2 Chronicles 31:3 kjv
He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 31:3 nkjv
The king also appointed a portion of his possessions for the burnt offerings: for the morning and evening burnt offerings, the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths and the New Moons and the set feasts, as it is written in the Law of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 31:3 niv
The king contributed from his own possessions for the morning and evening burnt offerings and for the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, at the New Moons and at the appointed festivals as written in the Law of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 31:3 esv
The contribution of the king from his own possessions was for the burnt offerings: the burnt offerings of morning and evening, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, the new moons, and the appointed feasts, as it is written in the Law of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 31:3 nlt
The king also made a personal contribution of animals for the daily morning and evening burnt offerings, the weekly Sabbath festivals, the monthly new moon festivals, and the annual festivals as prescribed in the Law of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 31 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Chr 30:24 | For Hezekiah king of Judah gave to the assembly for offerings a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep... | Royal generosity for worship |
| Num 28:3 | and you shall say to them, ‘This is the offering by fire which you shall present to the Lord: two male lambs a year old without blemish daily...’ | Daily burnt offerings mandated |
| Num 28:9-10 | ‘On the Sabbath day two male lambs a year old without blemish, and two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil...’ | Sabbath offerings commanded |
| Num 28:11-15 | ‘At the beginnings of your months, you shall present a burnt offering to the Lord: two bulls, one ram...’ | New Moon offerings specified |
| Num 29:1-38 | Details various offerings for appointed feasts. | Offerings for all major feasts |
| Exod 29:38-42 | “Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two male lambs a year old daily, regularly...one in the morning and the other at twilight." | Daily morning and evening sacrifices |
| Lev 1:3-9 | “If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd...he shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering..." | Regulations for burnt offerings |
| Deut 12:5-7 | "But you shall seek the place which the Lord your God will choose...there you shall bring your burnt offerings...and there you shall eat before the Lord your God..." | Centralized worship and offerings |
| 1 Ki 8:62-63 | Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifice before the Lord. Solomon offered as peace offerings twenty-two thousand oxen and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. | King's extensive offerings for dedication |
| Ezr 7:15-17 | to bring the silver and gold which the king and his counselors have freely offered...for the house of your God which is in Jerusalem; and to buy thereby bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings... | Kingly provision for temple offerings (Persian King Artaxerxes) |
| Neh 10:32-33 | We also placed ourselves under obligation to pay annually a third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God: for the showbread...and for the regular burnt offerings, for the Sabbaths, the new moons and the appointed feasts... | Covenantal commitment to support temple |
| Pss 50:7-9 | “Hear, O My people, and I will speak...I shall not take a bull out of your house, Nor male goats out of your folds." | God's perspective on true sacrifice vs. ritual |
| Pss 40:6 | Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired...Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required. | Heart over mere ritual |
| 1 Sam 13:13 | Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God..." | Disobedience to God's command for offerings |
| 2 Chr 29:36 | Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had prepared for the people, for the thing came about suddenly. | Divine favor in restoration |
| Prov 3:9 | Honor the Lord from your wealth And from the first of all your produce; | Giving from personal wealth to God |
| Mal 3:10 | “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house..." | Importance of proper provisions for the temple |
| Heb 10:1-10 | For the Law...can never by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. ... He takes away the first in order to establish the second. | Law's sacrifices foreshadow Christ |
| Col 2:16-17 | Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance is Christ. | Rituals as shadow, Christ as substance |
| Phil 4:18 | But I have received everything and have plenty. I have a supply, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. | New Covenant principle of giving |
| Matt 5:17 | “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill." | Christ fulfills the Law and its demands |
2 Chronicles 31 verses
2 Chronicles 31 3 Meaning
This verse states that King Hezekiah specifically designated a portion of his personal wealth and property to fund the regular burnt offerings required for the temple worship. This provision covered the daily morning and evening sacrifices, as well as the additional offerings for the weekly Sabbaths, the monthly New Moons, and all the annual appointed feasts, thereby meticulously adhering to the commandments set forth in the Law of the Lord. It highlights Hezekiah’s personal commitment and generosity in restoring and maintaining proper worship according to Mosaic Law.
2 Chronicles 31 3 Context
2 Chronicles 31 follows immediately after King Hezekiah's grand Passover celebration (chapter 30), a restoration of national worship that had been long neglected. Chapter 31 details the extensive religious reforms that continued throughout Judah and Israel, including the destruction of idolatrous altars and high places, the re-establishment of the temple services, and the organization of the Levitical courses. This specific verse (31:3) highlights Hezekiah’s personal leadership and deep devotion. Unlike many preceding kings who failed to provide for or even actively subverted proper worship, Hezekiah proactively ensured the systematic financial and material support for the temple rites. This commitment came from his own personal "property," underscoring the sincerity and depth of his faith and his adherence to the Mosaic Law. This act stood in stark contrast to the widespread neglect and apostasy that marked the reigns of his predecessors, including his father Ahaz, effectively polemicizing against the idea that kings or people could disregard God's commands for worship.
2 Chronicles 31 3 Word analysis
- He also appointed: The "He" refers to King Hezekiah. This signifies his sovereign authority and personal initiative in the restoration. It was not merely an instruction to his people, but a decree from his own person, emphasizing leadership by example. The word 'appointed' (עָמַד, amad) can imply establishing, standing up, or setting in place, suggesting a firm, deliberate, and permanent arrangement.
- the king’s portion: This refers to the king's official or personal allotment. It means a dedicated part of his own personal estate, demonstrating his commitment. This wasn't taxes imposed on the people, but his private funds.
- of his property: (רְכוּשׁוֹ, rekhushow) His possessions, wealth, and accumulated goods. This highlights the sacrificial aspect of his giving, as he used his own resources rather than solely relying on the public or temple treasury (which might have been depleted due to neglect). This set an example for the people, who were also exhorted to give their tithes and offerings (2 Chr 31:4-5).
- for the burnt offerings: (לָעֹלוֹת, la'olot) Burnt offerings ('olah) were central to Israelite worship. These were offerings entirely consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing complete dedication to God and often serving as a means of atonement or communion. They were a continual expression of covenant loyalty.
- morning and evening burnt offerings: These were the daily sacrifices (tamid) required by the Law (Exod 29:38-42; Num 28:3-8). Their continuous nature symbolized the unending relationship between God and His people, requiring constant sustenance and renewal.
- Sabbaths: The weekly day of rest and sacred assembly. Special additional burnt offerings were mandated for the Sabbath (Num 28:9-10).
- new moons: The start of each month was marked by specific burnt offerings and gatherings (Num 28:11-15). It signified the cycle of time being consecrated to God.
- appointed feasts: (וְלַמּוֹעֲדִים, w'lammo'adim) These were the major annual festivals such as Passover, Pentecost (Feast of Weeks), and Tabernacles (Feast of Booths). Each required specific, often extensive, burnt offerings (Num 28-29). They were times of national remembrance, celebration, and worship, critical to Israel's identity.
- as it is written in the Law of the Lord: This phrase is crucial. It underscores Hezekiah's commitment to divine revelation and the Mosaic covenant. It legitimizes his actions by demonstrating faithful obedience to God's established commands, rejecting human innovation or neglect. It served as a powerful declaration that his reforms were not arbitrary but founded on sacred scripture.
- "He also appointed the king's portion of his property": This phrase highlights Hezekiah’s leadership by example and personal investment in the revival of true worship. It communicates generosity stemming from a personal treasury, a commitment going beyond official duties.
- "for the burnt offerings: for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and for the burnt offerings of the Sabbaths and the new moons and the appointed feasts": This grouping precisely lists the regular, periodic sacrifices ordained by the Law. It emphasizes the systematic and comprehensive nature of Hezekiah's provision, covering every necessary liturgical occasion prescribed by God. It shows the careful planning to ensure no part of the commanded worship was overlooked.
- "as it is written in the Law of the Lord": This concluding phrase affirms the divine authority behind Hezekiah's actions. It establishes a firm theological and legal basis for the reforms, aligning the king's will directly with God's revealed will. This was paramount after decades of kings and people neglecting or defiling God's commands. It signifies a full return to orthodoxy.
2 Chronicles 31 3 Bonus section
- Hezekiah's provision from his personal property distinguishes him from many rulers who might mandate offerings but fail to personally contribute significantly. This magnifies his sincerity and stands as a practical fulfillment of what it means for a king to truly shepherd his people in faith, unlike his father Ahaz who closed the temple doors and erected altars to foreign gods.
- The emphasis on "as it is written in the Law of the Lord" demonstrates a full rejection of syncretistic practices and unholy innovations common in the divided kingdom periods. This systematic adherence ensured a genuine restoration, not just a superficial one.
- The consistency of these offerings (daily, weekly, monthly, annually) highlights the unwavering nature of God's covenant with Israel and the perpetual need for His people to remain in worshipful relationship with Him. Hezekiah understood the rhythm of sacred time and honored it fully.
2 Chronicles 31 3 Commentary
2 Chronicles 31:3 vividly illustrates King Hezekiah’s profound devotion and leadership in restoring the worship of the Lord. His act of dedicating personal wealth for the temple sacrifices, especially the constant morning and evening offerings, weekly Sabbaths, monthly New Moons, and annual appointed feasts, demonstrated a meticulous commitment to the full requirements of the Mosaic Law. This went beyond mere decree; it was an active and personal provision, setting a vital precedent for his people to emulate (as seen in the subsequent verses regarding the people’s abundant offerings). This act of faithful stewardship and generosity from the top down served to stabilize the restored religious order, ensuring its long-term sustenance and signifying a deep respect for God's ordinances after generations of apostasy. His actions systematically undid the neglect and corruption of previous reigns, re-establishing God’s prescribed pattern of worship as central to national life and identity.For instance:
- This illustrates how faithful leadership provides the resources necessary for proper worship.
- It serves as an example for believers to use their personal means to support God's work.
- It reinforces the importance of structured, continuous worship in accordance with divine principles.