2 Chronicles 31

This chapter was originally written in the Hebrew language and is divided into 21 verses.

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes the Codex Leningradensis (1008).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=36-37}}{{efn|Since 1947 the current text of Aleppo Codex is missing 2 Chronicles 26:19–35:7.{{citation | author=P. W. Skehan | contribution=BIBLE (TEXTS) | title=New Catholic Encyclopedia | edition=2nd | volume=2 | publisher=Gale | year=2003 | pages=355–362}}}}

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; $\backslash mathfrak\{G\}$^B; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; $\backslash mathfrak\{G\}$^A; 5th century).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=73-74}}{{efn|The whole book of 2 Chronicles is missing from the extant Codex Sinaiticus.{{Cite book |last=Würthwein |first=Ernst |title=Der Text des Alten Testaments |publisher=Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft |edition=2nd |place=Stuttgart |year=1988 |url= |page=85 |isbn= 3-438-06006-X}}{{Cite book |last=Swete |first=Henry Barclay |authorlink= Henry Barclay Swete |title= An Introduction to the Old Testament in Greek |publisher= Macmillan and Co. |location=Cambridge |year=1902 |url= https://archive.org/stream/anintrotooldtes00swetuoft#page/128/mode/2up |pages= 129–130}}{{Catholic Encyclopedia|wstitle= Codex Sinaiticus}}}}

{{see also|Hezekiah#Restoration of the Temple}}

Verse 1 parallels to 2 Kings 18:4 summarizing Hezekiah's reforming measures.{{sfn|Mathys|2007|p=302}} Once the temple service was reinstalled, Hezekiah reinstated the priestly and Levitical divisions as set out by David (1 Chronicles 23–26; 1 Chronicles 28:13, 21) and implemented by Solomon (cf. 2 Chronicles 8:14; 23:18–19), then Hezekiah organized the tithes.{{sfn|Mathys|2007|p=303}}{{sfn|Coogan|2007|p=659 Hebrew Bible}} The king also contributed to the support of the Temple and its workers, like David did (1 Chronicles 22:14–16; 29:2–5), and likewise responded by the people with their generosity (cf. 1 Chronicles 29:6–9).{{sfn|Coogan|2007|p=659 Hebrew Bible}} The chief priest in Hezekiah's time was Azariah, which has the same name of the chief priest under Solomon, both from the lineage of Zadok, portraying Hezekiah in similar light to David and Solomon although their names were not explicitly mentioned in this chapter.{{sfn|Mathys|2007|p=303}}

: In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.{{bibleverse|2 Chronicles|31:7|KJV}} KJV

• "The third month" (Sivan; usually May–June) is the month of the grain harvest and at the same time the month of the harvest festival (called "Shavuot", "Feast of weeks", "Feast of Harvest", "Feast of Firstfruits" or "Pentecost"),{{sfn|Mathys|2007|p=303}}Ellicott, C. J. (Ed.) (1905). [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/2_chronicles/31.htm Ellicott's Bible Commentary for English Readers. 2 Chronicles 31.] London : Cassell and Company, Limited, [1905-1906] Online version: (OCoLC) 929526708. Accessed 28 April 2019.Keil, Carl Friedrich; Delitzsch, Franz. [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/kad/2_chronicles/31.htm Commentary on the Old Testament (1857-1878). 2 Chronicles 31]. Accessed 24 Juni 2018. which fell about the sixth day of the month when the tithe in kind would be paid.Exell, Joseph S.; Spence-Jones, Henry Donald Maurice (Editors). [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/2_chronicles/31.htm On "2 Chronicles 31".] In: The Pulpit Commentary. 23 volumes. First publication: 1890. Accessed 24 April 2019.
• "The seventh month" (Tishrei; usually September to October): is the period of vine and fruit harvesting and the celebration of the Feast of Ingathering ("Sukkot" or "Feast of Tabernacles").{{sfn|Mathys|2007|p=303}}

The abundance of tithes needed to stored so king Hezekiah ordered to build or renovate more chambers for the purpose. Two Levites (Cononiah and Shimei) administered "the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things", with the assistance of ten 'overseers' (Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah), leading to the 'round sum of twelve' (verses 11–13).{{sfn|Mathys|2007|p=303}} Verses 14–19 detail the distribution of the offerings as the financial support for the priests and Levites on the basis of the number and size of the family (cf. {{bibleverse|1 Chronicles|23:3|9}}), both in Jerusalem and in the other cities.{{sfn|Mathys|2007|p=303}} Verses 20–21 parallel to {{bibleverse|2 Kings|18:5–7|9}} in the assessment of Hezekiah's reign,{{sfn|Mathys|2007|p=302}} praising Hezekiah more than for any other king of Judah, describing him in a specific threefold praise: "good and right and faithful before the LORD".{{sfn|Mathys|2007|p=303}}

: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.{{bibleverse|2 Chronicles|31:19|KJV}} KJV

• "The fields of the suburbs of their cities": see {{bibleverse|Leviticus|25:32–34|9}}; {{bibleverse|Numbers|35:2–5|9}}
• "Expressed by name": meaning that 'all priests and Levites of full age were sacredly remembered and similarly carefully provided'; see {{bibleverse|1 Chronicles|12:31|9}}; {{bibleverse|2 Chronicles|28:15|9}}

{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|

• Aaron
• Asherah pole
• Biblical Sabbath
• David
• First Fruits
• Jerusalem
• Jewish holidays
• Kohen
• Levites
• Moses
• New moon
• Tribe of Benjamin
• Tribe of Ephraim
• Tribe of Manasseh
• Solomon
• Zadok}}
• Related Bible parts: Leviticus 25, Numbers 35, 2 Kings 18, 2 Chronicles 29, 2 Chronicles 30

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite book | last= Ackroyd | first= Peter R |chapter = Chronicles, Books of

|editor1-last = Metzger |editor1-first = Bruce M

|editor1-link = Bruce M. Metzger

|editor2-last = Coogan |editor2-first = Michael D |title = The Oxford Companion to the Bible

|publisher = Oxford University Press |year = 1993 |isbn = 978-0195046458 | pages= 113–116}}

• {{Cite book | last= Bennett | first= William|title = The Expositor's Bible: The Books of Chronicles|publisher = Litres|year = 2018 |isbn = 978-5040825196 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SZo3DwAAQBAJ }}
• {{cite book|last= Coogan|first = Michael David| authorlink= Michael D. Coogan |title = The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: New Revised Standard Version, Issue 48 |editor-last1=Coogan |editor-first1=Michael David |editor-first2=Marc Zvi |editor-last2= Brettler |editor-first3=Carol Ann |editor-last3= Newsom |editor-first4= Pheme |editor-last4= Perkins |edition= Augmented 3rd |publisher = Oxford University Press |year =2007 |isbn = 9780195288810 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=HmpMPgAACAAJ}}
• {{cite book|last= Mabie | first= Frederick | chapter = I. The Chronicler's Genealogical Survey of All Israel | title= 1 and 2 Chronicles |series = The Expositor's Bible Commentary | editor-first1= Tremper | editor-last1=Longman III | editor-first2=David E | editor-last2= Garland | publisher = Zondervan | date = 2017 | pages = 267–308 | isbn = 978-0310531814 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=E8ESDgAAQBAJ | access-date=December 6, 2019}}
• {{cite book|last= Mathys | first= H. P. | chapter = 14. 1 and 2 Chronicles | title=The Oxford Bible Commentary | editor-first1=John | editor-last1=Barton |editor1-link = John Barton (theologian) | editor-first2=John| editor-last2= Muddiman |editor2-link = John Muddiman | publisher = Oxford University Press |edition= first (paperback) | date = 2007 | pages = 267–308 | isbn = 978-0199277186 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJdVkgEACAAJ| access-date=February 6, 2019}}
• {{cite book | last = Würthwein | first = Ernst | author-link = Ernst Würthwein | title = The Text of the Old Testament | publisher = William B. Eerdmans |location = Grand Rapids, MI | year= 1995 | translator-first1 = Erroll F.| translator-last1 = Rhodes |isbn = 0-8028-0788-7 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FSNKSBObCYwC | access-date= January 26, 2019}}

• Jewish translations:
• [https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16580 Divrei Hayamim II - II Chronicles - Chapter 31 (Judaica Press)] in Hebrew and English translation [with Rashi's commentary] at Chabad.org
• Christian translations:
• [http://www.gospelhall.org/bible/bible.php?passage=2+Chronicles+31 Online Bible at GospelHall.org] (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
• [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=14&chapter=31&version=9 2 Chronicles Chapter 31. Bible Gateway]

{{Second Book of Chronicles}}

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