Bible Commentaries

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.

Now when all this was finished. — Now that they had heard the law, received the sacrament, and had their hearts filled with the joy of the Lord, which was their strength, and graciously lifted up in the Lord’s ways, as 2 Chronicles 17:6 , they returned not home, till they had first done these zealous acts.

And brake the images in pieces. — They with their king. 2 Kings 18:4

In Ephraim also and Manasseh. — Such cities therein as were subject to Hezekiah. Or if they went further, they looked upon Hoshea then king of Israel as a usurper: and he being rather an atheist than idolater, suffered the people haply to do herein as they would, so that he might be suffered to sit in the throne.

Returned every man to his possession. — They did not cast off their callings, and all care of their affairs, now that they were enlightened, as some of our sectaries hold themselves bound to do.

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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.

In the gates of the tents of the Lord, — i.e., Of the temple, fitly compared to a camp, for the watch and ward there kept by the priests, and for the convention of the people thither, as to their rendezvous, to pray, which is the chief service of our spiritual warfare.

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[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 appointed also the king’s portion of his substance. — That is, Of his proper goods, and at his own particular cost. This he did of his princely liberality, for the ease of the people, who had been miserably peeled out and impoverished in his father’s days.

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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.

That they might be encouraged. — That having των αναγκαιων χωρηγιαν , as Chrysostom hath it, a liberal subsistence, they might serve the Lord without distraction, and with much alacrity: for

“ Pluribus intentus minor est ad singula sensus. ”

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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.

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. — Libenter et liberaliter. 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. Maligne dantibas maledicit Deus Malachi 3:9 To colour the matter, conscience is pretended by some: but the apostle telleth them it is not conscience, but covetousness. 2 Corinthians 9:5

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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.

Which were consecrated unto the Lord, — i.e., Such as, over and above the tithes ordinarily appointed to be paid, any did voluntarily vow to give: so the Vulgate. See 2 Chronicles 31:8 .

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

In the third month. — About pentecost which is called the feast of harvest.

They began to lay the foundation of the heaps. — That is, Of the grain stacks, brought by the people into the tithe barns. Malachi 3:10 This they did not, till the king both exhorted them, and began to them.

And finished them in the seventh month. — About the feast of tabernacles, called the feast of ingathering at the end of the year. Exodus 23:16

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

They blessed the Lord. — For so good a year; but especially for so good a frame of spirit in the people.

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