| 31:1 |
Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were
present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the
images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down
the high places and the altars out of all Judah and
Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had
utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of
Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their
own cities.
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| 31:2 |
And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and
the Levites after their courses, every man according to
his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings
and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks,
and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.
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| 31:3 |
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 the LORD.
|
| 31:4 |
Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in
Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the
Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the
LORD.
|
| 31:5 |
And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the
children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits
of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the
increase of the field; and the tithe of all things
brought they in abundantly.
|
| 31:6 |
And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that
dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the
tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things
which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid
them by heaps.
|
| 31:7 |
In the third month they began to lay the foundation
of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.
|
| 31:8 |
And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the
heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.
|
| 31:9 |
Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the
Levites concerning the heaps.
|
| 31:10 |
And 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 the LORD, we have had
enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath
blessed his people; and that which is left is this great
store.
|
| 31:11 |
Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the
house of the LORD; and they prepared them,
|
| 31:12 |
And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the
dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the
Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next.
|
| 31:13 |
And 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
Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of
Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of
God.
|
| 31:14 |
And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter
toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God,
to distribute the oblations of the LORD, and the most
holy things.
|
| 31:15 |
And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and
Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the
priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren
by courses, as well to the great as to the small:
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| 31:16 |
Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old
and upward, even unto every one that entereth into the
house of the LORD, his daily portion for their service in
their charges according to their courses;
|
| 31:17 |
Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of
their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and
upward, in their charges by their courses;
|
| 31:18 |
And to 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:
|
| 31:19 |
Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, which were in
the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every
several city, the men that were expressed by name, to
give portions to all the males among the priests, and to
all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites.
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| 31:20 |
And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and
wrought that which was good and right and truth before
the LORD his God.
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| 31:21 |
And 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.
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