2 Chronicles 31:2

2Ch 31:2 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.

Ver. 2. In the gates of the tents of the Lord,] i.e., Of the temple, fitly compared to a camp, for the watch and ward there kept by the priests, and for the convention of the people thither, as to their rendezvous, to pray, which is the chief service of our spiritual warfare.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Ch 31:2. In the gates of the tents of the Lord — That is, within the gates of the house of the Lord: which is here called tents, either because all houses are often so called, (see Jdg 19:9; Jdg 20:8; Psalm 79:25,) or because the host of the Lord, the priests and Levites, encamped there, and kept their stations and orders there by course: and perhaps also to intimate that it was shortly to be removed.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

REORGANIZATION OF THE LEVITES, 2Ch_31:2-21.

2. The priests and the Levites after their courses — The suspension of the temple service by Ahaz had disarranged the courses and work of the Levites, and so it behoved Hezekiah to re-organize these courses according to the divisions and arrangements which David had made. 1Ch_23:6; 1Ch_24:1.

In the gates of the tents of the Lord — Literally, in the gates of the camps of Jehovah; that is, the gates leading to the temple and its courts. The courts and chambers of the temple are spoken of as a fortified camp, even a group of camps, in which Jehovah’s ministers constantly watched and worshipped.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Restoration of order in the public worship, and of the temple revenues and those of the priests. - Ch2 31:2. Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and Levites according to their courses, each according to the measure of his service (cf. Num 7:5, Num 7:7), viz., the priests and Levites (ולל לכה are subordinated to אישׁ in apposition by ל), for burnt-offerings and thank-offerings, to serve (to wait upon the worship), and to praise and thank (by song and instrumental music) in the gates of the camp of Jahve, i.e., in the temple and court of the priests; see on Ch1 9:18.

Ch2 31:3

And the portion of the king from his possession was for the burnt-offerings, etc.; that is, the material for the burnt-offerings which are commanded in Num 28 and 29 the king gave from his possessions, which are enumerated in Ch2 32:27-29.

Ch2 31:4-8

The priests and Levites received their maintenance from the first-fruits (Exo 23:19; Num 18:12; Deu 26:2) and the tithes, which the people had to pay from the produce of their cattle-breeding and their agriculture (Lev 27:30-33, cf. with Num 18:21-24). Hezekiah commanded the people, viz., the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to give this portion to the Levites and priests, that they might hold themselves firmly to the law of Jahve, i.e., might devote themselves to the duties laid upon them by the law, the attendance upon the worship, without being compelled to labour for their subsistence; cf. Neh 13:10.

Ch2 31:5-6

When the word (the royal command) went forth (spread abroad), the Israelites brought in abundance the first-fruits which had been assigned to the priests (Ch2 18:12.), and the tithes, which were paid to the whole tribe of Levi (Num 18:21-24). ישׂראל בּני, Ch2 31:6, are not the inhabitants of the northern kingdom, but the Israelites who had emigrated from that kingdom into Judah (as Ch2 30:25; Ch2 11:16; Ch2 10:17). קדשׁים מעשׂר, the tenth from the holy gifts which were consecrated to Jahve, is surprising, since in the law, Num 18:8., it is not the tenth of the consecrated gifts which is spoken of, but only הקּדשׁים תרוּמות (Num 18:19). Proceeding upon the assumption that all קדשׁים which were consecrated to Jahve were given over to the tribe of Levi, Bertheau finds no correspondence between the law and the statement of our verse, that the tenth of the holy things was given, and points out that the lxx seem to have read והקּשׁים ועז instead of קדשׁים m`sr, without, however, himself deciding in favour of that reading. But the lxx have rendered the words hmqdsym קדשׁים קדשׁים by ἐπιδέκατα αἰγῶν, καὶ ἡγίασαν, and consequently cannot have read ועז for מעשׂר, since in their translation epide'kata corresponds to m`sr. But the deviation of the statement in our verse from the law, Num 18, arises partly from an incorrect or inexact interpretation of the provisions of the law, Num 18:8. In the law, קדשׁים as such were not assigned to the tribe of Levi, or more correctly to the priests (Aaron and his sons), but only the לכל־קדשׁים תּרוּמות, the heave-offerings of all the holy gifts of the sons of Israel, i.e., the pieces or parts of the sacrificial gifts of the Israelites which were not burnt upon the altar, consequently the greater part of the meal, and oil, and flesh of the oblations, the sin-offerings, the trespass-offerings, and of the peace-offerings, the wave-breast and wave-thigh, and whatever else was waved in wave-offerings; see on Num 18:8. These Therumoth of the consecrated gifts are in our verse designated קדשׁים מעשׂר, because they were only a fragment of that which was consecrated to the Lord, just as the tenth was a fragment of the whole herd, and of the field produce. The statement of our verse, therefore, differs only in expression from the prescription of the law, but in substance it completely agrees with it. ער ערמות ויּתּנוּ, and they made many heaps, i.e., they brought the first-fruits and tithes in heaps.

Ch2 31:7

In the third month, consequently immediately at the end of the grain harvest, they commenced to found the heaps (to lay the foundation of the heaps); and in the seventh month, i.e., at the end of the fruit and wine harvest, they completed them (the heaps). In the third month fell pentecost, or the harvest feast; in the seventh, the feast of tabernacles, after the gathering in of all the fruits. ליסּוד has Daghesh in ס, because this verb in the imperf. assimilates its י like נ to the second radical, and the infinitive is formed after the imperf.; cf. Ew. 245, a.

Ch2 31:8-10

When Hezekiah and the priests saw these heaps, they praised the Lord and His people Israel.

The employment and storing of these gifts, Ch2 31:9-19. - Ch2 31:9. Hezekiah questioned (ידרשׁ) the priests and Levites concerning the heaps, i.e., not as to whether they were sufficient for the support of the priests and Levites, but as to how it happened that such masses had been heaped up. Thereupon Azariah the high priest (hardly the Azariah mentioned Ch2 26:17, who forty years before tried to prevent Uzziah from pressing into the holy place), of the house of Zadok, answered him: Since they began to bring (לביא for להביא) the heave-offerings into the house of the Lord, we have eaten and satisfied ourselves, and have left in plenty. The infin. absol. והותר ושׂבוע אכול stand in animated speech instead of the first pers. plur. perf. From the same animation arises the construction of את־ההמון with הנּותר; for "that which is left" signifies, and we have left this quantity here.

Ch2 31:11-12

Then the king commanded to prepare cells in the house of God for the storing of the provisions. Whether new cells were built, or cells already existing were prepared for this purpose, cannot be decided, since הכין may signify either. Into these cells they brought the תּרוּמה, which here denotes the first-fruits (cf. Ch2 31:5), the tithes, and the dedicated things, בּאמוּנה, with fidelity, cf. Ch2 19:9. עליהם, over them (the first-fruits, etc.) the Levite Cononiah was set as ruler (inspector), and his brother Shimei as second ruler (משׁנה).

Ch2 31:13-14

To them at their hand, i.e., as subordinate overseers, were given ten Levites, who are enumerated by name. Of the names, Jehiel and Mahath occur in Ch2 29:12 and Ch2 29:14. בּמפקד is translated by the Vulg. ex imperio, better ex mandato Hizkiae. Azariah, the prince of the house of God, is the high priest mentioned in Ch2 31:10. - To the fourteen Levites named in Ch2 31:13 and Ch2 31:14 was committed the oversight and storing of the first-fruits, tithes, and consecrated gifts. Besides these, there were special officers appointed for the distribution of them. - In Ch2 31:14-19 these are treated of; Ch2 31:14 dealing with the distribution of the voluntary gifts of God, i.e., all which was offered to God of spontaneous impulse (Lev 23:38; Deu 12:17), to which the first-fruits and tithes did not belong, they being assessments prescribed by the law. Over the freewill offerings the Levite Kore, the doorkeeper towards the east (see on Ch1 9:18), was set. His duty was to give (distribute) "the heave-offerings of Jahve," i.e., that portion of the thank-offerings which properly belonged to Jahve, and which was transferred by Him to the priests (Lev 7:14; Num 5:9), and the "most holy," i.e., that part of the sin and trespass offerings (Lev 6:10, Lev 6:22; Lev 7:6) and of the oblations (Lev 2:3, Lev 2:10) which was to be eaten by the priests in the holy place.

Ch2 31:15-16

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

That is, in the Temple, where they assembled as in a tent.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

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 (Num 28:3-4, Num 28:9, Num 28:11, Num 28:19); and in making this contribution from his own means, Hezekiah followed the course which David and Solomon had taken before him (see Ch2 8:14; Kg1 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 (Lev 2:11), such as honey (Margin, "dates"), were appropriated to the priests (Num 18:12-13; Deu 18:4). The tithes (Lev 27:31) were intended for the support of the whole Levitical tribe (Num 18:8, Num 18:20, Num 18:24).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 2. In the gates of the tents of the Lord.] That is, in the temple; for this was the house, tabernacle, tent, and camp, of the Most High.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(2) The courses . . . their courses.—Hezekiah restored the system of service in rotation, ascribed to David. (Comp. 2Ch_8:14, “according to the order of David.”)

Every man according to his service.—See the same phrase in Num_7:5; Num_7:7. Literally, after the mouth (i.e., rule, prescription) of his service.

The priests and Levites.—Literally, to the priests and Levites. The words depend upon those which immediately precede. LXX., καὶ τὰς ἐφημερίας ἑκάστου κατὰ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ λειτουργίαν τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν καὶ τοῖς Λευίταις.

To minister . . . praise.—The chronicler’s usual definition of the Levitical functions.

In the gates . . . Lord.—Literally, in the gates of the camps of Jehovah. Comp. 1Ch_9:18-19, where the phrase is explained.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2–21 (not in 2 Kin.). Organisation of the Priests, Tithe

2. the courses] Cp. 1Ch_24:1 ff.

the priests and Levites] R.V. both the priests and the Levites.

in the gates] Cp. Deu_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. 1Ch_9:18, note.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests, and the Levites after their courses,.... As they were fixed by David, and were in the times of Jehoshaphat, and had been since interrupted, and which Hezekiah now restored, and placed them in their regular order:

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; or camp of the Lord, where they were posted, and lay as an host encamped, to keep the watch of the house of the Lord; the priests, they were appointed to offer the sacrifices of every sort; the Levites to minister to them in what they needed and required of them, and others of them to be singers in time of service, and others to be porters at the gate.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

The tents - literally, “the camps.” The temple is called the “camp of Yahweh” by an apt metaphor: the square enclosure, with its gates and stations, its guards and porters, its reliefs, its orderly arrangement, and the tabernacle, or tent, of the great commander in the midst, very much resembled a camp.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Praise: literally, "confess." H. --- There is a confession of God’s perfections, as well as of sin. W. --- Gates, within their respective courts. C. --- The Turks style the palace of their emperor, "the sublime porte." H. --- Camp, or temple. Sept. "in the gates, in the courts of the house of the Lord." M. --- Grabe has not in the gates. H. --- We know that they did not sing there, but in the courts, (C.) or halls. H.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

i.e. Within the gates of the house of the Lord; which is here called

tents, partly because all houses are oft so called, as Jdg 19:9; 20:8; Psa 69:25; and partly because the host of the Lord, to wit, the priests and Levites, frequently so called, encamped there, and kept their stations and orders there by course.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

And Hezekiah appointed the courses. The twenty-fourth and following two chapters of 1 Chronicles give in full the appointment and arrangement of these courses, now again thrown out of order. Appointed; Hebrew, rme) It is equivalent to saying Hezekiah re-established the courses. Of the tents. The word is not "tents," but the expressive and emphatic "camps" (twOgj) Order of the divinest kind, discipline of the most perfect sort, are the glory of the temple and temple service of old, of the Church, her ministers, her members, and all her pious work of more modern date.

Vers. 2-10.

The service of the consecrated life, and of the substance.

Hezekiah, as soon as the excitement of the great Passover and of the subsequent destruction of all idolatrous symbols was over, made wise arrangements for the regular service of Jehovah. And this included

I THE SERVICE OF THE CONSECRATED LIFE; that, namely, of the priests and the Levites (ver. 2). This service was threefold:

1. Discharging sacred functions at the altar; doing for the people that which only consecrated men could do presenting their sacrifices to Jehovah, thus standing between their fellows and their God, and constituting a medium of communion between them and him.

2. Inquiry into and acquisition of all possible knowledge of the Law (2Ch_17:9; Deu_33:10)

3. Conducting the service of song (ver. 2), and teaching the people the Law which they had themselves learned. There are many in the Christian Church who have undertaken to offer to their Divine Lord a consecrated life; and it devolves on them to yield to him their strength in these three ways.

(1) Ministration in his house or elsewhere; the special service which the minister of Christ, as such, can render; praying to God for his people, or helping them to draw nigh to God a very valuable, indeed inestimable, service.

(2) Earnest thought and inquiry; becoming more and more fully acquainted with the mind of Christ as that is revealed in his Word or in his providence, or through the experience or research of other servants of his.

(3) Utterance of the truth thus acquired; by teaching or preaching, in the sanctuary, or the school, or the house, personally or instrumentally. For the advancement of the kingdom of Christ it is needful that there should be a large number of men, answering to the priests and Levites, who shall regularly give a consecrated life to the service of the Lord.

II THE SERVICE OF THE SUBSTANCE. We have a very interesting instance here recorded of the full and cheerful dedication of the substance to the cause of God. Led as well as taught by Hezekiah, the people responded with tithes and firstfruits, so that there were "heaps "in the temple courts, even when everything had been taken that was required (Ver. 10). Even the remainder was "this great store." The scene suggests the truths:

1. That the offer of our substance is a most appropriate method of sacred service. How can we better express our gratitude to the great Giver of every good thing of every kind than by dedicating to him and to his service some serious proportion of the produce of our strength and skill?

2. That those who urge others to show this grace should be forward toillustrate it themselves (ver. 3).

3. That from those who have the greater privileges may be expected a veryclear encouragement by example (ver. 4).

4. That, if rightly addressed, the people of God may be trusted to make alair and even a liberal response (vers. 5, 6).

5. That such service, rendered in a religious spirit, will draw down theDivine blessing in abundance C.. (ver. 10; and see Mal_3:10)

The camp of the Lord.

I To WHAT THIS DESIGNATION BELONGED?

1. TO the tabernacle. (1Ch_9:19) The religious centre in Israel from the days of the conquest till the times of David and Solomon.

2. To the temple. (Ver. 2.) On Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, which Ahaz had closed during the latter years of his reign, (2Ch_28:24) but Hezekiah had now opened, cleansed, and rededicated to the worship of Jehovah (ch. 29., 30.).

3. To the Church of God.

(1) Under the Old Testament dispensation (Lev_14:8; Num_5:2 Deu_23:10) and

(2) under the New Testament dispensation. (Rev_20:9)

II WHAT THIS DESIGNATION MEANT.

1. That the Lord had pitched his tent there. This was true

(1) of the tabernacle, which was usually styled the dwelling, (Exo_25:9) and, when finished, was filled with the symbol of the Divine presence, the glory of the Lord; (Exo_40:34, Exo_40:35)

(2) of the temple of Solomon, which also was similarly named (2Ch_6:2) and inhabited; (2Ch_5:13, 2Ch_5:14)

(3) of the Old Testament Church as distinguished from its institutions; (Psa_132:13, Psa_132:14) and (4) of the New Testament Church or assembly of believers (Mat_18:20 Mat_28:20; 2Co_6:16)

2. That those amongst whom the Lord dwelt were warriors. This, again, was true

(1) of Israel, in the wilderness and in Canaan, her principal occupation in the latter place being fighting, not always with the Lord"s enemies, as should have been the case, but frequently with one another; and worshipping, though much oftener idols than Jehovah. So should it be true

(2) of Christian believers, as it is when they in any degree realize the ideal of their vocation to fight the good fight of faith, (1Ti_6:12) and to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. W. (2Ti_2:3)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The tents - Within the gates of the house of the Lord: which is here called tents, because the host of the Lord, the priests and Levites, encamped there. And perhaps to intimate, that it was shortly to be removed.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

Hezekiah assigned the divisions of the priests and the Levites organized by their divisions, each man assigned to his work, both the priests and the Levites

This can be stated in active form. AT: "Hezekiah organized the priests and the Levites into groups. He assigned each priest and Levite to their duties" (See: Active or Passive)

assigned the king's portion for the burnt offerings from his own possessions

Hezekiah took the meat and grain used for the burnt offerings out of his own possessions.

the new moons

This was a festival coinciding with the movement of the moon.

the fixed festivals

This refers to festivals which occur on specific dates.

as it was written in the law of Yahweh

This can be stated in active form. AT: "just as Moses wrote in the law of Yahweh" or "just as Yahweh commanded in his law" (See: Active or Passive)

translationWords

Hezekiah

priest

works

burnt offering

fellowship offering

servant

gate

temple

possess

Sabbath

new moon

written

law

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

each man according to his service the priests to minister, and the Levites to be singers and gate sentries, and every man at his proper service.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.