Contributions for Worship
Hezekiah gives from his own possessions for the regular offerings and commands the people of Jerusalem to support the priests and Levites so they can devote themselves to the LORD’s law.
T3he king contributed from his own possessions for the regular morning and evening burnt offerings and for the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts, as written in the Law of the LORD. 4Moreover, he commanded the people living in Jerusalem to make a contribution for the priests and Levites so that they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD.
The people respond at once with firstfruits, tithes, and consecrated gifts from field, herd, and flock. The offerings accumulate over months into large heaps.
5As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously provided the firstfruits of the grain, new wine, oil, and honey, and of all the produce of the field, and they brought in an abundance — a tithe of everything. 6And the Israelites and Judahites who lived in the cities of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things consecrated to the LORD their God, and they laid them in large heaps. 7In the third month they began building up the heaps, and they finished in the seventh month.
Hezekiah and his officials see the heaps and bless the LORD and His people. Azariah explains that the abundance remains because the LORD has blessed the people beyond what the priests needed.
8When Hezekiah and his officials came and viewed the heaps, they blessed the LORD and His people Israel. 9Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and Levites about the heaps, 10and Azariah, the chief priest of the household of Zadok, answered him, “Since the people began to bring their contributions into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and there is plenty left over, because the LORD has blessed His people; this great abundance is what is left over.”