2 Chronicles 31:5

2Ch 31:5 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.

Ver. 5. And as soon as the commandment came abroad.] Heb., Brake forth. Ahaz had nulled the laws for ministers’ maintenance, that he might bring them to beggary and dishearten them - the like did Julian the apostate; - Hezekiah therefore reviveth those laws with the first: and the people readily obeyeth them.

Brought they in abundantly.] {a} Not pinchingly and deceitfully, as now-a-days. Spoliantur Parochiae et Scholae non aliter ac si fame necare nes velint, saith Luther. Our parishes and schools are so robbed of their right, as if they meant to famish us all. {b} To colour the matter, conscience is pretended by some: but the apostle telleth them it is not conscience, but covetousness. {2Co 9:5}

{a} Libenter et liberaliter.

{b} Maligne dantibas maledicit Deus {Mal 3:9}

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 31:5. As soon as the commandment came abroad — Either, 1st, As soon as the report of this command of the king was known abroad in other parts; or, 2d, As soon as the king had enlarged and extended that command to all the parts of his kingdom, which (2Ch 31:4) was confined to them that dwelt in Jerusalem. Honey — Or dates, as the Hebrew writers generally understand the word דבשׁ, debash, in this place, a name which was given to them because of the sweetness of their taste, in some sort resembling honey. For the law requires no tithes but those of the fruits of trees, or of the earth, or of beasts.

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

Or, published.

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

Verse 5. Brought - the first-fruits] These were principally for the maintenance of the priests and Levites; they brought tithes of all the produce of the field, whether commanded or not, as we see in the instance of honey, which was not to be offered to the Lord, Le 2:11, yet it appears it might be offered to the priests as first-fruits, or in the way of tithes.

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

(5) And . . . came abroad.—Literally, And when the word broke forth—i.e., spread abroad.

The children of Israel.—Here the people of Jerusalem, who in the chronicler’s day had a preeminent right to the name. (See on next verse.) The firstfruits were for the priests (Num_18:12, seq., where the oil, wine, and wheat are specified).

And the tithe . . . abundantly.—For the Levites (Num_18:21-24).

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

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 Gen_43:11 and Eze_27:17 (according to some commentators). Honey (like leaven) was forbidden for sacrificial use (Lev_2:11).

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 as soon as the commandment came abroad,.... Not only was published in the city of Jerusalem, but the report of it, or rather that itself, was spread throughout the cities of Judah:

the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey; the three first of these are expressed in the law, Deu 18:4 but not honey; wherefore the Targum here, and the Jewish writers in general, interpret it of the "dubsa" of the palm tree, as they call it, the fruit and liquor of that, which is of a sweet taste, and which the Scenite Arabs called "dabusa", as Pliny (w) from Juba relates; for so it should be read, and not "dabulan" or "dablan", as in some copies: but though honey was forbid to be used in sacrifice, it was not forbidden to be eaten; and as the land of Judea abounded with honey, properly so called, the priests might have the firstfruits of that as of other liquors; See Gill on Deu 8:8,

and of all the increase of the field; of the trees of it, vines, fig trees, pomegranates, &c. as Kimchi:

and the tithe of all things; even of herbs, as the same writer, and so the Talmud (x), which were free from tithes by the law, see Mat 23:23,

brought they in abundantly; even of all that their vineyards, oliveyards, and fields produced.

(w) Nat. Hist. l. 13. c. 4. (x) T. Bab. Nedarim, fol. 55. 1.

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

Honey - See the margin. It is doubtful whether bee-honey was liable to first-fruits. The sort here intended may therefore be that which, according to Josephus, was manufactured from dates.

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

Honey for the priests, not for sacrifice, Lev. ii. 11. It may include dates, or palm wine. See Pliny xiii. 4. C. --- Forth; only wheat, barley, the fruits of vine, olive, pomegranate, fig, and palm-trees. R. Solomon) Lev. xxvii. 30. C.

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).

As soon as the commandment came abroad; either,

1. As soon as the report of this command of the king, 2Ch 31:4, was got abroad into other parts. Or,

2. As soon as the king enlarged and extended that command to all the parts of his kingdom, which, 2Ch 31:4, was confined to them that dwell in Jerusalem. Honey, or, dates, as the Hebrew writers generally, and many other learned Hebricians, understand this word, which is given to them because of the sweetness of their taste, in some sort resembling honey. For the law requires no tithes but of the fruits of trees, or of the earth, or of beasts.

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

Honey; Hebrew, vbD. This is no doubt the proper word for the honey of bees, for see Jud 14:8-18; 1Sa_14:27; Psa_19:11, and many other passages. It is not certain, however, that the word did not cover other sweet preparations, as probably in Gen_43:11; Eze_27:17. The alternative reading, "dates," has thus come into the margin, but on very insufficient title, as, while there is doubt as to whether the honey of bees was generally tithed, there is none at all that the people"s pious zeal might prompt them to bring tithe of it voluntarily, among other things, that they at any time held in honour and had in abundance.

Vers. 5-19.

A nation"s liberality; or, a lecture on tithes.

I THE IMPOSITION OF THE TITHES. Done by the commandment of Hezekiah (ver. 5), not, however, acting in his own name and by his own authority, but merely publishing the Law of Jehovah for the maintenance of those who conducted the temple service. Under the old economy Jehovah was the sole Head of the Church, as Christ is under the new. For the Hebrew Church the exclusive source of legislation was not the sovereigns or prophets of the nation, but Jehovah; as for the Christian Church it is neither kings nor parliaments, neither Church dignitaries nor Church courts, but Jesus Christ. That which gave binding authority to Hezekiah"s commandment was not that it was "the word of a king", (Ecc_8:4) but that it was the ordinance of Jehovah as declared by Moses (Exo_23:19; Lev_27:30-33; Num_18:12, Num_18:13, Num_18:21, Num_18:24; Deu_26:2-4) That which lends weight to human legislation in the Christian Church is the circumstance that it accords with the teaching of Christ in the New Testament Scriptures.

II THE PAYING OF THE TITHES, ETC.

1. Promptly. "As soon as the commandment came abroad," the children of Israel began to pour in their contributions (ver. 5). The absence of delay, showed their zeal was not fanatical, but religious, and not seeming, but real the last thing to be affected by a man"s religion being his purse; perhapsalso it proved that the king"s liberality had been not without its influence (2Ch_30:24) as certainly it imparted additional value to their gifts. Qui cito dat bis dat.

2. Faithfully. Nothing was omitted or evaded that the Law enjoined. The people presented "the firstfruits of corn, and wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field;" paid in the tithes or tenth parts Jehovah had assigned as a portion for the whole tribe of Levi (ver. 5), as well as the tenth parts of such things as were dedicated to the Lord (ver. 6); and rendered free-will offerings to Jehovah over and above what had been directly commanded (ver. 14).

3. Unweariedly. It was no sudden fit of liberality which had overtaken them and quickly expended itself. The firstfruits presenting, tithe-paying, and free-will offering went on for four months (ver. 7). Many can do a generous deed when seized by a momentary impulse, but are wholly unable to bear the strain of continuous giving. That these ancient givers grew not tired of their liberality was a proof that it proceeded from principle rather than from impulse showed they were acting more from respect to the Divine Law than from a desire to gratify their own feelings.

4. Abundantly. So extraordinary was the outburst of liberality, that not only had the priests and Levites obtained the most ample maintenance, having had enough to eat and plenty over (ver. 10), but so fast came the people"s offerings in that they were obliged to be piled up in heaps (ver. 6), while so liberal had they been that, when the tithe season ended, so great a store remained (ver. 10), that the priests and Levites were guaranteed against want throughout the rest of the year. The Christian Church might herein find an example. It is poor policy, besides being unscriptural (Luk_10:7; 1Co_9:14) for Churches or congregations to starve or underpay their ministers.

5. Generally. Most likely there were those who refused to comply with the king"s commandment, acting from a spirit of avarice which could not bear to part with their goods, or a spirit of unbelief which secretly hankered after the false gods they had formerly worshipped, or from a spirit of indifference, because they had no real interest in religion; and doubtless there were those who gave grudgingly and of necessity, adhering strictly to the letter of the Law, never going beyond the bond if they could help it, and certainly never throwing in any free-will offerings; but manifestly also the main body of the people, in the northern kingdom (ver. 5) no less than in the southern (ver. 6), yielded obedience to the king"s commandment, and fell in with the order of the day.

III THE STORING OF THE TITHES.

1. The chambers for their reception. These were prepared in the house of the Lord (ver. 11), in accordance with instructions from Hezekiah, but whether they were old cells or new cannot be determined.

2. The officers for their supervision.

(1) Two superior Cononiah the Levite, and Shimei his brother (ver. 12).

(2) Ten inferior-Jehiel and Azaziah, Nahath and Asahel, Jeri-moth and Jozabad, Eliel and Ismachiah, Mahath and Benaiah who acted as subordinates and assistants to the two chiefs, who derived their authority from Hezekiah the king, the chief magistrate in the state, and Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok (ver. 10), and ruler of the house of God (ver. 12).

IV THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE TITHES, ETC.

1. The distributors.

(1) The chief Kore, signifying "Partridge" (Gesenius), a name borne by the son of Ebiasaph, (1Ch_9:18) and here by the son of Imnah. By descent a Levite, he was by occupation "a porter towards the east," i.e. keeper of the king"s gate on the east side of the temple.

(2) The assistants, six in number, named Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, resided in the cities of the priests in different parts of the country.

2. The distribution.

(1) Kore distributed to those priests and Levites who served in the temple, first of such things as were required for the maintenance of themselves and the male children over three years of age who accompanied their parents (being priests) to Jerusalem when the turn came for these to serve, and secondly of such things as were necessary for any portion of their temple service. The distribution to the priests was according to fathers" houses (ver. 17) so much for every house, according to its size; that to the Levites was to individuals from twenty years old and upwards, according to a carefully prepared register.

(2) The assistants distributed necessary portions to those priests and Levites who resided in the priests" cities, not being at the time engaged in active duty at the temple, and to the families of these as well as of those who were engaged (vers. 15-19). Both parts of this work were performed with scrupulous fidelity (ver. 18); the distributors "acted in a holy manner with the holy gifts," distributing them "impartially and disinterestedly to all who had any claim to them" (Keil).

Learn:

1. The duty of Christ"s people to support the ministers of religion.

2. The voluntary character of all acceptable payments towards religion.

3. The necessity of order and system in Church finance.

4. The excellence of Christian liberality. W.

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

Came abroad - As Soon as the king extended that command to all the parts of his kingdom, which, ver. 4, was confined to them that dwelt in Jerusalem. Honey - Or, dates, as the Hebrew writers generally, understand this word, which were given to them, because of the sweetness of their taste in some sort resembling honey. For the law requires no tithes, but of the fruits of trees, or of the earth, or of beasts.

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

And when the word burst forth from the king’s mouth to give a portion to the priests and the Levites, the Children of Israel increased the first of corn, wine, oil, honey date honey.

and all the increase of the field But all these [aforementioned] are not of the grain of the field, but so it is explained in Tractate Nedarim, in the chapter, “Whoever vows [to abstain] from herbs, is permitted to partake of pumpkins,” (55a): Rav Josef questioned: “And when the word burst forth, the Children of Israel increased, etc.” Now if you say that all these [i.e., all plants that are stacked up] are included in the term דָּגָן, what is the meaning of “when the word burst forth”? Replied Abbaye: This is to include fruit of trees and vegetables....Replied Rava: תְּבוּאָה (grain) is one thing, and תְּבוּאַת שָׂדֶה (increase of the field) is another.

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.