The Destruction of Idols

1  וּכְכַלּ֣וֹת (And at the completion) כָּל־ (of all) זֹ֗את (this) יָצְא֨וּ (went out) כָּל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל (Israel) הַֽנִּמְצְאִים֮ (who were present) לְעָרֵ֣י (to the cities) יְהוּדָה֒ (of Judah), וַיְשַׁבְּר֣וּ (and they broke in pieces) הַמַּצֵּב֣וֹת (the sacred pillars), וַיְגַדְּע֣וּ (and cut down) הָאֲשֵׁרִ֡ים (the Asherah poles), וַיְנַתְּצ֣וּ (and threw down) אֶת־ (-) הַ֠בָּמוֹת (the high places) וְאֶת־ (and) הַֽמִּזְבְּחֹ֞ת (the altars) מִכָּל־ (from all) יְהוּדָ֧ה (Judah) וּבִנְיָמִ֛ן (and Benjamin), וּבְאֶפְרַ֥יִם (and Ephraim) וּמְנַשֶּׁ֖ה (and Manasseh), עַד־ (even) לְכַלֵּ֑ה (to completion), וַיָּשׁ֜וּבוּ (and returned) כָּל־ (all) בְּנֵ֧י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (of Israel), אִ֥ישׁ (each man) לַאֲחֻזָּת֖וֹ (to his possession) לְעָרֵיהֶֽם׃ס (to their cities).

2  וַיַּעֲמֵ֣ד (And appointed) יְחִזְקִיָּ֡הוּ (Hezekiah) אֶת־ (-) מַחְלְק֣וֹת (the divisions) הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים (of the priests) וְ֠הַלְוִיִּם (and the Levites) עַֽל־ (according to) מַחְלְקוֹתָ֞ם (their divisions), אִ֣ישׁ׀ (each man) כְּפִ֣י (according to) עֲבֹדָת֗וֹ (his service), לַכֹּהֲנִים֙ (the priests) וְלַלְוִיִּ֔ם (and Levites), לְעֹלָ֖ה (for burnt offerings) וְלִשְׁלָמִ֑ים (and peace offerings) לְשָׁרֵת֙ (to serve), וּלְהֹד֣וֹת (and to give thanks), וּלְהַלֵּ֔ל (and to give praise) בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֖י (in the gates) מַחֲנ֥וֹת (of the camps) יְהוָֽה׃ס (of YHWH).

Contributions for Worship

3  וּמְנָת֩ (And a portion) הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ (of the king) מִן־ (was from) רְכוּשׁ֜וֹ (his possessions) לָעֹל֗וֹת (for the burnt offerings), לְעֹלוֹת֙ (for burnt offerings) הַבֹּ֣קֶר (of the morning) וְהָעֶ֔רֶב (and of the evening), וְהָ֣עֹל֔וֹת (and the burnt offerings) לַשַּׁבָּת֖וֹת (for the Sabbaths) וְלֶחֳדָשִׁ֣ים (and the New Moons) וְלַמֹּעֲדִ֑ים (and for the appointed times), כַּכָּת֖וּב (as it is written) בְּתוֹרַ֥ת (in the Law) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH). 4  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And he told) לָעָם֙ (the people) לְיוֹשְׁבֵ֣י (who dwelt) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם (in Jerusalem) לָתֵ֕ת (to give) מְנָ֥ת (the portion) הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים (of the priests) וְהַלְוִיִּ֑ם (and of the Levites), לְמַ֥עַן (that) יֶחֶזְק֖וּ (they might devote themselves) בְּתוֹרַ֥ת (to the Law) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

5  וְכִפְרֹ֣ץ (And at the spreading forth) הַדָּבָ֗ר (of the word) הִרְבּ֤וּ (multiplied) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) רֵאשִׁ֣ית (the firstfruits) דָּגָ֗ן (of grain), תִּיר֤וֹשׁ (and wine), וְיִצְהָר֙ (and oil), וּדְבַ֔שׁ (and honey), וְכֹ֖ל (and all) תְּבוּאַ֣ת (the produce) שָׂדֶ֑ה (of the field); וּמַעְשַׂ֥ר (and the tithe) הַכֹּ֛ל (of all) לָרֹ֖ב (the abundance) הֵבִֽיאוּ׃ (they brought in). 6  וּבְנֵ֧י (And the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל (of Israel) וִֽיהוּדָ֗ה (and Judah) הַיּֽוֹשְׁבִים֮ (who dwelt) בְּעָרֵ֣י (in the cities) יְהוּדָה֒ (of Judah), גַּם־ (even) הֵ֗ם (they), מַעְשַׂ֤ר (the tithe) בָּקָר֙ (of oxen) וָצֹ֔אן (and sheep) וּמַעְשַׂ֣ר (and the tithe) קָֽדָשִׁ֔ים (of holy things) הַמְקֻדָּשִׁ֖ים (which were consecrated) לַיהוָ֣ה (to YHWH) אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם (their God) הֵבִ֕יאוּ (brought in), וַֽיִּתְּנ֖וּ (and they placed them) עֲרֵמ֥וֹת (in heaps) עֲרֵמֽוֹת׃ס (upon heaps).

7  בַּחֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ (In the month) הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֔י (third) הֵחֵ֥לּוּ (they began) הָעֲרֵמ֖וֹת (in the heaps) לְיִסּ֑וֹד (laying them), וּבַחֹ֥דֶשׁ (and in the month) הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י (seventh) כִּלּֽוּ׃ס (they finished). 8  וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ (And came) יְחִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ (Hezekiah) וְהַשָּׂרִ֔ים (and the leaders) וַיִּרְא֖וּ (and they saw) אֶת־ (-) הָעֲרֵמ֑וֹת (the heaps), וַֽיְבָרֲכוּ֙ (and they blessed) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) וְאֵ֖ת (and) עַמּ֥וֹ (His people) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃פ (Israel).

9  וַיִּדְרֹ֣שׁ (And inquired) יְחִזְקִיָּ֗הוּ (Hezekiah) עַל־ (with) הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֛ים (the priests) וְהַלְוִיִּ֖ם (and the Levites) עַל־ (concerning) הָעֲרֵמֽוֹת׃ (the heaps). 10  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And answered) אֵלָ֗יו (to him) עֲזַרְיָ֧הוּ (Azariah) הַכֹּהֵ֛ן (the priest) הָרֹ֖אשׁ (chief) לְבֵ֣ית (from the house) צָד֑וֹק (of Zadok) וַ֠יֹּאמֶר (and said), מֵהָחֵ֨ל (From the beginning) הַתְּרוּמָ֜ה (of the contribution) לָבִ֣יא (of the bringing) בֵית־ (to the house) יְהוָ֗ה (of YHWH), אָכ֨וֹל (there is to eat) וְשָׂב֤וֹעַ (and to be satisfied) וְהוֹתֵר֙ (and to leave) עַד־ (over) לָר֔וֹב (there is an abundance), כִּ֤י (for) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) בֵּרַ֣ךְ (has blessed) אֶת־ (-) עַמּ֔וֹ (His people); וְהַנּוֹתָ֖ר (and is left over) אֶת־ (-) הֶהָמ֥וֹן (the store) הַזֶּֽה׃ס (this).

Hezekiah Organizes the Priests

11  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And commanded them) יְחִזְקִיָּ֗הוּ (Hezekiah) לְהָכִ֧ין (to prepare) לְשָׁכ֛וֹת (rooms) בְּבֵ֥ית (in the house) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH), וַיָּכִֽינוּ׃ (and they prepared them). 12  וַיָּבִ֨יאוּ (And they brought in) אֶת־ (-) הַתְּרוּמָ֧ה (the contribution) וְהַֽמַּעֲשֵׂ֛ר (and the tithes) וְהַקֳּדָשִׁ֖ים (and the holy things) בֶּאֱמוּנָ֑ה (in faithfulness). וַעֲלֵיהֶ֤ם (And pver them) נָגִיד֙ (was a leader), כּוֹנַנְיָהוּ (Conaniah) הַלֵּוִ֔י (the Levite) וְשִׁמְעִ֥י (and Shimei) אָחִ֖יהוּ (his brother) מִשְׁנֶֽה׃ (second). 13  וִֽיחִיאֵ֡ל (And Jehiel), וַ֠עֲזַזְיָהוּ (and Azaziah), וְנַ֨חַת (and Nahath), וַעֲשָׂהאֵ֜ל (and Asahel), וִֽירִימ֤וֹת (and Jerimoth), וְיוֹזָבָד֙ (and Jozabad), וֶאֱלִיאֵ֣ל (and Eliel), וְיִסְמַכְיָ֔הוּ (and Ismachiah), וּמַ֖חַת (and Mahath), וּבְנָיָ֑הוּ (and Benaiah) פְּקִידִ֗ים (were overseers) מִיַּ֤ד (under the hand) כָּונַנְיָהוּ (of Conaniah) וְשִׁמְעִ֣י (and Shimei) אָחִ֔יו (his brother), בְּמִפְקַד֙ (by the appointment) יְחִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ (of Hezekiah) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king) וַעֲזַרְיָ֖הוּ (and Azariah) נְגִ֥יד (the ruler) בֵּית־ (of the house) הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ (of God).

14  וְקוֹרֵ֨א (And Kore) בֶן־ (son) יִמְנָ֤ה (of Imnah) הַלֵּוִי֙ (the Levite), הַשּׁוֹעֵ֣ר (the gatekeeper) לַמִּזְרָ֔חָה (at the east), עַ֖ל (was over) נִדְב֣וֹת (the freewill offerings) הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים (to God), לָתֵת֙ (to give) תְּרוּמַ֣ת (the contribution) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וְקָדְשֵׁ֖י (and the holy) הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים׃ (of holies). 15  וְעַל־ (And) יָד֡וֹ (under him were) עֵ֣דֶן (Eden), וּ֠מִנְיָמִן (and Minjamin), וְיֵשׁ֨וּעַ (and Jeshua), וּֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֜הוּ (and Shemaiah), אֲמַרְיָ֧הוּ (Amariah), וּשְׁכַנְיָ֛הוּ (and Shecaniah) בְּעָרֵ֥י (in the cities) הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים (of the priests), בֶּאֱמוּנָ֑ה (in faithfulness) לָתֵ֤ת (to give) לַאֲחֵיהֶם֙ (to their brothers) בְּמַחְלְק֔וֹת (by divisions), כַּגָּד֖וֹל (to the great) כַּקָּטָֽן׃ (as well as the small), 16  מִלְּבַ֞ד (apart from) הִתְיַחְשָׂ֣ם (their genealogy), לִזְכָרִ֗ים (to males) מִבֶּ֨ן (from a son) שָׁל֤וֹשׁ (of three) שָׁנִים֙ (years) וּלְמַ֔עְלָה (and up)— לְכָל־ (to everyone) הַבָּ֥א (who entered) לְבֵית־ (the house) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH), לִדְבַר־ (by the matter) י֣וֹם (of a day) בְּיוֹמ֑וֹ (in its day) לַעֲב֣וֹדָתָ֔ם (for their service) בְּמִשְׁמְרוֹתָ֖ם (in their charges) כְּמַחְלְקוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ (by their divisions)— 17  וְאֵ֨ת (and) הִתְיַחֵ֤שׂ (in the genealogy) הַכֹּהֲנִים֙ (to the priests) לְבֵ֣ית (according to house) אֲבוֹתֵיהֶ֔ם (of their fathers), וְהַ֨לְוִיִּ֔ם (and to the Levites) מִבֶּ֛ן (from a son) עֶשְׂרִ֥ים (of twenty) שָׁנָ֖ה (years) וּלְמָ֑עְלָה (and up), בְּמִשְׁמְרוֹתֵיהֶ֖ם (according to their work) בְּמַחְלְקוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ (by their divisions), 18  וּלְהִתְיַחֵ֗שׂ (and to the genealogy) בְּכָל־ (among all) טַפָּ֧ם (their little ones), נְשֵׁיהֶ֛ם (and their wives), וּבְנֵיהֶ֥ם (and their sons), וּבְנוֹתֵיהֶ֖ם (and daughters), לְכָל־ (the whole) קָהָ֑ל (company of them). כִּ֥י (For) בֶאֱמוּנָתָ֖ם (in their faithfulness) יִתְקַדְּשׁוּ־ (they sanctified themselves) קֹֽדֶשׁ׃ (in holiness).

19  וְלִבְנֵי֩ (And for the sons) אַהֲרֹ֨ן (of Aaron), הַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים (the priests), בִּשְׂדֵ֨י (in the fields) מִגְרַ֤שׁ (of the pasturelands) עָרֵיהֶם֙ (of their cities) בְּכָל־ (in every) עִ֣יר (city) וָעִ֔יר (and city), אֲנָשִׁ֕ים (were men) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) נִקְּב֖וּ (were designated) בְּשֵׁמ֑וֹת (by name) לָתֵ֣ת (to distribute) מָנ֗וֹת (portions) לְכָל־ (to all) זָכָר֙ (the males) בַּכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים (among the priests) וּלְכָל־ (and to all) הִתְיַחֵ֖שׂ (who were reckoned by genealogies) בַּלְוִיִּֽם׃ (among the Levites).

20  וַיַּ֧עַשׂ (And did) כָּזֹ֛את (thus) יְחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ (Hezekiah) בְּכָל־ (throughout all) יְהוּדָ֑ה (Judah), וַיַּ֨עַשׂ (and he did) הַטּ֤וֹב (the good) וְהַיָּשָׁר֙ (and the right) וְהָ֣אֱמֶ֔ת (and the true) לִפְנֵ֖י (before) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהָֽיו׃ (his God). 21  וּבְכָֽל־ (And in every) מַעֲשֶׂ֞ה (work) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) הֵחֵ֣ל׀ (he began) בַּעֲבוֹדַ֣ת (in the service) בֵּית־ (of the house) הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים (of God), וּבַתּוֹרָה֙ (and in the law), וּבַמִּצְוָ֔ה (and in the commandment), לִדְרֹ֖שׁ (to seek) לֵֽאלֹהָ֑יו (his God) בְּכָל־ (with all) לְבָב֥וֹ (his heart), עָשָׂ֖ה (he did it). וְהִצְלִֽיחַ׃פ (And he prospered).