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.
1. all Israel . . . present went out
to the cities of Judah—The solemnities of this paschal season
left a deep and salutary impression on the minds of the assembled
worshippers; attachment to the ancient institutions of their country
was extensively revived; ardor in the service of God animated every
bosom; and under the impulse of the devout feelings inspired by the
occasion, they took measures at the close of the passover for
extirpating idolatrous statues and altars out of every city, as at
the beginning of the festival they had done in Jerusalem.
Judah and Benjamin—denote
the southern kingdom.
Ephraim also and
Manasseh—refer to the northern kingdom. This unsparing
demolition of the monuments of idolatry would receive all
encouragement from the king and public authorities of the former; and
the force of the popular movement was sufficient to effect the same
results among the tribes of Israel, whatever opposition the power of
Hoshea or the invectives of some profane brethren might have made.
Thus the reign of idolatry being completely overthrown and the pure
worship of God re-established throughout the land, the people
returned every one to his own home, in the confident expectation
that, through the divine blessing, they would enjoy a happy future of
national peace and prosperity.
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.
2-5. Hezekiah appointed the courses
of the priests, c.—The king now turned his attention to provide
for the orderly performance of the temple-worship—arranging the
priests and Levites in their courses, assigning to every one his
proper place and functions—and issuing edicts for the regular
payment of those dues from which the revenues of the sanctuary were
derived. To set a proper example to his subjects, his own proportion
was announced in the first instance, for to the king it belonged, out
of his privy purse, to defray the expenses of the altar, both stated
and occasional (Numbers 28:3 Numbers 28:4;
Numbers 28:9; Numbers 28:11;
Numbers 28:19); and in making this
contribution from his own means, Hezekiah followed the course which
David and Solomon had taken before him (see 2 Chronicles 8:14;
1 Kings 9:25). Afterwards he
reappointed the people's dues to the temple; and from its being
necessary to issue a royal mandate in reference to this matter, it
appears that the sacred tribute had been either totally neglected, or
(as the idolatrous princes were known to appropriate it to their own
purposes) the people had in many cases refused or evaded the duty.
But with the improved state of public feeling, Hezekiah's commandment
was readily obeyed, and contributions of first-fruits and tithes were
poured in with great liberality from all parts of Judah, as well as
from Israel. The first-fruits, even of some articles of produce that
were unfit for sacrifice (Leviticus 2:11),
such as honey (Margin, "dates"), were appropriated
to the priests (Numbers 18:12; Numbers 18:13;
Deuteronomy 18:4). The tithes (Deuteronomy 18:4) were intended for the support of the whole Levitical tribe
(Numbers 18:8; Numbers 18:20;
Numbers 18:24).
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.
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.
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 fields; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.
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.
6, 7. and laid them by heaps—The
contributions began to be sent in shortly after the celebration of
the passover, which had taken place in the middle of the second
month. Some time would elapse before the king's order reached all
parts of the kingdom. The wheat harvest occurred in the third month,
so that the sheaves of that grain, being presented before any other,
formed "the foundation," an under-layer in the corn stores
of the temple. The first-fruits of their land produce which were
successively sent in all the summer till the close of the fruit and
vintage season, that is, the seventh month, continued to raise heap
upon heap.
In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.
And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.
Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.
9. Hezekiah questioned with the
priests and the Levites concerning the heaps—The object of his
enquiries was to ascertain whether the supplies afforded the prospect
of a sufficient maintenance for the members of the sacred order.
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.
10. Azariah . . . answered . . . we
have had enough—This is probably the person mentioned (), and his reply was to the following purport: There has
been an abundant harvest, and a corresponding plenty in the incoming
of first-fruits and tithes; the people have testified their gratitude
to Him who has crowned the year with His goodness by their liberality
towards His servants.
. HEZEKIAH
APPOINTS OFFICERS
TO DISPOSE OF THE
TITHES.
Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them,
11-18. Hezekiah commanded to prepare
chambers in the house of the Lord—storehouses, granaries, or
cellars; either the old ones, which had been allowed through neglect
to fall into decay, were to be repaired, or additional ones built.
Private individuals brought their own first-fruits to the temple; but
the tithes were levied by the Levites, who kept a faithful account of
them in their several places of abode and transmitted the allotted
proportion to the priests. Officers were appointed to distribute
equal rations to all in the cities of the priests who, from age or
other reasons, could not repair to the temple. With the exception of
children under three years of age—an exception made probably from
their being considered too young to receive solid food—lists were
kept of the number and age of every male; of priests according to
their fathers' house, and Levites from twenty years (see Numbers 4:3;
Numbers 28:24; 1 Chronicles 23:24).
But, besides, provision was also made for their wives, daughters, and
servants.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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;
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;
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:
18. for in their set office they
sanctified themselves—This is the reason assigned for providing
for the wives and children out of the revenues of the sanctuary, that
priests, withdrawing from those secular pursuits by which they might
have maintained their households, devoted themselves entirely to the
functions of the ministry.
2 Chronicles 31:20;
2 Chronicles 31:21. HIS
SINCERITY OF HEART.
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.
And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.
20. Hezekiah . . . wrought that
which was good and right—He displayed the qualities of a
constitutional king, in restoring and upholding the ancient
institutions of the kingdom; while his zealous and persevering
efforts to promote the cause of true religion and the best interests
of his subjects entitled him to be ranked with the most illustrious
of his predecessors (2 Kings 18:15).
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.
