2 Chronicles 31:4
in 2 Chronicles 31Moreover, 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to the law of Jehovah.
KJV
Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the Lord.
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This verse in 2 Chronicles 31
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
That they might be encouraged ... - i. e. to devote themselves wholly to their proper work, the service of the sanctuary and the teaching of God’s Law 2Ch 17:7-9, and not engage in secular occupations. Compare Neh 13:10-14.
This site's exposition
singing praises at the gates of the LORD’s dwelling
on 2 Chronicles 31:2-4
Hezekiah “reestablished the divisions of the priests and Levites” that David had organized in 1 Chronicles 24 to 26. He funds the regular offerings “from his own possessions” before he asks anything of anyone else. Then he commands the people of Jerusalem to give the priests and Levites their share.
This site's exposition
devote themselves to the Law
The portion freed the priests and Levites from farm work so they could teach the Law, the task Jehoshaphat gave them at 17:7 to 9. Nehemiah 13:10 shows what happened when the portions stopped. The Levites went back to their fields.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
This had been long neglected, which made the work to be neglected (for a scandalous maintenance makes a scandalous ministry); but Hezekiah, having himself been liberal, might with a good grace require his subjects to be just to the temple service.
, was confined to them that dwelt in Jerusalem. Honey - Or, dates, as the Hebrew writers generally, understand this word, which were given to them, because of the sweetness of their taste in some sort resembling honey.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation
Moreover, he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
The first-fruits, even of some articles of produce that were unfit for sacrifice (Le 2:11), such as honey (Margin, "dates"), were appropriated to the priests (Nu 18:12, 13;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
The words behind it
12 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּ֤אמֶר | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| לָעָם֙ | laam | to the people | H5971 → | 1873 times |
| לְיוֹשְׁבֵ֣י | leyoshevei | to [the] inhabitants of | H3427 → | 1079 times |
| יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם | yerushalim | Jerusalem | H3389 → | 643 times |
| לָתֵ֕ת | latet | to give | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| מְנָ֥ת | menat | [the] portion of | H4521 → | |
| הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים | hakohanim | the priests | H3548 → | 750 times |
| וְהַלְוִיִּ֑ם | vehalviyim | and the Levites | H3881 → | 291 times |
| לְמַ֥עַן | lemaan | so that | H4616 → | 272 times |
| יֶחֶזְק֖וּ | yechezku | they may be strong | H2388 → | 291 times |
| בְּתוֹרַ֥ת | betorat | in [the] law of | H8451 → | 219 times |
| יְהוָֽה׃ | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
וַיֹּ֤אמֶרand he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
לָעָם֙to the people
laamH5971 →1873 times
לְיוֹשְׁבֵ֣יto [the] inhabitants of
leyosheveiH3427 →1079 times
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔םJerusalem
yerushalimH3389 →643 times
לָתֵ֕תto give
latetH5414 →2011 times
מְנָ֥ת[the] portion of
menatH4521 →
הַכֹּהֲנִ֖יםthe priests
hakohanimH3548 →750 times
וְהַלְוִיִּ֑םand the Levites
vehalviyimH3881 →291 times
לְמַ֥עַןso that
lemaanH4616 →272 times
יֶחֶזְק֖וּthey may be strong
yechezkuH2388 →291 times
בְּתוֹרַ֥תin [the] law of
betoratH8451 →219 times
יְהוָֽה׃Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Malachi 2:7For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 2:24–25
And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.
- Leviticus 10:11
so that you may teach the Israelites all the statutes that the LORD has given them through Moses.”
- Deuteronomy 21:5
And the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, for the LORD your God has chosen them to serve Him and pronounce blessings in His name and to give a ruling in every…
- 2 Corinthians 5:20
Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:8
Anyone, then, who rejects this command does not reject man but God, the very One who gives you His Holy Spirit.
- 2 Timothy 2:24–25
About 2 Chronicles
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.