Divrei-HamYamim Bet (2 Ch) 31

1 After all this was over, all Isra’el who were there went out to the cities of Y’hudah and smashed the standing-stones, chopped down the sacred poles, and broke down the high places and altars throughout Y’hudah, Binyamin, Efrayim and M’nasheh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the people of Isra’el returned to their own cities, each to his own possession.

2 Hizkiyahu re-established the divisions of thecohanimandL’vi’imin accordance with the way the divisions had been before, with each man assigned his task, both thecohanimand theL’vi’im, for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to serve, to give thanks and to praise at the gates ofAdonai’s camp.

3 He determined a portion of the king’s property to be given for the burnt offerings, that is, for the morning and evening burnt offerings and for burnt offerings onShabbats,Rosh-Hodeshand the designated times, as prescribed by theTorahofAdonai.

4 He also ordered the people living in Yerushalayim to contribute the portion meant for thecohanimandL’vi’im, so that they would be submitting themselves to theTorahofAdonai.

5 As soon as the order was issued, the people of Isra’el gave in abundance from the firstfruits of the grain, wine, olive oil, honey and other agricultural produce; they brought the required tenth and more.

6 The people of Isra’el and Y’hudah living in the cities of Y’hudah also brought the required tenth of oxen and sheep and the required tenth of consecrated gifts that had been dedicated toAdonaitheir God, and piled them in heaps.

7 They began accumulating these heaps in the third month and completed them in the seventh month.

8 When Hizkiyahu and the leaders came and saw the heaps, they blessedAdonaiand his people Isra’el.

9 When Hizkiyahu asked thecohanimandL’vi’imabout the heaps,

10 ‘Azaryahu the chiefcohen, from the house of Tzadok, answered him, “Ever since the people began bringing offerings into the house ofAdonai, we have had enough to eat and plenty left over; forAdonaihas blessed his people, and what is left over is this massive supply.”

11 Then Hizkiyahu ordered storerooms prepared in the house ofAdonai. After preparing them,

12 they faithfully brought in the offerings, the required tenths and the consecrated things. Konanyahu theLeviwas put in charge of them, with Shim‘i his brother as his assistant.

13 Hizkiyahu the king and ‘Azaryahu the ruler of the house of God appointed Yechi’el, ‘Azazyahu, Nachat, ‘Asah’el, Yerimot, Yozavad, Eli’el, Yismachyah, Machat and B’nayahu as supervisors to serve under Konanyah and Shim‘i his brother.

14 Kore the son of Yimnah theLevi, gatekeeper at the East Gate, was responsible for the voluntary offerings to God; he had to distribute the offerings made toAdonaiand the especially holy gifts.

15 Under him were ‘Eden, Minyamin, Yeshua, Sh’ma‘yahu, Amaryahu and Sh’khanyahu, in the cities of thecohanim, faithfully making the distributions to their kinsmen by divisions, to great and small alike.

16 Every male three years and older entitled to enter the house ofAdonaiwas given his daily share for performing his duties according to his division, regardless of how he was recorded in the genealogies.

17 Likewise, those recorded in the genealogies of thecohanimby clans received shares, as did theL’vi’imtwenty years and older who were performing their duties in their assigned divisions.

18 When shares were assigned, all their little ones, wives, sons and daughters were also recorded in the genealogies, throughout the entire community; for in their faithfulness to this task they consecrated themselves.

19 Finally, shares were assigned to the descendants of Aharon, thecohanim, who lived in the pasture-lands surrounding their cities — in each city they were mentioned by name. Thus portions were distributed to all the males among thecohanimand to all whose genealogies showed that they belonged to theL’vi’im.

20 This is what Hizkiyahu did throughout all Y’hudah. He accomplished things that were good, right and faithful beforeAdonaihis God.

21 Every project that he undertook in order to seek his God, whether in the service of the house of God or in connection with theTorahand themitzvot, he did with all his heart; and so he succeeded.

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