Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Chronicles 31
Charles Ellicott Commentary
2 Chronicles 31
Charles Ellicott Commentary
2 Chronicles 31
"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 Chronicles 31:1 (ASV)
Destruction of the images and high places in both kingdoms. (Compare to 2 Kings 18:4.)
Now when all this was finished. — And when they had finished all this —that is, the business of the Passover.
All Israel that were present went out. —Their iconoclastic zeal had been thoroughly roused by the festival in which they had just taken part.
The images. — Maççebôth, “pillars.” (See Hosea 3:4, and 2 Chronicles 14:2.)
The groves. — The Ashçrîm. The sacred trunks, emblematic of physical fertility. (Compare to Hosea 4:13.)
In Ephraim also and Manasseh. —That is, in the territory of the northern kingdom, which was at this time in the last stage of political weakness, and rapidly drifting towards final ruin. The band of Jewish and Israelite zealots would not, therefore, be likely to encounter any serious opposition.
Until they had utterly destroyed. —‘Adlĕkallçh (2 Chronicles 24:10). Literally, so far as to finishing.
"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." — 2 Chronicles 31:2 (ASV)
The courses ... their courses. —Hezekiah restored the system of service in rotation, ascribed to David. (Compare to 2 Chronicles 8:14, according to the order of David.)
Every man according to his service. —See the same phrase in Numbers 7:5; Numbers 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. Septuagint, 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. Compare to 1 Chronicles 9:18–19, where the phrase is explained.
"[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." — 2 Chronicles 31:3 (ASV)
He appointed also ... set feasts. —Rather, And the king’s portion (that is, the part he contributed) from his property was for the burnt offerings—namely, for the burnt offerings of the morning and the evening, and the burnt offerings on the Sabbath, and the new moons, the set feasts. The king gave the victims for the sacrifices prescribed in Numbers 28:29, out of his own revenues. See the account of his wealth (2 Chronicles 32:27–29). The “set feasts” were the three great festivals, and so on, enumerated in Numbers, in the place cited.
"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." — 2 Chronicles 31:4 (ASV)
Moreover. —Literally, And he said to the people, namely, to the dwellers in Jerusalem. (Compare 2 Chronicles 24:8; 1 Chronicles 21:17.)
The portion of the priests and the Levites. —The firstfruits and tithes, ordained in Exodus 23:19; Leviticus 27:30–33; Numbers 18:12; Numbers 18:20–24; Deuteronomy 26.
That they might be encouraged in the law. —Rather, that they might stick fast to the law. For this use of châdzaq, compare 2 Samuel 18:9, his head stuck fast in the terebinth. The meaning is, that they might be enabled to devote themselves wholly and solely to their religious duties, without being distracted by any secular anxieties. (See Nehemiah 13:10, And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given, for the Levites and the singers that did the work were fled every one to his field.)
"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." — 2 Chronicles 31:5 (ASV)
And ... came abroad. — Literally, And when the word broke forth — that is, spread abroad.
The children of Israel. — This refers to the people of Jerusalem, who in the chronicler’s day had a preeminent right to the name. (See the commentary on the next verse.) The firstfruits were for the priests (Numbers 18:12 and following, where the oil, wine, and wheat are specified).
And the tithe ... abundantly. — This was for the Levites (Numbers 18:21–24).
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