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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>S E C O N D C H R O N I C L E S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXXI.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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We have here a further account of that blessed reformation of which
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Hezekiah was a glorious instrument, and of the happy advances he made
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in it.
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I. All the remnants of idolatry were destroyed and abolished,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:1">ver. 1</A>.
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II. The priests and Levites were set to work again, every man in his
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place,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:2">ver. 2</A>.
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III. Care was taken for their maintenance.
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1. The royal bounty to the clergy, and for the support of the temple
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service, was duly paid,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:3">ver. 3</A>.
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2. Orders were given for the raising of the people's quota,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:4">ver. 4</A>.
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3. The people, thereupon, brought in their dues abundantly,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:5-10">ver. 5-10</A>.
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4. Commissioners were appointed for the due distribution of what was
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brought in,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:11-19">ver. 11-19</A>.
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Lastly, Here is the general praise of Hezekiah's sincerity in all his
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undertakings,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:20,21">ver. 20, 21</A>.</P>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Hezekiah Destroys Idolatry.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 726.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present
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went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces,
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and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the
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altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and
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Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the
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children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into
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their own cities.
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2 And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the
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Levites after their courses, every man according to his service,
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the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace
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offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the
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gates of the tents of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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3 <I>He appointed</I> also the king's portion of his substance for
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the burnt offerings, <I>to wit,</I> for the morning and evening burnt
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offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the
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new moons, and for the set feasts, as <I>it is</I> written in the law
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of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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4 Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to
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give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might
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be encouraged in the law of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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5 And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of
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Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and
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oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the
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tithe of all <I>things</I> brought they in abundantly.
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6 And <I>concerning</I> the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt
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in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen
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and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated
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unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> their God, and laid <I>them</I> by heaps.
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7 In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the
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heaps, and finished <I>them</I> in the seventh month.
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8 And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps,
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they blessed the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and his people Israel.
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9 Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites
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concerning the heaps.
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10 And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered
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him, and said, Since <I>the people</I> began to bring the offerings
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into the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, we have had enough to eat, and have
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left plenty: for the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath blessed his people; and that which
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is left <I>is</I> this great store.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here an account of what was done after the passover. What was
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wanting in the solemnities of preparation for it before was made up in
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that which is better, a due improvement of it after. When the religious
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exercises of a Lord's day or a communion are finished we must not think
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that then the work is done. No, then the hardest part of our work
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begins, which is to exemplify the impressions of the ordinance upon our
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minds in all the instances of a holy conversation. So it was here; when
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all this was finished there was more to be done.</P>
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<P>
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I. They applied themselves with vigour to destroy all the monuments of
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idolatry,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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The king had done what he could of this kind
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+18:4">2 Kings xviii. 4</A>),
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but the people could discover those profane relics which escaped the
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eye of the king's officers, and therefore they went out to see what
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they could do,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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This was done immediately after the passover. Note, The comfort of
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communion with God should kindle in us a holy zeal and indignation
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against sin, against every thing that is offensive to God. If our
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hearts have been made to burn within us at an ordinance, that spirit of
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burning will consume the dross of corruption. <I>What have I</I> now
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<I>to do any more with idols?</I> Their zeal here in destroying the
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<I>images and groves, the high places and altars,</I> appeared,
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1. In that they did this, not only in the cities of Judah and Benjamin,
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but in those of Ephraim and Manasseh. Some think that those cities are
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meant which had come under the protection and the jurisdiction of the
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kings of Judah. Others think that, Hoshea king of Israel not forbidding
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it, their zeal carried them out to the destruction of idolatry even in
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many parts of his kingdom. At least those that came out of Ephraim and
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Manasseh to keep the passover (as many did,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+30:18"><I>ch.</I> xxx. 18</A>)
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destroyed all their own images and groves, and did the like for as many
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more as they had influence upon or could make interest in for leave to
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do it. We should not only reform ourselves, but do all we can to reform
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others too.
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2. They destroyed all: they <I>utterly destroyed all;</I> they spared
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none through favour or affection either to the images or to their
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worshippers; though ever so ancient, ever so costly, ever so beautiful,
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and ever so well patronised, yet they must all be destroyed. Note,
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Those that sincerely set themselves against sin will set themselves
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against all sin.
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3. They would not return to their houses, though they had been long
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absent, till this was done. They could not be easy, nor think
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themselves safe, in their cities, as long as the images and groves,
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those betrayers and destroyers of their country, were left standing.
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Perhaps the prophet Isaiah pointed to this when, a little before, he
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spoke of a day in which men should cast away the very idols that they
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themselves had made. So surprising was this blessed change,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+2:20,31:6,7">Isa. ii. 20; xxxi. 6, 7</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. Hezekiah revived and restored the courses of the priests and
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Levites, which David had appointed and which had of late been put out
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of course,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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The temple service was put into its proper method again, to run in the
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old channel. Every man was made to know his work, his place, his time,
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and what was expected from him. Note, Good order contributes much to
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the carrying on of a good work. The priests were appointed in their
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courses for <I>burnt-offerings and peace-offerings;</I> the Levites in
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their courses were some to minister to the priests, others to <I>give
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thanks and praise.</I> See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+23:4,5">1 Chron. xxiii. 4, 5</A>.
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And all this in the <I>gates</I> or <I>courts</I> of <I>the tents of
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the Lord.</I> The temple is here called a tent because the temple
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privileges are movable things and this temple was shortly to be
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removed.</P>
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<P>
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III. He appropriated a branch of the revenue of his crown to the
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maintenance and support of the altar. Though the people were to be at
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the charge of the daily offerings, and those on the sabbaths, new
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moons, and feasts, yet, rather than they should be burdened with the
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expense, he allowed out of his own estate, or out of his exchequer, for
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all those offerings,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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It was a generous act of piety, wherein he consulted both God's honour
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and his people's ease, as a faithful servant to him and a tender father
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to them. Let princes and great men reckon that well bestowed, and set
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out to the best interest, which they give for the support and
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encouragement of religion in their country.</P>
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<P>
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IV. He issued out an order to the inhabitants of Jerusalem first,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>
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(that those who were nearest the temple, and both saved and got by
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being so, might give a good example to others), but which was
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afterwards extended to, or at least admitted by, the <I>cities of
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Judah,</I> that they should carefully pay in their dues, according to
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the law, to the priests and Levites. This had been long neglected,
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which made the work to be neglected (for a scandalous maintenance makes
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a scandalous ministry); but Hezekiah, having himself been liberal,
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might with a good grace require his subjects to be just to the temple
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service. And observe the end he aims at in recovering and restoring to
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the priests and Levites their portion, that they <I>might be encouraged
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in the law of the Lord,</I> in the study of it, and in doing their duty
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according to it. Observe here,
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1. It is fit that ministers should be not only maintained, but
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encouraged, that they should not only be kept to do their work, but
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that they should also have wherewith to live comfortably, that they may
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do it with cheerfulness.
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2. Yet they are to be maintained, not in idleness, pride, and luxury,
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but in <I>the law of the Lord,</I> in their observance of it themselves
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and in teaching others the good knowledge of it.</P>
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<P>
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V. The people thereupon brought in their tithes very readily. They
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wanted nothing but to be called upon; and therefore, <I>as soon as the
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commandment came abroad,</I> the first-fruits and all the holy things
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were duly brought in,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:5,6"><I>v.</I> 5, 6</A>.
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What the priests had occasion for, for themselves and their families,
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they made use of, and the overplus was <I>laid in heaps,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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All harvest-time they were increasing these heaps, as the fruits of the
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earth were gathered in; for God was to have his dues out of them all.
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Though a prescription may be pleaded for a <I>modus decimandi--tenth
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proportion,</I> yet it cannot be pleaded <I>pro non decminado--for the
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omission of the tenth.</I> When harvest ended they finished their
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heaps,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Now here we have,
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1. The account given to Hezekiah concerning those heaps. He
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<I>questioned the priests and Levites</I> concerning them, why they did
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not use what was paid in, but hoarded it up thus,
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
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to which it was answered that they had made use of all they had
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occasion for, for the maintenance of themselves and their families and
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for their winter store, and that this was that which was left over and
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above,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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They did not hoard these heaps for covetousness, but to show what
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plentiful provision God by his law had made for them, if they could but
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have it collected and brought in, and that those who conscientiously
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give God his dues out of their estates bring a blessing upon all they
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have: <I>Since they began to bring in the offerings the Lord has
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blessed his people.</I> See for this
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hag+2:19">Hag. ii. 19</A>.
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"Try me," says God, "if you will not otherwise trust me, whether, upon
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your bringing the tithes into the store-house, you have not a blessing
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poured out upon you,"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+3:10,11,Eze+44:30">Mal. iii. 10, 11; Ezek. xliv. 30</A>.
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2. The acknowledgment which the king and princes made of it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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They gave thanks to God for his good providence, which gave them
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something to bring, and his good grace, which gave them hearts to bring
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it. And they also <I>blessed the people,</I> that is, commended them
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for their doing well now, without reproaching them for their former
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neglects. It is observable that after they had tasted the sweetness of
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God's ordinance, in the late comfortable passover, they were thus free
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in maintaining the temple service. Those that experience the benefit of
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a settled ministry will not grudge the expense of it.</P>
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<A NAME="2Ch31_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch31_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch31_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch31_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch31_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch31_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch31_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch31_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch31_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch31_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch31_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Maintenance of the Priests.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 720.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>11 Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; and they prepared <I>them,</I>
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12 And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the
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dedicated <I>things</I> faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite
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<I>was</I> ruler, and Shimei his brother <I>was</I> the next.
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13 And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and
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Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and
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Benaiah, <I>were</I> overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei
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his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah
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the ruler of the house of God.
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14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the
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east, <I>was</I> over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the
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oblations of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and the most holy things.
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15 And next him <I>were</I> Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and
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Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests,
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in <I>their</I> set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as
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well to the great as to the small:
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16 Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and
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upward, <I>even</I> unto every one that entereth into the house of the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, his daily portion for their service in their charges
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according to their courses;
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17 Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their
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fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in
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their charges by their courses;
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18 And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives,
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and their sons, and their daughters, through all the
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congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves
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in holiness:
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19 Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, <I>which were</I> in the
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fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every several city, the
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men that were expressed by name, to give portions to all the
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males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by
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genealogies among the Levites.
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20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought
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<I>that which was</I> good and right and truth before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> his
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God.
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21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house
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of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God,
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he did <I>it</I> with all his heart, and prospered.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here we have,</P>
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<P>
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I. Two particular instances of the care of Hezekiah concerning church
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matters, having put them into good order, to keep them so. The tithes
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and other holy things being brought in, he provided,
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1. That they should be carefully laid up, and not left exposed in loose
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heaps, liable to be wasted and embezzled. He ordered chambers to be
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made ready in some of the courts of the temple for store-chambers
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
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and into them the offerings were brought and there kept under lock and
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key,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:12,13"><I>v.</I> 12, 13</A>.
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Treasures or store-keepers were appointed, who had the oversight of
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them, to see that <I>moth and rust</I> did not <I>corrupt</I> them nor
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<I>thieves break through to steal.</I> This wisdom of laying up the
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surplus in days of plenty we may learn from the ant, who <I>provideth
|
|
meat in summer.</I> The laying up in store what was brought in was an
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|
encouragement to people to pay in their contributions. That will be
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|
given cheerfully by the public which appears to be well husbanded.
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2. That they should be faithfully laid out, according to the uses they
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|
were intended for. Church treasures are not to be hoarded any longer
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|
than till there is occasion for them, lest even the rust should be a
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|
witness against those who hoard them. Officers were appointed, men (no
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doubt) of approved wisdom and faithfulness, to <I>distribute the
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oblations of the Lord and the most holy things</I> among the priests
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
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and to see that they all had a competent maintenance for themselves and
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their families. The law provided sufficient for them all, and
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therefore, if some had too little, it must be because others had too
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|
much; to prevent such inequality these officers were to go by some
|
|
certain rule of proportion in the disposal of the incomes of the
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|
temple. It is said of the priests here
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>)
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<I>that in their set office they sanctified themselves; in faith</I>
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they sanctified themselves (so the word is), that is, as bishop Patrick
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|
explains it, they attended their ministry at the house of God, not
|
|
doubting but they should be provided with all things necessary. Now,
|
|
because they served God in that confidence, care was taken that they
|
|
should not be made ashamed of their hope. Note, Those that sanctify
|
|
themselves to God and his service in faith, believing that he will see
|
|
them want for nothing that is good for them, <I>shall</I> certainly
|
|
<I>be fed.</I> Out of the offerings of the Lord distribution was made,
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|
(1.) To the priests in the cities
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>),
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|
who staid at home while their brethren went to Jerusalem, and did good
|
|
there in <I>teaching the good knowledge of the Lord.</I> The preaching
|
|
priests were maintained as well as the sacrificing priests, and those
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|
that abode by the stuff as well as those that warred the warfare.
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(2.) To those that <I>entered into the house of the Lord,</I> all the
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|
<I>males from three years old and upwards;</I> for the male children
|
|
even at that tender age, it seems, were allowed to come into the temple
|
|
with their parents, and shared with them in this distribution,
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
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(3.) Even the Levites from twenty years old and upwards had their
|
|
share,
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
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(4.) The wives and children of the priests and Levites had a
|
|
comfortable maintenance out of those offerings,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
In maintaining ministers, regard must be had to their families, that
|
|
not they only, but theirs, may have food convenient. In some countries
|
|
where ministers have their salary paid them by the state an addition is
|
|
made to it upon the birth of a child.
|
|
|
|
(5.) The priests in the country, that lived <I>in the fields of the
|
|
suburbs,</I> were not overlooked in this ministration,
|
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|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
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|
Those also had their share who were <I>inhabitants of the villages,</I>
|
|
though they might be supposed to live at a less expense.</P>
|
|
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|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. A general character of Hezekiah's services for the support of
|
|
religion,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+31:20,21"><I>v.</I> 20, 21</A>.
|
|
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|
1. His pious zeal reached to all the parts of his kingdom: <I>Thus he
|
|
did throughout all Judah;</I> every part of the country, and not those
|
|
only that lay next him, shared in the good fruits of his government.
|
|
|
|
2. He sincerely designed to please God, and approved himself to him in
|
|
all he did: He <I>wrought that which was good before the Lord his
|
|
God;</I> all his care was to do that which should be accepted of God,
|
|
which was <I>right</I> (that is, agreeable to natural equity), <I>and
|
|
truth</I> (that is, agreeable to divine revelation and his covenant
|
|
with God), <I>before the Lord;</I> to do according to that law which is
|
|
holy, just, and good.
|
|
|
|
3. What he began he went through with, prosecuted it with vigour, and
|
|
<I>did it with all his heart.</I>
|
|
|
|
4. All his good intentions were brought to a good issue; whatever he
|
|
did in the service of the house of God, and in the government of his
|
|
kingdom, he prospered in it. Note, What is undertaken with a sincere
|
|
regard to the glory of God will succeed to our own honour and comfort
|
|
at last.</P>
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