2 Chronicles 31:14

And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter towards the east,.... At the east gate of the temple; see 1 Chronicles 26:17 . was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of the Lord; to the priests and Levites, for whose use they were; or to deliver out the fine flour, oil, and wine, and frankincense, for the meat and drink offerings: and the most holy things; which belonged to the priests only to eat of, as the remainder of the meat offerings, the sin and trespass offerings, and the shewbread.

31:1-21 Hezekiah destroys idolatry. - After the passover, the people of Israel applied with vigour to destroy the monuments of idolatry. Public ordinances should stir us up to cleanse our hearts, our houses, and shops, from the filth of sin, and the idolatry of covetousness, and to excite others to do the same. The after-improvement of solemn ordinances, is of the greatest importance to personal, family, and public religion. When they had tasted the sweetness of God's ordinance in the late passover, they were free in maintaining the temple service. Those who enjoy the benefit of a settled ministry, will not grudge the expense of it. In all that Hezekiah attempted in God's service, he was earnest and single in his aim and dependence, and was prospered accordingly. Whether we have few or many talents intrusted to us, may we thus seek to improve them, and encourage others to do the same. What is undertaken with a sincere regard to the glory of God, will succeed to our own honour and comfort at last.

2 Chronicles 31:14-15 . The porter toward the east — At the east gate of the Lord’s house; of which see 2 Chronicles 23:5 . To distribute the oblations — To the priests and Levites, to whom they were appropriated by God; and the most holy things — The remainders of the free-will-offerings, the sin- offerings, and trespass-offerings, and the show-bread; to see that all had a competent maintenance for themselves and their families. And next him were Eden, &c. — These were intrusted with receiving and distributing the several portions belonging to the priests, who abode in their several cities, while their brethren came up to Jerusalem.

14 . toward the east ] R.V. at the east gate . the most holy things] To this class belonged the shewbread ( Leviticus 24:9 ), the meal offering ( Leviticus 2:2-3 ; Leviticus 6:14-18 [7–11, Heb.]), the sin offering ( Leviticus 6:25-30 ), and the trespass offering ( Leviticus 7:1-7 ). These could be eaten by the priests only, and in the holy place only.

Toward the east; at the east gate of the Lord’s house; of which See Poole "2 Chronicles 23:5" . To distribute to the priests and Levites, to whom they were appropriated by God. The most holy things, to wit, the remainders of the free-will-offering, Leviticus 2:3,10 , the sin-offering and trespass-offering, Leviticus 6:18,22 Le 7:1 , and the shew-bread, Leviticus 24:9 .

(14) The porter toward the east. —Compare 1Chronicles 9:18 . Korê had charge of “the freewill offerings of God,” or voluntary gifts ( Deuteronomy 12:17 ); and it was his duty “to distribute the oblations of the Lord and the most holy things" to the priests. To distribute the oblations.—To give the Terûmah of Jehovah—i.e., the portion of the offerings which, though consecrated to Jehovah, was transferred by Him to the priests (Leviticus 7:14; Leviticus 7:32; Leviticus 10:14-15). And the most holy things—i.e., that part of the sin and trespass offerings (Leviticus 6:10; Leviticus 6:22; Leviticus 7:6) and of the meat offerings (Leviticus 2:3; Leviticus 2:10) which were to be eaten by the priests in the sanctuary.

2Ch 31:11-19. Hezekiah Appoints Officers to Dispose of the Tithes. 11-18. Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the Lord—storehouses, granaries, or cellars; either the old ones, which had been allowed through neglect to fall into decay, were to be repaired, or additional ones built. Private individuals brought their own first-fruits to the temple; but the tithes were levied by the Levites, who kept a faithful account of them in their several places of abode and transmitted the allotted proportion to the priests. Officers were appointed to distribute equal rations to all in the cities of the priests who, from age or other reasons, could not repair to the temple. With the exception of children under three years of age—an exception made probably from their being considered too young to receive solid food—lists were kept of the number and age of every male; of priests according to their fathers' house, and Levites from twenty years (see Nu 4:3; 28:24; 1Ch 23:24). But, besides, provision was also made for their wives, daughters, and servants.

To them at their hand, i.e., as subordinate overseers, were given ten Levites, who are enumerated by name. Of the names, Jehiel and Mahath occur in 2 Chronicles 29:12 and 2 Chronicles 29:14 . בּמפקד is translated by the Vulg. ex imperio, better ex mandato Hizkiae. Azariah, the prince of the house of God, is the high priest mentioned in 2 Chronicles 31:10 . - To the fourteen Levites named in 2 Chronicles 31:13 and 2 Chronicles 31:14 was committed the oversight and storing of the first-fruits, tithes, and consecrated gifts. Besides these, there were special officers appointed for the distribution of them. - In 2 Chronicles 31:14-19 these are treated of; 2 Chronicles 31:14 dealing with the distribution of the voluntary gifts of God, i.e., all which was offered to God of spontaneous impulse ( Leviticus 23:38 ; Deuteronomy 12:17 ), to which the first-fruits and tithes did not belong, they being assessments prescribed by the law. Over the freewill offerings the Levite Kore, the doorkeeper towards the east (see on 1 Chronicles 9:18 ), was set.

His duty was to give (distribute) "the heave-offerings of Jahve," i.e., that portion of the thank-offerings which properly belonged to Jahve, and which was transferred by Him to the priests ( Leviticus 7:14 ; Numbers 5:9 ), and the "most holy," i.e., that part of the sin and trespass offerings ( Leviticus 6:10 , Leviticus 6:22 ; Leviticus 7:6 ) and of the oblations ( Leviticus 2:3 , Leviticus 2:10 ) which was to be eaten by the priests in the holy place.