2 Chronicles 31

2 Chronicles 31:1 When all this was completed, all Israel who had attended went out to the cities of Judah and broke up the sacred pillars, chopped down the Asherah poles, and tore down the high places and altars throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, to the last one. Then all the Israelites returned to their cities, each to his possession.

2 Chronicles 31:2 Hezekiah reestablished the divisions of the priests and Levites for the ascending offerings and sacrifices for healthy relationships, ministry, giving thanks, and praise in the gates of the camp of Yahveh, each division corresponding to his service among the priests and Levites.

2 Chronicles 31:3 The king contributed from his possessions for the regular morning and evening burnt offerings, the ascending offerings of the Sabbaths, of the New Moons, and the appointed feasts, as written in the instruction of Yahveh.

2 Chronicles 31:4 He told the people who lived in Jerusalem to contribute to the priests and Levites so that they could strengthen themselves in Yahveh’s instruction.

2 Chronicles 31:5 When the word spread, the Israelites gave liberally of the first[1] of the grain, new wine, fresh oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field, and they brought in an abundance, a tenth of everything.

2 Chronicles 31:6 As for the Israelites and Judahites who lived in the cities of Judah, they also brought a tenth of the herds and flocks, and a tenth of the dedicated things that were consecrated to Yahveh their God. They gathered them into large piles.

2 Chronicles 31:7 In the third month, they began building up the piles and finished in the seventh month.

2 Chronicles 31:8 When Hezekiah and his captains came and viewed the piles, they praised Yahveh and his people, Israel.

2 Chronicles 31:9 Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the piles.

2 Chronicles 31:10 The chief priest Azariah, of the household of Zadok, answered him, “Since they began bringing the offering to Yahveh’s house, we have consumed and are satisfied, and there is plenty in reserve because Yahveh has empowered his people; this abundance is what is in reserve.”

2 Chronicles 31:11 Hezekiah told them to prepare chambers in Yahveh’s house, and they prepared them.

2 Chronicles 31:12 The offering, the tenth, and the dedicated things were brought faithfully. Conaniah the Levite was the officer in charge of them, and his brother Shimei was second.

2 Chronicles 31:13 Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were deputies under the authority of Conaniah and his brother Shimei by appointment of King Hezekiah and of Azariah, the chief official of God’s house.

2 Chronicles 31:14 Kore son of Imnah, the Levite, the keeper of the East Gate, was over the spontaneous voluntary[2] offerings to God to distribute the contribution to Yahveh and the consecrated things.

2 Chronicles 31:15 Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah in the cities of the priests were to distribute it faithfully under his authority to their brothers by divisions, whether large or small.

2 Chronicles 31:16 In addition, they distributed it to males registered by genealogy three years old and above, to all who entered Yahveh’s house for their daily duty, for their service in their responsibilities according to their divisions.

2 Chronicles 31:17 They distributed also to those recorded by genealogy of the priests by their ancestral houses and the Levites twenty years old and above, by their responsibilities in their divisions;

2 Chronicles 31:18 to those registered by genealogy- with all their dependents, wives, sons, and daughters- of the whole congregation (for they had faithfully consecrated themselves as sacred);

2 Chronicles 31:19 and to the descendants of Aaron, the priests, in the standard fields of their cities, in every town. Some men were registered by name to distribute a portion to every male among the priests, and every Levite was recorded by genealogy.

2 Chronicles 31:20 Hezekiah did this throughout all Judah. He did what was good, upright, and reliable before Yahveh his God.

2 Chronicles 31:21 He was diligent in every deed that he began in the service of God’s house, in the instruction and the commands, in order to seek his God, and he prospered.

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[1]רֵאשִׁית = first, firstfruits. 2 Chronicles 31:5.

[2] נְדָבָה = spontaneous voluntary. 2 Chronicles 31:14; 35:8.

links:

more than enough
open the floodgates

The 2 Chronicles shelf in Jeff’s library

2 Chronicles 30

2 Chronicles 30:1 Then Hezekiah sent word throughout all Israel and Judah, and he also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh to come to Yahveh’s house in Jerusalem to observe the Passover of Yahveh, the God of Israel.

2 Chronicles 30:2 For the king and his captains and the entire congregation in Jerusalem decided to observe the Passover of Yahveh in the second month,

2 Chronicles 30:3 because they were not able to observe it at the appropriate time. Not enough of the priests had consecrated themselves, and the people hadn’t been gathered in Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 30:4 The proposal pleased the king and the congregation,

2 Chronicles 30:5 so they affirmed the proposal and spread the message throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba to Dan, to come to observe the Passover of Yahveh, the God of Israel, in Jerusalem, for they hadn’t observed it often, as prescribed.

2 Chronicles 30:6 So the couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the hand of the king and his captains, and according to the king’s command, saying, “Israelites, return to Yahveh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel so that he may return to those of you who remain, who have escaped the grasp of the kings of Assyria.

2 Chronicles 30:7 Don’t be like your fathers and your brothers who were unfaithful to Yahveh, the God of their ancestors, so that he made them an object of horror as you yourselves see.

2 Chronicles 30:8 Don’t become obstinate now like your fathers did. Give your allegiance to Yahveh and come to his sanctuary that he has consecrated permanently. Work for Yahveh your God so that he may turn his burning anger away from you,

2 Chronicles 30:9 for when you return to Yahveh, your brothers and your sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land. For Yahveh your God is gracious and merciful; he will not turn his face away from you if you return to him.”

2 Chronicles 30:10 The couriers traveled from city to city in the land of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun, but the inhabitants laughed at them and mocked them.

2 Chronicles 30:11 Some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun certainly humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 30:12 Also, the power of God was at work in Judah, giving them one heart to carry out the command of the king and his captains by the word of Yahveh.

2 Chronicles 30:13 a vast congregation of people was gathered in Jerusalem to observe the Festival of Matzah in the second month.

2 Chronicles 30:14 They proceeded to remove the altars in Jerusalem, including the incense altars, and throw them into the Kidron Valley.

2 Chronicles 30:15 They slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and Levites were ashamed, and they consecrated themselves and brought ascending offerings to Yahveh’s house.

2 Chronicles 30:16 They stood at their prescribed posts, according to the judgment of the instruction of Moses, the man of God. The priests splattered the blood received from the Levites,

2 Chronicles 30:17 for there were many in the congregation who had not consecrated themselves, and so the Levites were in charge of slaughtering the Passover lambs for every impure person to consecrate the lambs to Yahveh.

2 Chronicles 30:18 A large number of the people- many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun- were ritually unclean, yet they had consumed the Passover contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah had interceded for them, saying, “May the good Lord atone

2 Chronicles 30:19 whoever sets his whole heart on seeking God, Yahveh, the God of his ancestors, even though not according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.”

2 Chronicles 30:20 So Yahveh heard Hezekiah and healed the people.

2 Chronicles 30:21 The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem observed the Festival of Matzah seven days with great joy, and the Levites and the priests praised Yahveh day after day with loud instruments.

2 Chronicles 30:22 Then Hezekiah encouraged the hearts of all the Levites who performed skilfully before Yahveh. They consumed at the appointed festival for seven days, making sacrifices for healthy relationships and giving thanks to Yahveh, the God of their ancestors.

2 Chronicles 30:23 The whole congregation decided to observe seven more days, so they observed seven days with joy,

2 Chronicles 30:24 for King Hezekiah of Judah contributed one thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep for the congregation. Also, the captains contributed one thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep for the congregation, and many priests consecrated themselves.

2 Chronicles 30:25 Then the whole congregation of Judah with the priests and Levites, the entire congregation that came from Israel, the foreign guests who came from the land of Israel, and those who were living in Judah, rejoiced.

2 Chronicles 30:26 There was great rejoicing in Jerusalem, for nothing like this was known since the days of Solomon, son of David, the king of Israel.

2 Chronicles 30:27 Then the priests and the Levites stood to empower the people, and God heard them, and their prayer came into his sacred dwelling place in the sky.

links:

God’s mercy and the death-state
grace again
skipping steps

The 2 Chronicles shelf in Jeff’s library

2 Chronicles 29

2 Chronicles 29:1 Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king and reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah, daughter of Zechariah.

2 Chronicles 29:2 He did what was right in Yahveh’s sight just as his ancestor David had done.

2 Chronicles 29:3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of Yahveh’s house and strengthened them.

2 Chronicles 29:4 Then he brought in the priests and Levites and gathered them in the eastern public square.

2 Chronicles 29:5 He said to them, “Hear me, Levites. Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the house of Yahveh, the God of your ancestors. Remove everything impure from the sacred place.

2 Chronicles 29:6 For our fathers were unfaithful and did what is evil in the sight of Yahveh our God. They abandoned him, turned their faces away from Yahveh’s dwelling place, and turned their backs on him.

2 Chronicles 29:7 They also closed the doors of the portico, extinguished the lamps, did not burn incense, and did not offer ascending offerings in the sacred place of the God of Israel.

2 Chronicles 29:8 Therefore, the wrath of Yahveh was on Judah and Jerusalem, and he made them an object of terror, horror, and mockery, as you see with your own eyes.

2 Chronicles 29:9 Notice, our fathers fell by the sword, and our sons, our daughters, and our wives are in captivity because of this.

2 Chronicles 29:10 It is in my heart now to establish a covenant with Yahveh, the God of Israel, so that his burning anger may turn away from us.

2 Chronicles 29:11 My sons, don’t be negligent now, for Yahveh has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him, and to be his ministers and burners of incense.”

2 Chronicles 29:12 Then the Levites stood up: Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah from the Kohathites; Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel from the Merarites; Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah from the Gershonites;

2 Chronicles 29:13 Shimri and Jeuel from the Elizaphanites; Zechariah and Mattaniah from the Asaphites;

2 Chronicles 29:14 Jehiel and Shimei from the Hemanites; Shemaiah and Uzziel from the Jeduthunites.

2 Chronicles 29:15 They gathered their brothers together, consecrated themselves, and went according to the king’s command, following Yahveh’s words, to cleanse Yahveh’s house.

2 Chronicles 29:16 The priests went to the entrance of Yahveh’s house to cleanse it. They took all the unclean things they found in Yahveh’s sanctuary to the courtyard of  Yahveh’s house. Then the Levites received them and brought them outside to the Kidron Valley.

2 Chronicles 29:17 They began the consecration on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month, they came to the portico of Yahveh’s house. They consecrated Yahveh’s house for eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the first month, they finished.

2 Chronicles 29:18 Then they went inside to King Hezekiah and said, “We have cleansed the whole house of Yahveh, the altar of ascending offering and all its utensils, and the table for the rows of the Bread of the Presence and all its utensils.

2 Chronicles 29:19 We have set up and consecrated all the utensils that King Ahaz rejected during his reign when he became unfaithful. Notice, they are in the face of the altar of Yahveh.”

2 Chronicles 29:20 King Hezekiah got up early, gathered the city captains, and went to Yahveh’s house.

2 Chronicles 29:21 They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as sin offerings for the kingdom, the sanctuary, and Judah. Then he told the descendants of Aaron, the priests, to offer them on the altar of Yahveh.

2 Chronicles 29:22 So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests received the blood and splattered it on the altar. They killed the rams and splattered the blood on the altar. They slaughtered the lambs and splattered the blood on the altar.

2 Chronicles 29:23 Then they brought the goats for the sin offering right into the presence of the king and the congregation, who laid their hands on them.

2 Chronicles 29:24 The priests slaughtered the goats and put their blood on the altar for a failure offering, to atone[1] for all Israel, for the king said that the ascending offering and the failure offering were for all Israel.

2 Chronicles 29:25 Hezekiah stationed the Levites in Yahveh’s house with cymbals, harps, and lyres according to the command of David, Gad the king’s seer, and the prophet Nathan. For the command was from Yahveh through his prophets.

2 Chronicles 29:26 The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.

2 Chronicles 29:27 Then Hezekiah ordered that the ascending offering be offered on the altar. When the ascending offerings began, the song of Yahveh and the trumpets began, accompanied by the instruments of King David of Israel.

2 Chronicles 29:28 The whole congregation worshiped, sang the song, and blew the trumpets—all this continued until the ascending offering was completed.

2 Chronicles 29:29 When the burnt offerings were completed, the king and all those present with him bowed down and worshiped.

2 Chronicles 29:30 Then King Hezekiah and the captains told the Levites to praise Yahveh in the words of David and the seer Asaph. So, they sang praises with rejoicing, knelt low, and worshiped.

2 Chronicles 29:31 Hezekiah concluded, “Now you are consecrated to Yahveh. Come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to Yahveh’s house.” So, the congregation brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all those with willing hearts brought ascending offerings.

2 Chronicles 29:32 The number of ascending offerings the congregation brought was seventy bulls, one hundred rams, and two hundred lambs; all these were for an ascending offering to Yahveh.

2 Chronicles 29:33 Six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep and goats were consecrated.

2 Chronicles 29:34 However, since there were not enough priests, they weren’t able to skin all the ascending offerings, so their Levite brothers strengthened them until the work was finished and until the priests consecrated themselves. The Levites were more conscientious about consecrating themselves than the priests.

2 Chronicles 29:35 Furthermore, the ascending offerings were abundant, along with the fat of the sacrifices for healthy relationships and with the drink offerings for the ascending offerings. So the service of Yahveh’s house was established.

2 Chronicles 29:36 Then Hezekiah and all the people enjoyed how God had prepared the people, for it had come about suddenly.

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[1] כָּפַר = atone, absolve. 2 Chronicles 29:24; 30:18.

links:

a change in worship
where reform begins

The 2 Chronicles shelf in Jeff’s library