In Deuteronomy 14 we studied the regulations for tithing and we learned that the tithes were used to take care of the priests and Levites and their families, the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows. If the people do not bring their tithes as commanded by the Lord, the priests and Levites won't be able to support their families without working secular jobs in addition to their work for the Lord. This could lead to them abandoning their calling in the Lord altogether. In addition, the poor of the land will suffer. It won't be as easy for foreigners and widows and young children to obtain adequate employment as it would be for the adult native-born priests and Levites. Not bringing tithes and offerings to the house of God shows a disregard for those who minister at the house of God. It shows a disregard for the disadvantaged in the land. It shows a disregard for God Himself, who put these regulations in place for the benefit of all.
In today's text we will look at those Hezekiah put in charge of inventorying and distributing these commodities. We will see them carrying out their duties faithfully. Because they are fulfilling their duties in a manner that is above reproach, we find many of these people honored by having their names recorded in the Holy Bible.
"Hezekiah gave orders to prepare storerooms in the temple of the Lord, and this was done. Then they faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes and dedicated gifts. Konaniah, a Levite, was the overseer in charge of these things, and his brother Shemei was next in rank. Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismakiah, Mahath and Benaiah were assistants of Konaniah and Shemei his brother. All these served by appointment of King Hezekiah and Azariah the official in charge of the temple of God." (2 Chronicles 31:11-13) I'm reminded of the instructions of the Apostle Paul to the Christian church when he said that everything in the church must be done "in a fitting and orderly way". (1 Corinthians 14:40) These men are carrying out their responsibilities in a fitting and orderly way, showing their reverence for the Lord by their actions.
I've heard it said that modern churches are run too much like businesses, but unless a congregation has lost its heart for the Lord, running the church in an orderly manner with a clearly-defined hierarchy is not something that should be criticized. It's important to have easily-understandable procedures in place---procedures that are governed by the word of God---so that the Lord is honored when everything is done in an obedient, transparent, and orderly fashion. He is not "a God of disorder", as the Apostle Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 14:33. It does not honor Him when there are no guidelines in place at the church, when no one understands who is supposed to do what, and when there is no accountability or transparency regarding how tithes and offerings are being used.
"Kore son of Imnah the Levite, keeper of the East Gate, was in charge of the freewill offerings given to God, distributing the offerings made to the Lord and also the consecrated gifts. Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah and Shekaniah assisted him faithfully in the towns of the priests, distributing to their fellow priests according to their divisions, old and young alike." (2 Chronicles 31:14-15) No one is given preferential treatment in this distribution. An aged priest is not treated with more honor than a young priest. A young and energetic priest is not treated with more honor than an elderly and feeble priest. These goods being distributed are the basic necessities for life, not performance bonuses or gifts to commemorate years of service.
Even young children---males of the tribe of Levi from the age of three up to the age of majority---are counted in this allotment. "In addition, they distributed to the males three years old or more whose names were in the genealogical records---all who would enter the temple of the Lord to perform the daily duties of their various tasks, according to their responsibilities and their divisions." (2 Chronicles 31:16) Earlier in the Bible we found all males counted in the census and genealogical record who were one month old and up. Now we find the males of the tribe of Levi who are three years old and up being counted for the allotment from the storehouses. I do not know why three years is the number chosen here but it may be due to the fact that in ancient times most children were not fully weaned until around three years of age. It may be that at the time they go 100% on solid food they begin to be given a share of the supplies just like the older males of the tribe of Levi.
The age of majority in ancient Israel was twenty. A young man had to be at least twenty to be eligible for the army. When David created the rules for the rotating chart of Levites and priests serving at the temple, he stated that males twenty and up were eligible for these roles. So now we find the men who are distributing the food making sure that the males aged twenty and up are given allotments for themselves and for their wives and for their underaged children. "And they distributed to the priests enrolled by their families in the genealogical records and likewise to the Levites twenty years old or more, according to their responsibilities and their divisions. They included all the little ones, the wives, the sons and daughters of the whole community listed in these genealogical records. For they were faithful in consecrating themselves. As for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who lived on the farmlands around their towns or in any other towns, men were designated by name to distribute portions to every male among them and to all who were recorded in the genealogies of the Levites. " (2 Chronicles 31:17-19)
During the reign of Hezekiah's father, an idolatrous altar was set up in the temple and King Ahaz ordered all offerings and sacrifices be made to it. Some of the priests and Levites must have obeyed his orders; indeed, it was a priest who fashioned the sinful altar for him. Some of the priests and Levites likely objected by leaving their posts and going home. Many in both of these groups were ceremonially unclean when it came time to purify and rededicate the temple. Some consecrated themselves in time for the rededication of the temple; some did not. Some who did not consecrate themselves for the rededication ceremony did so in time for Passover; some did not. But revival broke out at Passover and we were told that those who had not made themselves ceremonially clean earlier in the book of 2 Chronicles were ashamed of that and took steps to remedy their condition. Now we find that the priests and Levites and their families are remaining faithful to the Lord in consecrating themselves to receive these offerings from the temple.
Hezekiah himself, whose zeal for the Lord set all these wonderful reforms in motion, remains faithful to the Lord. "This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered." (2 Chronicles 31:20-21)
The prosperity of King Hezekiah is directly linked to his faithfulness to the Lord. The prosperity of the people of Judah is directly linked to their faithfulness to the Lord. A formidable enemy---Assyria---will come up against the kingdom of Judah in our next study session and the king of that nation will boast that his army has conquered Israel and will conquer Judah also. He will attempt to demoralize King Hezekiah and the people by saying that their God did not defend Israel and that He will not defend Judah either. But these two cases are nothing alike! The people of Israel, by and large, had forsaken the Lord and turned their backs on Him. The Bible makes it clear that the fall of the northern kingdom was due to the idolatry that was so prevalent there. In Judah, however, the people have repented of their sins and have turned back to the Lord. He will come to their defense!
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