2 Chronicles 31:1-10 - Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

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Abundant Giving to God

2 Chronicles 31:1-10

This Passover left a permanent impression on the nation, and led to the complete overthrow of idolatry. The pure worship of God was now established throughout the land, and the people returned to their homes, in confident expectation that a long period of national prosperity was now in store. Hezekiah therefore turned his attention to provide for the maintenance of the Temple worship and the proper provision of revenues for the priests and Levites. As an example to his people, the king followed in the steps of David and Solomon, providing out of his own purse for the expenses of the altar.

Following on this good example, a proclamation was made to the nation, with the result that contributions of first-fruits and tithes poured in with great liberality from the children of Israel, as well as Judah. There had been an abundant harvest, as the great heaps testified. It is not often that ministers of religion are in the same happy condition as Azariah was, but they are partly to blame for not instructing their people to give systematically. Everyone should set apart a stated portion of his income for God.

Related Commentaries of 2 Chronicles 31:1

2 Chronicles 31:1-10

1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were presenta 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.b

7 In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.

8 And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.

9 Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.

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.