^31:4He ordered⁹ the people living in Jerusalem¹⁰ to contribute the portion prescribed for the priests and Levites so they might be obedient¹¹ to the law of the Lord. ^31:5When the edict was issued,¹² the Israelites freely contributed¹³ 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. ^31:6The Israelites and people of Judah¹⁴ 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.¹⁵^31:7In the third month they began piling their contributions in heaps¹⁶ and finished in the seventh month. ^31:8When Hezekiah and the officials came and saw the heaps, they praised the Lord and pronounced blessings on his people Israel.¹⁷

^31:9When Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the heaps, ^31:10Azariah, 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.”

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Footnotes

9 Heb “said to.”
10 For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
11 Heb “might hold firmly.”
12 Heb “and when the word spread out.”
13 Heb “the sons of Israel multiplied.”
14 Heb “and the sons of Israel and Judah.”
15 Heb “heaps, heaps.” Repetition of the noun draws attention to the large number of heaps.
16 Heb “they began the heaps, to establish.”
17 Heb “they blessed the Lord and his people Israel.”