1 Quando a festa terminou, os israelitas que haviam participado saíram pelas cidades de Judá, Benjamim, Efraim e Manassés e despedaçaram todas as colunas sagradas, derrubaram os postes de Aserá e removeram os santuários e altares idólatras. Depois disso, voltaram para suas cidades e casas.

2 Ezequias organizou os sacerdotes e os levitas em divisões, para oferecerem os holocaustos e as ofertas de paz e para servirem, darem graças e louvarem ao Senhor junto às portas da habitação do Senhor. 3 O rei também contribuiu pessoalmente com animais para os holocaustos diários da manhã e da tarde e para os holocaustos dos sábados, das festas da lua nova e das festas anuais prescritas pela lei do Senhor.

4 Além disso, ordenou ao povo de Jerusalém que trouxesse uma parte de seus bens para os sacerdotes e os levitas, a fim de que pudessem se dedicar inteiramente à lei do Senhor.

5 Quando os israelitas souberam dessa exigência, responderam generosamente e trouxeram a primeira porção de seus cereais, do vinho novo, do azeite, do mel e de tudo que os campos produziam. Trouxeram uma grande quantidade, o dízimo de tudo que haviam produzido. 6 Os habitantes de Israel que tinham se mudado para Judá, e os próprios habitantes de Judá, trouxeram o dízimo do gado, das ovelhas, bem como das coisas que haviam sido consagradas ao Senhor, seu Deus, e juntaram tudo em vários montões. 7 Começaram a amontoar as ofertas no terceiro mês e terminaram no sétimo. 8 Quando Ezequias e seus oficiais viram esses montões, agradeceram ao Senhor e a seu povo, Israel.

9 "De onde veio tudo isto?", perguntou Ezequias aos sacerdotes e aos levitas.

10 Azarias, o sumo sacerdote, da família de Zadoque, respondeu: "Desde que o povo começou a trazer ofertas para o templo do Senhor, temos alimento suficiente e ainda tem sobrado muito. O Senhor abençoou seu povo, e tudo isto é o que sobra".

11 Ezequias mandou preparar depósitos no templo do Senhor. Quando estavam prontos, 12 o povo trouxe fielmente as ofertas, os dízimos e os objetos consagrados para serem usados no templo. O levita Conanias foi encarregado desses depósitos, e seu irmão Simei era seu auxiliar. 13 Os supervisores subordinados a eles eram Jeiel, Azazias, Naate, Asael, Jerimote, Jozabade, Eliel, Ismaquias, Maate e Benaia. As nomeações foram feitas pelo rei Ezequias e por Azarias, o principal encarregado do templo de Deus.

14 Coré, filho do levita Imna, guarda da porta do Leste, foi encarregado de distribuir as ofertas voluntárias feitas a Deus, as contribuições e os objetos consagrados ao Senhor. 15 Seus assistentes fiéis eram Éden, Miniamim, Jesua, Semaías, Amarias e Secanias. Distribuíam as ofertas entre as famílias dos sacerdotes em suas cidades, de acordo com suas divisões, e as repartiam por igual entre idosos e jovens. 16 Distribuíam as ofertas a todos os homens e meninos, de 3 anos para cima, que constavam dos registros genealógicos. A distribuição incluía todos que vinham ao templo do Senhor para realizar suas tarefas diárias, de acordo com suas divisões. 17 Repartiam as ofertas entre os sacerdotes que estavam listados nos registros genealógicos, de acordo com suas famílias, e entre os levitas de 20 anos para cima, anotados de acordo com suas tarefas e divisões. 18 Também entregavam porções de alimento às famílias de todos que estavam listados nos registros genealógicos, incluindo as crianças pequenas, as esposas, os filhos e as filhas, pois toda a comunidade havia sido fiel ao se purificar.

19 Quanto aos sacerdotes, os descendentes de Arão, que viviam nos campos ao redor das cidades, foram nomeados homens para distribuir em porções a todos os sacerdotes e a todos os levitas listados nos registros genealógicos.

20 Assim, o rei Ezequias organizou a distribuição em todo o Judá, e fez o que era bom, certo e verdadeiro aos olhos do Senhor, seu Deus. 21 Em tudo que fez no serviço do templo de Deus e em seus esforços para obedecer à lei e aos mandamentos de Deus, Ezequias buscou seu Deus de todo o coração. Como resultado, foi muito bem-sucedido.

1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke the pillars in pieces, cut down the Asherah poles, and broke down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, also in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.

2 Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites after their divisions, every man according to his service, both the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of Yahweh’s camp. 3 He also appointed the king’s portion of his possessions for the burnt offerings: for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in Yahweh’s law. 4 Moreover he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to Yahweh’s law. 5 As soon as the commandment went out, the children of Israel gave in abundance the first fruits of grain, new wine, oil, honey, and of all the increase of the field; and they brought in the tithe of all things abundantly. 6 The children of Israel and Judah, who lived in the cities of Judah, also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and the tithe of dedicated things which were consecrated to Yahweh their God, and laid them in heaps.

7 In the third month, they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month. 8 When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed Yahweh and his people Israel. 9 Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites about the heaps. 10 Azariah the chief priest, of the house of Zadok, answered him and said, "Since people began to bring the offerings into Yahweh’s house, we have eaten and had enough, and have plenty left over, for Yahweh has blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store."

11 Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare rooms in Yahweh’s house, and they prepared them. 12 They brought in the offerings, the tithes, and the dedicated things faithfully. Conaniah the Levite was ruler over them, and Shimei his brother was second. 13 Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the hand of Conaniah and Shimei his brother, by the appointment of Hezekiah the king and Azariah the ruler of God’s house. 14 Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the gatekeeper at the east gate, was over the free will offerings of God, to distribute Yahweh’s offerings and the most holy things. 15 Under him were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their office of trust, to give to their brothers by divisions, to the great as well as to the small; 16 in addition to those who were listed by genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even everyone who entered into Yahweh’s house, as the duty of every day required, for their service in their offices according to their divisions; 17 and those who were listed by genealogy of the priests by their fathers’ houses, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their offices by their divisions; 18 and those who were listed by genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation; for in their office of trust they sanctified themselves in holiness. 19 Also for the sons of Aaron the priests, who were in the fields of the pasture lands of their cities, in every city, there were men who were mentioned by name to give portions to all the males among the priests and to all who were listed by genealogy among the Levites.

20 Hezekiah did so throughout all Judah; and he did that which was good, right, and faithful before Yahweh his God. 21 In every work that he began in the service of God’s house, in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart and prospered.