2 Tawarikh 31:4-10

31:4 He ordered ¹  the people living in Jerusalem ²  to contribute the portion prescribed for the priests and Levites so they might be obedient ³  to the law of the Lord. 31:5 When the edict was issued, ⁴  the Israelites freely contributed ⁵  the initial portion of their grain, wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a tenth of everything, which added up to a huge amount. 31:6 The Israelites and people of Judah ⁶  who lived in the cities of Judah also contributed a tenth of their cattle and sheep, as well as a tenth of the holy items consecrated to the Lord their God. They brought them and placed them in many heaps. ⁷  31:7 In the third month they began piling their contributions in heaps ⁸  and finished in the seventh month. 31:8 When Hezekiah and the officials came and saw the heaps, they praised the Lord and pronounced blessings on his people Israel. ⁹ 

31:9 When Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the heaps, 31:10 Azariah, the head priest from the family of Zadok, said to him, “Since the contributions began arriving in the Lord’s temple, we have had plenty to eat and have a large quantity left over. For the Lord has blessed his people, and this large amount remains.”

[31:4]  ¹ tn Heb “said to.”

[31:4]  ² map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[31:4]  ³ tn Heb “might hold firmly.”

[31:5]  ⁴ tn Heb “and when the word spread out.”

[31:5]  ⁵ tn Heb “the sons of Israel multiplied.”

[31:6]  ⁶ tn Heb “and the sons of Israel and Judah.”

[31:6]  ⁷ tn Heb “heaps, heaps.” Repetition of the noun draws attention to the large number of heaps.

[31:7]  ⁸ tn Heb “they began the heaps, to establish.”

[31:8]  ⁹ tn Heb “they blessed the Lord and his people Israel.”