Now when all this
was finished
, all
Israel
who were present
went
out to the cities
of Judah
, abroke
the pillars
in pieces
, cut
down
the 1Asherim
and pulled
down
the high
places
and the altars
throughout
all
Judah
and Benjamin
, as well as in Ephraim
and Manasseh
, 2until
they had destroyed
them all
. Then all
the sons
of Israel
returned
to their cities
, each
to his possession
.
And Hezekiah appointed
athe divisions
of the priests
and the Levites
by their divisions
, each
according
to his service
, both the priests
and the Levites
, bfor burnt
offerings
and for peace
offerings
, to minister
and to give
thanks
and to praise
in the gates
of the camp
of the LORD
.
He also appointed athe king's portion
of his goods
for the burnt
offerings
, namely, for the morning
and evening
burnt
offerings
, and the burnt
offerings
for the sabbaths
and for the new
moons
and for the fixed
festivals
, bas it is written
in the law
of the LORD
.
Also he 1commanded the people
who lived
in Jerusalem
to give
athe portion
due to the priests
and the Levites
, that they might devote
themselves to bthe law
of the LORD
.
As soon as the 1order spread
, the sons
of Israel
provided
in abundance
the first
fruits
of grain
, new
wine
, oil
, honey
and of all
the produce
of the field
; and they brought
in abundantly
athe tithe
of all
.
The sons of Israel
and Judah
who lived
in the cities
of Judah
also
brought
in the tithe
of oxen
and sheep
, and athe tithe
of 1sacred
gifts
which were consecrated
to the LORD
their God
, and placed
them in heaps
.
In the third month
they began
to 1make
the heaps
, and finished
them by the seventh
month
.
When Hezekiah and the rulers
came
and saw
the heaps
, they blessed
the LORD
and aHis people
Israel
.
Then Hezekiah questioned
the priests
and the Levites
concerning
the heaps
.
Azariah the chief
priest
aof the house
of Zadok
said
to 1him, " bSince
the contributions
began
to be brought
into the house
of the LORD
, we have had enough
to eat
with plenty
left
over
, for the LORD
has blessed
His people
, and this
great
quantity
is left
over
."
Then Hezekiah commanded
them to prepare
arooms
in the house
of the LORD
, and they prepared
them.
They faithfully brought
in the contributions
and the tithes
and the consecrated
things
; and Conaniah
the Levite
was the officer
in charge
aof them and his brother
Shimei
was second
.
Jehiel, Azaziah
, Nahath
, Asahel
, Jerimoth
, Jozabad
, Eliel
, Ismachiah
, Mahath
and Benaiah
were overseers
1under
the authority
of Conaniah
and Shimei
his brother
by the appointment
of King
Hezekiah
, and aAzariah
was the chief officer
of the house
of God
.
Kore the son
of Imnah
the Levite
, the keeper
of the eastern
gate, was over
the freewill
offerings
of God
, to apportion
the contributions
for the LORD
and the most
holy
things
.
1Under his authority
were aEden
, Miniamin
, Jeshua
, Shemaiah
, Amariah
and Shecaniah
in bthe cities
of the priests
, to distribute
faithfully
their portions to their brothers
by divisions
, whether great
or small
,
without regard to their genealogical
enrollment
, to the males
from 1 athirty
years
old
and upward
--everyone
who entered
the house
of the LORD
bfor his daily
obligations
--for their work
in their duties
according to their divisions
;
as well as the priests who were enrolled
genealogically
according to their fathers'
households
, and the Levites
afrom twenty
years
old
and upwards
, by their duties
and their divisions
.
The genealogical enrollment
included 1all
their little
children
, their wives
, their sons
and their daughters
, for the whole
assembly
, for they consecrated
themselves 2faithfully
in holiness
.
Also for the sons of Aaron
the priests
who were in athe pasture
lands
of their cities
, or in each
and every
city
, bthere were men
who
were designated
by name
to distribute
portions
to every
male
among the priests
and to everyone
genealogically
enrolled
among the Levites
.
Thus Hezekiah
did
throughout all
Judah
; and ahe did
what
was good
, right
and true
before
the LORD
his God
.
Every work
which
he began
in the service
of the house
of God
in law
and in commandment
, seeking
his God
, he did
with all
his heart
and aprospered
.