2 Chronicles 31:1-4

31:1 When all this was over, the Israelites ¹  who were in the cities of Judah went out and smashed the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and demolished ²  all the high places and altars throughout Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. ³  Then all the Israelites returned to their own homes in their cities. ⁴ 

The People Contribute to the Temple

31:2 Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and Levites to do their assigned tasks ⁵  – to offer burnt sacrifices and present offerings and to serve, give thanks, and offer praise in the gates of the Lord’s sanctuary. ⁶ 

31:3 The king contributed ⁷  some of what he owned for burnt sacrifices, including the morning and evening burnt sacrifices and the burnt sacrifices made on Sabbaths, new moon festivals, and at other appointed times prescribed ⁸  in the law of the Lord. 31:4 He ordered ⁹  the people living in Jerusalem ¹⁰  to contribute the portion prescribed for the priests and Levites so they might be obedient ¹¹  to the law of the Lord.

[31:1]  ¹ tn Heb “all Israel.”

[31:1]  ² tn Or “tore down.”

[31:1]  ³ tn Heb “the high places and the altars from all Judah and Benjamin and in Ephraim and in Manasseh until finished.”

[31:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “and the sons of Israel returned, each to his possession to their cities.”

[31:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “and Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites according to their divisions, each in accordance with his service for the priests and for the Levites.”

[31:2]  ⁶ tn Heb “in the gates of the encampments of the Lord.”

[31:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “the portion of the king [was].”

[31:3]  ⁸ tn Heb “as written.”

[31:4]  ⁹ tn Heb “said to.”

[31:4]  ¹⁰ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[31:4]  ¹¹ tn Heb “might hold firmly.”