Chapter 31

1 The people is forward is destroying idolatry. 2 Hezekiah ordereth the courses of the priests and Levites, and provideth for their work and maintenance. 5 The people’s forwardness in offerings and tithes. 11 Hezekiah appointeth officers to dispose of the tithes. 20 The sincerity of Hezekiah.

1. When all this was finished. When the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which followed it, were over.

All Israel. The entire body of worshipers who were present, including those from the territory of the northern kingdom as well as Judah.

The images. Literally, “pillars,” common among the native Canaanite cults (see on Gen. 28:18).

The groves. The Asherim, or sacred trees. They were emblematic of physical fertility (see on chs. 14:3; 33:7).

In Ephraim. This blow against idolatry was struck in “all Judah and Benjamin,” and in addition, “in Ephraim also and Manasseh,” probably not as completely in the latter, inasmuch as the word “all” is used in connection with the territories of Judah. The question may be raised as to why such strong measures against the idolatrous system of religion were permitted in the apostate nation of Israel. These measures no doubt would have been impossible some years earlier. But Israel was now only a shadow of its former greatness. The major part of its territory had already been overrun by Assyria and multitudes of its people taken away captive; and now the weakened remnant of the nation was facing its final doom.

The judgments that had already fallen and the messages of the prophets had made their impression, even though the people had not been weaned from their idolatry (see PK 287, 336). But under these conditions there was possibly enough fear or apathy in the population to weaken their opposition to the zealous minority who returned from Jerusalem, destroying altars and images wherever they went.

Another possibility is that “all Israel that were present,” including the hosts of Judah and Benjamin, after going through the cities of the southern kingdom, were invited by the Israelite minority in attendance to extend the crusade to Israel. If groups from such a spontaneous popular rising had made flying raids on a number of high places in Ephraim and Manasseh, their success would not be surprising under the conditions existing at that time in the northern kingdom. Details are lacking, however, as to how the destruction of the Israelite idolatrous shrines was accomplished, and there is no indication that Hezekiah actually took any official action outside of his own kingdom, for “thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah” (v. 20).

2. Appointed the courses. Hezekiah restored the system of service in rotation, as originally instituted by David (see 1 Chron. 23:6; 24:1; also 2 Chron. 8:14).

3. King’s portion. The reference is to the king’s contribution toward the regular offerings of the Temple (see 1 Chron. 23:31) commanded by Moses (Num. 28, 29). Amid the general neglect of the Temple this system of services had been discontinued, and the king now renewed it, taking the lead in encouraging the people by himself assuming a full proportion of these offerings as his own responsibility.

4. Portion of the priests. The people were instructed to give to the priests and the Levites the tithes and first fruits (v. 5) commanded by Moses (Num. 18:12–30).

Might be encouraged. Heb. chazaq, meaning basically “to be strong,” “to be firm.” Here it seems to have the meaning, “to fulfill strictly.” With adequate support the priests and Levites would have no necessity of engaging in worldly pursuits (see Neh. 13:10–14).

5. Brought in abundance. Verses 5, 6 describe the response to the commandment issued by Hezekiah (v. 4).

Firstfruits. See Num. 18:12–18; Deut. 18:4.

The tithe. See Gen. 14:20; 28:22; Lev. 27:30–32; Num. 18:21–24; Neh. 10:37; 13:12; Mal. 3:8–12; Matt. 23:23; Heb. 7:5–9.

6. The children of Israel. The inhabitants of the northern kingdom who had migrated into Judah and settled there (see chs. 10:17; 11:13, 14, 16; 30:25).

7. Seventh month. The people began to bring in their tithes in kind in the third month (which began in May or June), when the grain harvest was finished, and continued to the seventh month (which began in September or October), when the harvest of the orchards and vineyards was over. The seventh month was the time that the Feast of Ingathering, or Tabernacles, was normally held (Ex. 23:16; Lev. 23:34), after all the fruits had been gathered in and the vintage was over.

9. With the priests. What Hezekiah questioned the priests about may probably be ascertained from the answer given in v. 10. Hezekiah was surprised at the large amount of produce that had been brought in, and may have wondered whether what he saw represented the total amount that had been brought or whether the priests had already been supplied for their needs.

10. Azariah. If this was the brave priest by this name who resisted Uzziah (ch. 26:17, 18), he must have been out of office for some time, possibly deposed by the idolatrous Ahaz, for Ahaz’ priest was the more docile Urijah (2 Kings 16:10–16).

House of Zadok. The priesthood of this line, descended from Eleazar (1 Chron. 24:3), is to be distinguished from that of the house of Ithamar, which lost the high priesthood to the house of Zadok when Abiathar was deposed by Solomon (1 Kings 2:26–35). At the close of Judah’s history the priesthood was of the house of Zadok (Eze. 44:15).

The Lord hath blessed. When the people were faithful in bringing in their tithes, God blessed them by giving them an abundant harvest (see Mal. 3:10).

11. Chambers. The contributions of first fruits and tithes that had been brought in were so large that special provision had to be made for their storage.

13. Under the hand. Cononiah and Shimei were to be in charge of the tithes that were brought to the Temple, with a number of subordinates under them.

14. The freewill offerings. These were voluntary offerings, in distinction from the first fruits and tithes (Deut. 12:6).

Most holy. The meat offerings, sin offerings, and trespass offerings were thus designated (Lev. 2:3; 6:25; 7:1, 6).

15. Cities of the priests. The cities in Judah and Benjamin originally given to the priests are listed in Joshua 21:9–19.

16. Genealogy of males. The meaning may be that the Levites on duty in the Temple and whose names were registered as such, along with their male children of three years old and upward, were provided for by the daily portion from the sanctuary itself. Thus they were not to share with others who lived in the Levitical cities and had no share of the Temple sacrifices.

17. From twenty years old. Registration of the Levites was according to their offices and divisions (see 1 Chron. 23:24).

18. Genealogy of all. The names of all were written in the official registers, including wives and children, both sons and daughters. In this way every individual of the priestly families received his just share, and no one suffered from neglect or discrimination.

19. In the fields. Officers were also appointed to distribute portions to such priests and Levites as lived in the rural areas, outside the priestly cities (see Lev. 25:34; Num. 35:2–5; Joshua 14:3, 4; Joshua 21:2).

Expressed by name. In the various cities officers were designated by name to make distribution among the rural priests and Levites. Thus no one was to be neglected, not even those who lived in districts where they were likely to be forgotten.

20. That which was good. Hezekiah gave evidence that he was fair and upright, a man of justice and integrity, who carried out his duties to the best of his ability.

21. Prospered. The best insurance for prosperity was righteousness, justice, and integrity. Hezekiah was faithful to God and fair with his people, and as a result he prospered, and the nation prospered with him.

Ellen G. White comments

1–21PK 338, 339

1, 20, 21 PK 338

21 MYP 149