin, and others might be requisite. Calmet.—The old granaries were to be repaired. Menochius.—People brought their first-fruits to the temple: but the Levites gathered the tithes, and gave a share to the priests, and to those who were on duty. 2 Ezra 10:36.

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They brought in the offerings, the tithes, and the dedicated things faithfully. Conaniah the Levite was ruler over them, and Shimei his brother was second.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 12. Second; his vicar or coadjutor. Calmet. Calmet. 26:11 and 28:7. Menochius.

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Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, 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 God’s house.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 13. High: lit. “pontiff.” Bible.—Hebrew “captain.” He is styled first priest, verse 10. Calmet.—To whom, and so forth is neither in Hebrew nor in the Septuagint Menochius. Calmet. D.

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Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the gatekeeper at the east gate, was over the free will offerings of God, to distribute the LORD’s offerings and the most holy things.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 14. And of. Prot. “To distribute the oblations of the Lord, and the most holy things,” ( Bible.) to the priests.

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Under him were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their office of trust, to give to their brothers by divisions, to the great as well as to the small;

in addition to those who were listed by genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even everyone who entered into the LORD’s house, as the duty of every day required, for their service in their offices according to their divisions;

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 16. Besides, (exceptis. Calmet.) not to mention. Bible. See Leviticus 23:38. Girls are included, verse 18. It is supposed ( Calmet.) that children were at the breast till they were three years old, and therefore no portion is assigned them before. Mariana.

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and those who were listed by genealogy of the priests by their fathers’ houses, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their offices by their divisions;

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 17. Upward. Ezechias followed the regulation of David, rather than that of Moses, who deferred the service till the 25th or 30th year. Numbers 4:3 and 8:24. 1 Paralipomenon 23:24.

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and those who were listed by genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation; for in their office of trust they sanctified themselves in holiness.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 18. To all. Prot. “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.” Bible.—All complied with their respective duties; the people, the distributors, and the priests. Calmet.

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Also for the sons of Aaron the priests, who were in the fields of the pasture lands 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 listed by genealogy among the Levites.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 19. Aaron. Hebrew and Septuagint add, “the priests,” ( Menochius.) which is sufficiently understood.—And in. Hebrew “of.” Bible.

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Hezekiah did so throughout all Judah; and he did that which was good, right, and faithful before the LORD his God.

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EXPLANATION

Verse 20. God. This is the highest praise that can be given to a prince; and, in effect, we read there was none like him. 4 Kennicott. 18:5. Calmet.—Septuagint omit and truth. Ezechias loved it, and sincerely desired to serve the Lord. Bible.

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In every work that he began in the service of God’s house, in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart and prospered.