He told the people who lived in Jerusalem to give a contribution(A) for the priests and Levites so that they could devote their energy to the law of the Lord. When the word spread, the Israelites gave liberally of the best of the grain, new wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field, and they brought in an abundance, a tenth(B) of everything. As for the Israelites and Judahites who lived in the cities of Judah, they also brought a tenth of the cattle and sheep, and a tenth of the dedicated things that were consecrated to the Lord their God.(C) They gathered them into large piles. In the third month they began building up the piles, and they finished in the seventh month. When Hezekiah and his officials came and viewed the piles, they praised the Lord and His people Israel.

Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the piles. 10 Azariah, the chief priest of the household of Zadok,(D) answered him, “Since they began bringing the offering to the Lord’s temple, we eat and are satisfied and there is plenty left over because the Lord has blessed His people; this abundance is what is left over.”(E)

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He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion(A) due the priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the Lord. As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits(B) of their grain, new wine,(C) olive oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. The people of Israel and Judah who lived in the towns of Judah also brought a tithe(D) of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things dedicated to the Lord their God, and they piled them in heaps.(E) They began doing this in the third month and finished in the seventh month.(F) When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw the heaps, they praised the Lord and blessed(G) his people Israel.

Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the heaps; 10 and Azariah the chief priest, from the family of Zadok,(H) answered, “Since the people began to bring their contributions to the temple of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the Lord has blessed his people, and this great amount is left over.”(I)

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34 We have cast lots(A) among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation of wood by our ancestral houses at the appointed times each year. They are to bring the wood to our God’s house to burn on the altar of the Lord our God,(B) as it is written in the law.

35 We will bring the firstfruits of our land and of every fruit tree to the Lord’s house year by year.(C) 36 We will also bring the firstborn of our sons and our livestock, as prescribed by the law, and will bring the firstborn of our herds and flocks to the house of our God,(D) to the priests who serve in our God’s house. 37 We will bring a loaf from our first batch of dough(E) to the priests at the storerooms of the house of our God. We will also bring the firstfruits of our grain offerings, of every fruit tree, and of the new wine and oil.(F) A tenth of our land’s produce belongs to the Levites, for the Levites are to collect the one-tenth offering in all our agricultural towns.(G) 38 A priest of Aaronic descent must accompany the Levites when they collect the tenth,(H) and the Levites must take a tenth of this offering to the storerooms of the treasury in the house of our God.(I) 39 For the Israelites and the Levites are to bring the contributions of grain, new wine, and oil to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are kept(J) and where the priests who minister are, along with the gatekeepers and singers. We will not neglect the house of our God.(K)

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34 “We—the priests, the Levites and the people—have cast lots(A) to determine when each of our families is to bring to the house of our God at set times each year a contribution of wood(B) to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the Law.

35 “We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the Lord each year the firstfruits(C) of our crops and of every fruit tree.(D)

36 “As it is also written in the Law, we will bring the firstborn(E) of our sons and of our cattle, of our herds and of our flocks to the house of our God, to the priests ministering there.(F)

37 “Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and olive oil.(G) And we will bring a tithe(H) of our crops to the Levites,(I) for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work.(J) 38 A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes(K) up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury. 39 The people of Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new wine and olive oil to the storerooms, where the articles for the sanctuary and for the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the musicians are also kept.

“We will not neglect the house of our God.”(L)

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28 “This will be their inheritance: I am their inheritance.(A) You are to give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession. 29 They will eat the grain offering, the sin offering,(B) and the restitution offering. Everything in Israel that is permanently dedicated to the Lord will belong to them.(C) 30 The best of all the firstfruits of every kind and contribution of every kind from all your gifts will belong to the priests.(D) You are to give your first batch of dough to the priest(E) so that a blessing may rest on your homes.(F) 31 The priests may not eat any bird or animal that died naturally or was mauled by wild beasts.(G)

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28 “‘I am to be the only inheritance(A) the priests have. You are to give them no possession in Israel; I will be their possession. 29 They will eat(B) the grain offerings, the sin offerings and the guilt offerings; and everything in Israel devoted[a] to the Lord(C) will belong to them.(D) 30 The best of all the firstfruits(E) and of all your special gifts will belong to the priests. You are to give them the first portion of your ground meal(F) so that a blessing(G) may rest on your household.(H) 31 The priests must not eat anything, whether bird or animal, found dead(I) or torn by wild animals.(J)

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 44:29 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord.