| 1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went
out to the cities of Judah, and brake in pieces the pillars, and hewed down
the Asherim, and brake down the high places and the altars out of all Judah
and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had 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, both
the priests and the Levites, for burnt-offerings and for peace-offerings, to
minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the camp of
Jehovah. 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 Jehovah.
4 Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the
portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to
the law of Jehovah. 5 And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the
children of Israel gave in abundance the first-fruits of grain, new 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 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 dedicated things which were consecrated unto Jehovah
their God, and laid them by heaps. 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 Jehovah,
and his people Israel. 9 Then Hezekiah questioned 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 oblations into the house of Jehovah, we have eaten and had enough,
and have left plenty: for Jehovah hath blessed his people; and that which is
left is this great store. 11 Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers
in the house of Jehovah; and they prepared them. 12 And they brought in
the oblations and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: and over
them Conaniah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was second.
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 Conaniah and Shimei his brother, by the appointment of
Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God. 14 And Kore
the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter at the east gate, was over
the freewill-offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of Jehovah, and
the most holy things. 15 And under him were Eden, and Miniamin, and
Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests,
in their office of trust, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to
the great as to the small: 16 besides them that were reckoned by genealogy
of males, from three years old and upward, even every one that entered into
the house of Jehovah, as the duty of every day required, for their service in
their offices according to their courses; 17 and them that were reckoned
by genealogy of the priests by their fathers' houses, and the Levites from
twenty years old and upward, in their offices by their courses; 18 and
them that were reckoned by genealogy of all their little ones, their wives,
and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in
their office of trust they sanctified themselves in holiness. 19 Also for
the sons of Aaron the priests, that were in the fields of the suburbs of
their cities, in every city, there were men that were mentioned by name, to
give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were
reckoned by genealogy among the Levites. 20 And thus did Hezekiah
throughout all Judah; and he wrought that which was good and right and
faithful before Jehovah his God. 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.
Genesis - Public
Domain
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