2 Chronicles 31:9

Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(9) Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites.—And Hezekiah asked the priests, &c. The construction is dārash ‘al. (Comp. 2Samuel 11:3; 1Samuel 28:7.) The king wished to know how it was the heaps of offerings were so large.

Benson Commentary

2 Chronicles 31:9-10. Hezekiah questioned with the priests, &c. — How it came to pass that no more of their provision was spent, and that there remained yet such great heaps of it? The chief priest answered, Since the people began to bring the offerings — Which they did from the beginning of the harvest, according to the custom; we have had enough to eat — We have made use of all we had occasion for, for the maintenance of ourselves and families. And we have not hoarded these heaps for covetousness, but to show what plentiful provision God has made for us. For the Lord hath blessed his people — In an extraordinary degree.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

"Hezekiah questioned" in order to know whether the ministering priests and Levites had had their maintenance out of the tithes, and whether the accumulation which he saw was clear surplus.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

9. Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps—The object of his enquiries was to ascertain whether the supplies afforded the prospect of a sufficient maintenance for the members of the sacred order.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

How it came to pass that no more of their provision was spent, and that there yet remained such great heaps of it.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. How they came to be so large, or why they let them lie where they did.

Geneva Study Bible

Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 9. - The questioning had no doubt to do with the subject how the superabundant contributions should be utilized or preserved. 2 Chronicles 31:9

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

When Hezekiah and the priests saw these heaps, they praised the Lord and His people Israel.

The employment and storing of these gifts, 2 Chronicles 31:9-19. - 2 Chronicles 31:9. Hezekiah questioned (ידרשׁ) the priests and Levites concerning the heaps, i.e., not as to whether they were sufficient for the support of the priests and Levites, but as to how it happened that such masses had been heaped up. Thereupon Azariah the high priest (hardly the Azariah mentioned 2 Chronicles 26:17, who forty years before tried to prevent Uzziah from pressing into the holy place), of the house of Zadok, answered him: Since they began to bring (לביא for להביא) the heave-offerings into the house of the Lord, we have eaten and satisfied ourselves, and have left in plenty. The infin. absol. והותר ושׂבוע אכול stand in animated speech instead of the first pers. plur. perf. From the same animation arises the construction of את־ההמון with הנּותר; for "that which is left" signifies, and we have left this quantity here.