311 Now when all this was finished , all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah , broke the pillars in pieces , cut down the Asherim and pulled down the high places and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin , as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh , until they had destroyed them all . Then all the sons of Israel returned to their cities , each to his possession .
2 And Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites by their divisions , each 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 the Lord . 3 He also appointed the king's portion of his goods for the burnt offerings , namely, for the morning and evening burnt offerings , and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths and for the new moons and for the fixed festivals , as it is written in the law of the Lord . 4 Also he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the priests and the Levites , that they might devote themselves to the law of the Lord . 5 As soon as the order spread , the sons of Israel provided in abundance the first fruits of grain , new wine , oil , honey and of all the produce of the field ; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of all . 6 The sons of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep , and the tithe of sacred gifts which were consecrated to the Lord their God , and placed them in heaps . 7 In the third month they began to make the heaps , and finished them by the seventh month . 8 When Hezekiah and the rulers came and saw the heaps , they blessed the Lord and His people Israel . 9 Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps . 10 Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok said to him, " Since the contributions began to be brought into the house of the Lord , we have had enough to eat with plenty left over , for the Lord has blessed His people , and this great quantity is left over ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 31:1-10
Chapter Contents
Hezekiah destroys idolatry.
After the passover, the people of Israel applied with vigour to destroy the monuments of idolatry. Public ordinances should stir us up to cleanse our hearts, our houses, and shops, from the filth of sin, and the idolatry of covetousness, and to excite others to do the same. The after-improvement of solemn ordinances, is of the greatest importance to personal, family, and public religion. When they had tasted the sweetness of God's ordinance in the late passover, they were free in maintaining the temple service. Those who enjoy the benefit of a settled ministry, will not grudge the expense of it. In all that Hezekiah attempted in God's service, he was earnest and single in his aim and dependence, and was prospered accordingly. Whether we have few or many talents intrusted to us, may we thus seek to improve them, and encourage others to do the same. What is undertaken with a sincere regard to the glory of God, will succeed to our own honour and comfort at last.