[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.
