Back to BooksSimple English

2 Chronicles

Covers Solomon's reign and the kingdom of Judah's history, emphasizing faithfulness to God.

Chapter 31

Back to Chapters

1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.

*After everything was done, all the people from Israel went to the cities of Judah and broke the statues into pieces, cut down the sacred trees, and knocked down the big places where they used to worship. They did this in Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh until there was nothing left. Then everyone went back to their homes and cities with what belonged to them.

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.

*Hezekiah organized the priests and Levites into groups, assigning each person their specific task. They were responsible for sacrifices, serving, giving thanks, and praising at the entrances of the Lord's tents.

3 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 the LORD.

*He set aside part of the king's wealth for special sacrifices. These included morning and evening offerings, Sabbath offerings, new moon offerings, and festival offerings, as described in God's law.

4 Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.

*He told the people living in Jerusalem to provide for the priests and Levites so they would be motivated to follow God's teachings.

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.

*As soon as the commandment was known, the Israelites brought lots of their first harvests of grain, grapes for wine, olive oil, and honey, along with all the growth from their fields. They also gave a tenth of everything they had in abundance.

6 And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps.

*Regarding the children of Israel and Judah living in Judah's cities, they too brought in the tenth of their cows and sheep, along with special items dedicated to the LORD their God. They piled these offerings up high.

7 In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.

*In the third month, they started building the mounds and completed them in the seventh month.

8 And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.

*When Hezekiah and the leaders arrived and saw the piles, they praised God and His people Israel.

9 Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.

*Then Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the piles.

10 And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.

*Azariah, the main priest from Zadok's family, replied, "Ever since the people started bringing offerings to God's house, we've had more than enough food, with lots leftover. This is because God has been kind to his people, and what's left is this huge surplus."

11 Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them,

*Then Hezekiah ordered to make rooms in God's house; and they made them.

12 And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next.

*And they brought the gifts, the money for the temple, and special items honestly. Cononiah the Levite was in charge, and Shimei, his brother, came after him.

13 And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.

*Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, Benaiah were helpers led by Cononiah and his brother Shimei. They followed the orders of King Hezekiah and Azariah, who was in charge of God's house.

14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of the LORD, and the most holy things.

*Kore, son of Imnah, a Levite and an eastern gatekeeper, managed the voluntary gifts given to God, as well as the special offerings and very holy items.

15 And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small:

*Next to him were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah. They served in the priest's cities, following their assigned duties. They provided for both the larger and smaller groups of their family.

16 Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto every one that entereth into the house of the LORD, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses;

*Besides the list of men, from age three and up, everyone who enters the Lord's house has a daily job to do based on their group and shifts.

17 Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses;

*For both the priests' family tree and the Levites aged 20 and above, their duties were divided according to their groups and turns.

18 And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness:

*To all the children, wives, sons, and daughters in the group, for they set themselves apart in purity as a special duty.

19 Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, which were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every several city, the men that were expressed by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites.

*Also, the sons of Aaron who were priests living in the outskirts of their cities divided each city's men by name. They gave portions to all male priests and to those counted by family history among the Levites.

20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.

*In this way, Hezekiah did good and fair things for all of Judah, always following and pleasing his God.

21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

*In everything he did for God's house, following the law and commands, he wholeheartedly sought God, and he succeeded.

Back to Chapters

* work in progress, there will be mistakes

Copyright © 2025 - Gema369 All Rights Reserved