2 Chroniques - Caput 31

2 Chroniques 31.1 cumque haec fuissent rite celebrata egressus est omnis Israhel qui inventus fuerat in urbibus Iuda et fregerunt simulacra succideruntque lucos demoliti sunt excelsa et altaria destruxerunt non solum de universo Iuda et Beniamin sed de Ephraim quoque et Manasse donec penitus everterent reversique sunt omnes filii Israhel in possessiones et civitates suas 2 Chroniques 31.2 Ezechias vero constituit turmas sacerdotales et leviticas per divisiones suas unumquemque in officio proprio tam sacerdotum videlicet quam Levitarum ad holocausta et pacifica ut ministrarent et confiterentur canerentque in portis castrorum Domini 2 Chroniques 31.3 pars autem regis erat ut de propria eius substantia offerretur holocaustum mane semper et vespere sabbatis quoque et kalendis et sollemnitatibus ceteris sicut scriptum est in lege Mosi 2 Chroniques 31.4 praecepit etiam populo habitantium Hierusalem ut darent partes sacerdotibus et Levitis et possent vacare legi Domini 2 Chroniques 31.5 quod cum percrebruisset in auribus multitudinis plurimas obtulere primitias filii Israhel frumenti vini et olei mellis quoque et omnium quae gignit humus decimas obtulerunt 2 Chroniques 31.6 sed et filii Israhel et Iuda qui habitabant in urbibus Iuda obtulerunt decimas boum et ovium decimasque sanctorum quae voverant Domino Deo suo atque universa portantes fecerunt acervos plurimos 2 Chroniques 31.7 mense tertio coeperunt acervorum iacere fundamenta et mense septimo conpleverunt eos 2 Chroniques 31.8 cumque ingressi fuissent Ezechias et principes eius viderunt acervos et benedixerunt Domino ac populo Israhel 2 Chroniques 31.9 interrogavitque Ezechias sacerdotes et Levitas cur ita iacerent acervi 2 Chroniques 31.10 respondit illi Azarias sacerdos primus de stirpe Sadoc dicens ex quo coeperunt offerri primitiae in domo Domini comedimus et saturati sumus remanseruntque plurima eo quod benedixerit Dominus populo suo reliquiarum autem copia est ista quam cernis 2 Chroniques 31.11 praecepit igitur Ezechias ut praepararent horrea in domo Domini quod cum fecissent 2 Chroniques 31.12 intulerunt tam primitias quam decimas et quaecumque voverant fideliter fuit autem praefectus eorum Chonenias Levita et Semei frater eius secundus 2 Chroniques 31.13 post quem Ieihel et Azazias et Naath et Asahel et Ierimoth Iozabath quoque et Helihel et Iesmachias et Maath et Banaias praepositi sub manibus Choneniae et Semei fratris eius ex imperio Ezechiae regis et Azariae pontificis domus Domini ad quos omnia pertinebant 2 Chroniques 31.14 Core vero filius Iemna Levites et ianitor orientalis portae praepositus erat his quae sponte offerebantur Domino primitiisque et consecratis in sancta sanctorum 2 Chroniques 31.15 et sub cura eius Eden et Meniamin Hiesue et Sameias Amarias quoque et Sechenias in civitatibus sacerdotum ut fideliter distribuerent fratribus suis partes minoribus atque maioribus 2 Chroniques 31.16 exceptis maribus ab annis tribus et supra cunctis qui ingrediebantur templum Domini et quicquid per dies singulos conducebat in ministerio atque observationibus iuxta divisiones suas 2 Chroniques 31.17 sacerdotibus per familias et Levitis a vicesimo anno et supra per ordines et turmas suas 2 Chroniques 31.18 universaeque multitudini tam uxoribus quam liberis eorum utriusque sexus fideliter cibi de his quae sanctificata fuerant praebebantur 2 Chroniques 31.19 sed et filiorum Aaron per agros et suburbana urbium singularum dispositi erant viri qui partes distribuerent universo sexui masculino de sacerdotibus et Levitis 2 Chroniques 31.20 fecit ergo Ezechias universa quae diximus in omni Iuda operatusque est bonum et rectum et verum coram Domino Deo suo 2 Chroniques 31.21 in universa cultura ministerii domus Domini iuxta legem et caerimonias volens requirere Deum suum in toto corde suo fecitque et prosperatus est

2 Chroniques : Caput 31

Hezekiah's Reforms and Faithfulness to God

Chapter 31 of the book of 2 Chronicles highlights the significant reforms undertaken by King Hezekiah. This text questions how faithfulness to God is concretely translated into our daily lives and spiritual practices. Through the destruction of idols, the reorganization of the priesthood, and the restoration of tithes, Hezekiah offers us a model of devotion and respect for God's commandments.

Essential Themes

This chapter addresses fundamental themes such as stewardship, generosity, and the importance of supporting the ministry. Indeed, 2 Chronicles 31 highlights the prosperity that comes from obedience to God, illustrating that faithfulness brings spiritual and material blessings.

Five Bible Passages Related to Hezekiah's Principles

We invite you to meditate on five Bible passages that resonate with the principles outlined in this inspiring chapter:

Malachi 3:10

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Put Me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, and see if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out so much blessing upon you that you will not have nowhere to store them."

This verse reaffirms the importance of bringing our offerings and tithes to the temple, a central principle of 2 Chronicles 31.

1 Corinthians 9:13-14

"Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded those who preach the gospel to live according to the gospel."

Paul here emphasizes the importance of supporting the priests, a fundamental aspect also present in Hezekiah's reforms.

Nehemiah 13:10-12

"I also learned that the portions intended for the Levites were not being given to them, and that all the Levites and singers who were in charge of the service had returned to their own lands. So I rebuked the officials and asked them, 'Why is the temple of God forsaken?' So I summoned the Levites and placed them in their positions. All Judah was bringing tithes of grain, new wine, and oil into the granaries."

This passage echoes the need to maintain dedicated service at the temple, illustrating the importance of community engagement.

2 Kings 18:5-6

"Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before or after him. He clung to the Lord and did not stop following him; he obeyed the commandments the Lord had given to Moses."

This passage completes the account in 2 Chronicles 31, highlighting Hezekiah's exemplary faithfulness.

Proverbs 3:9-10

"Honor the Lord with all your resources and with the firstfruits of all your crops; your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your barrels will burst with wine."

This proverb recalls the principle of honoring God with our possessions, as also demonstrated in 2 Chronicles 31.

By meditating on these passages, we are called to renew our commitment to God and to live a life of faithfulness, generosity, and support for His work.