2 Chronicles 31

2 Chronicles 31:1

Ch. 2 Chronicles 31:1 (cp. 2 Kings 18:4). Destruction of Idolatrous Symbols

1. Israel] Cp. 2 Chronicles 11:3 (note). brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves] R.V. brake in pieces the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim. Cp. 2 Chronicles 14:3 (note). threw down] R.V. brake down. in Ephraim also] Apparently the Northern Kingdom had come to an end; cp. 2 Chronicles 30:6; 2 Chronicles 30:9. utterly destroyed them all] R.V. destroyed them all.

2 Chronicles 31:2

2–21 (not in 2 Kin.). Organisation of the Priests, Tithe 2. the courses] Cp. 1 Chronicles 24:1 ff. the priests and Levites] R.V. both the priests and the Levites. in the gates] Cp. Deuteronomy 16:5. the tents of the Lord] R.V. the camp of the LORD, i.e. (in the language of Deut.) “the place which the Lord chose,” Jerusalem or, more exactly, the Temple area. Cp. 1 Chronicles 9:18, note.

2 Chronicles 31:3

3. the burnt offerings] Cp. 2 Chronicles 8:12-13.

2 Chronicles 31:4

4. be encouraged in] R.V. give themselves to. Cp. Nehemiah 13:10-13.

2 Chronicles 31:5

5. brought in abundance] R.V. gave in abundance. and honey] Honey (Heb. dìbash) is not elsewhere mentioned as subject to tithe; perhaps grape syrup (modern Arabic dibs) is meant here, as in Genesis 43:11 and Ezekiel 27:17 (according to some commentators). Honey (like leaven) was forbidden for sacrificial use (Leviticus 2:11).

2 Chronicles 31:6

6. And concerning the children] R.V. And the children. Cp. 2 Chronicles 11:16. holy things] R.V. dedicated things (as 2 Chronicles 31:12).

2 Chronicles 31:7

7. the third month] The Feast of Harvest took place at the beginning of this month and seven weeks later the Feast of Ingathering followed.

2 Chronicles 31:10

10. Azariah the chief priest] Not mentioned in connexion with Hezekiah’s previous arrangements: he may have been only just appointed. of the house of Zadok] Cp. 1 Chronicles 24:1-4. There were two main families of priests, (1) the descendants of Eleazar the third son of Aaron, whose chief representative in David’s day was Zadok (hence they are here called “the house of Zadok”), (2) the descendants of Ithamar the fourth son of Aaron, represented in David’s time by Ahimelech (Saul’s victim) or by Abiathar (David’s protιgι). The Chronicler prefers to name the descendants of Ithamar after Ahimelech (1 Chronicles 24:3). the offerings] R.V. the oblations (so also 2 Chronicles 31:12). The Heb. word tμrϋmβh denotes the heave offering (Leviticus 7:32), which the priest heaved (“lifted on high”) and was allowed to keep for himself. we have had enough to eat) R.V. we have eaten and had enough. hath blessed his people] Cp. Malachi 3:10. and that which is left is this great store] LXX., καὶκατελίπομενἐπὶτὸπλῆθοςτοῦτο, “we leave (‘have left’) this great store and more.” An apparently superfluous particle (eth) in the Heb. has troubled the translators and commentators.

2 Chronicles 31:11

11. chambers] Cp. 1 Chronicles 9:26, note.

2 Chronicles 31:12

12. the dedicate things] Cp. 2 Chronicles 29:33 (note on the consecrated things). was the next] R.V. was second. Cp. 2 Chronicles 28:7 “Elkanah that was next to the king.”

2 Chronicles 31:13

13. at the commandment] R.V. by the appointment. the ruler of the house of God] Cp. 1 Chronicles 9:11, note.

2 Chronicles 31:14

14. toward the east] R.V. at the east gate. the most holy things] To this class belonged the shewbread (Leviticus 24:9), the meal offering (Leviticus 2:2-3; Leviticus 6:14-18 [7–11, Heb.]), the sin offering (Leviticus 6:25-30), and the trespass offering (Leviticus 7:1-7). These could be eaten by the priests only, and in the holy place only.

2 Chronicles 31:15

15. next him] R.V. under him. in the cities] The persons mentioned in 2 Chronicles 31:12-14 were in Jerusalem itself. The priestly cities are given 1 Chronicles 6:54-60. in their set office] R.V. mg. in their trust.

2 Chronicles 31:16

16. beside their genealogy of males] R.V. beside them that were reckoned by genealogy of males. even unto every one that entereth] R.V. even every one that entered. his daily portion] R.V. as the duty of every day required.

2 Chronicles 31:17

17. both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers] R.V. and them that were reckoned by genealogy of the priests by their fathers’ houses.

2 Chronicles 31:18

18. and to the genealogy of all their little ones] Render with R.V. mg. even to give to them that were reckoned by genealogy of all their little ones. The connexion of 2 Chronicles 31:15-18 is difficult to trace and the text is perhaps faulty. Assuming however the general correctness of the text, we may regard 2 Chronicles 31:16-17 as a parenthesis stating that the ministration of Eden and his colleagues did not extend to those priests and Levites and male children of the priests who presented themselves in person at the Temple. in their set office] R.V. mg. in their trust. they sanctified themselves in holiness] Or, they busied themselves with the distribution of the sanctified things.

2 Chronicles 31:19

19. also of the sons] R.V. also for the sons. The Chronicler now passes to a third class of priests, viz. those in the country; cp. 2 Chronicles 31:15 (note). the suburbs] Cp. 1 Chronicles 5:16 (R.V. mg. “pasture-lands”); 1 Chronicles 6:55; 1 Chronicles 6:57 [40, 42, Heb.]. the men] R.V. there were men. by genealogies] R.V. by genealogy.

2 Chronicles 31:20

20. and truth] R.V. and faithful.