When Generosity Got Out of Hand.

וּכְכַלּ֣וֹת כָּל־זֹ֗את יָצְא֨וּ כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל הַֽנִּמְצְאִים֮ לְעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָה֒ וַיְשַׁבְּר֣וּ הַמַּצֵּב֣וֹת וַיְגַדְּע֣וּ הָאֲשֵׁרִ֡ים וַיְנַתְּצ֣וּ אֶת־הַ֠בָּמוֹת וְאֶת־הַֽמִּזְבְּחֹ֞ת מִכָּל־יְהוּדָ֧ה וּבִנְיָמִ֛ן וּבְאֶפְרַ֥יִם וּמְנַשֶּׁ֖ה עַד־לְכַלֵּ֑ה וַיָּשׁ֜וּבוּ כָּל־בְּנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אִ֥ישׁ לַאֲחֻזָּת֖וֹ לְעָרֵיהֶֽם׃ ס

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

וַיַּעֲמֵ֣ד יְחִזְקִיָּ֡הוּ אֶת־מַחְלְק֣וֹת הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים וְ֠הַלְוִיִּם עַֽל־מַחְלְקוֹתָ֞ם אִ֣ישׁ׀ כְּפִ֣י עֲבֹדָת֗וֹ לַכֹּהֲנִים֙ וְלַלְוִיִּ֔ם לְעֹלָ֖ה וְלִשְׁלָמִ֑ים לְשָׁרֵת֙ וּלְהֹד֣וֹת וּלְהַלֵּ֔ל בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֖י מַחֲנ֥וֹת יְהוָֽה׃ ס

[2] And Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, division by division, each according to his service, the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and peace offerings, to minister in the gates of the camp of the Lord and to give thanks and praise.

וּמְנָת֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ מִן־רְכוּשׁ֜וֹ לָעֹל֗וֹת לְעֹלוֹת֙ הַבֹּ֣קֶר וְהָעֶ֔רֶב וְהָ֣עֹל֔וֹת לַשַּׁבָּת֖וֹת וְלֶחֳדָשִׁ֣ים וְלַמֹּעֲדִ֑ים כַּכָּת֖וּב בְּתוֹרַ֥ת יְהוָֽה׃

[3] 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 .

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָעָם֙ לְיוֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם לָתֵ֕ת מְנָ֥ת הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֑ם לְמַ֥עַן יֶחֶזְק֖וּ בְּתוֹרַ֥ת יְהוָֽה׃

[4] And he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to the Law of the Lord .

וְכִפְרֹ֣ץ הַדָּבָ֗ר הִרְבּ֤וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ רֵאשִׁ֣ית דָּגָ֗ן תִּיר֤וֹשׁ וְיִצְהָר֙ וּדְבַ֔שׁ וְכֹ֖ל תְּבוּאַ֣ת שָׂדֶ֑ה וּמַעְשַׂ֥ר הַכֹּ֛ל לָרֹ֖ב הֵבִֽיאוּ׃

[5] As soon as the command was spread abroad, the people of Israel gave in abundance the firstfruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field. And they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.

וּבְנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל וִֽיהוּדָ֗ה הַיּֽוֹשְׁבִים֮ בְּעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָה֒ גַּם־הֵ֗ם מַעְשַׂ֤ר בָּקָר֙ וָצֹ֔אן וּמַעְשַׂ֣ר קָֽדָשִׁ֔ים הַמְקֻדָּשִׁ֖ים לַיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם הֵבִ֕יאוּ וַֽיִּתְּנ֖וּ עֲרֵמ֥וֹת עֲרֵמֽוֹת׃ ס

[6] And the people of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and the tithe of the dedicated things that had been dedicated to the Lord their God, and laid them in heaps.

בַּחֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֔י הֵחֵ֥לּוּ הָעֲרֵמ֖וֹת לְיִסּ֑וֹד וּבַחֹ֥דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י כִּלּֽוּ׃ ס

[7] In the third month they began to pile up the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.

וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ יְחִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ וְהַשָּׂרִ֔ים וַיִּרְא֖וּ אֶת־הָעֲרֵמ֑וֹת וַֽיְבָרֲכוּ֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה וְאֵ֖ת עַמּ֥וֹ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פ

[8] When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord and his people Israel.

וַיִּדְרֹ֣שׁ יְחִזְקִיָּ֗הוּ עַל־הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֛ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֖ם עַל־הָעֲרֵמֽוֹת׃

[9] And Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites about the heaps.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו עֲזַרְיָ֧הוּ הַכֹּהֵ֛ן הָרֹ֖אשׁ לְבֵ֣ית צָד֑וֹק וַ֠יֹּאמֶר מֵהָחֵ֨ל הַתְּרוּמָ֜ה לָבִ֣יא בֵית־יְהוָ֗ה אָכ֨וֹל וְשָׂב֤וֹעַ וְהוֹתֵר֙ עַד־לָר֔וֹב כִּ֤י יְהוָה֙ בֵּרַ֣ךְ אֶת־עַמּ֔וֹ וְהַנּוֹתָ֖ר אֶת־הֶהָמ֥וֹן הַזֶּֽה׃ ס

[10] Azariah the chief priest, who was of the house of Zadok, answered him, “Since they began to bring the contributions into the house of the Lord , we have eaten and had enough and have plenty left, for the Lord has blessed his people, so that we have this large amount left.”

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְחִזְקִיָּ֗הוּ לְהָכִ֧ין לְשָׁכ֛וֹת בְּבֵ֥ית יְהוָ֖ה וַיָּכִֽינוּ׃

[11] Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare chambers in the house of the Lord , and they prepared them.

וַיָּבִ֨יאוּ אֶת־הַתְּרוּמָ֧ה וְהַֽמַּעֲשֵׂ֛ר וְהַקֳּדָשִׁ֖ים בֶּאֱמוּנָ֑ה וַעֲלֵיהֶ֤ם נָגִיד֙ ׳כּוֹנַנְיָהוּ׳ ״כָּֽנַנְיָ֣הוּ״ הַלֵּוִ֔י וְשִׁמְעִ֥י אָחִ֖יהוּ מִשְׁנֶֽה׃

[12] And they faithfully brought in the contributions, the tithes, and the dedicated things. The chief officer in charge of them was Conaniah the Levite, with Shimei his brother as second,

וִֽיחִיאֵ֡ל וַ֠עֲזַזְיָהוּ וְנַ֨חַת וַעֲשָׂהאֵ֜ל וִֽירִימ֤וֹת וְיוֹזָבָד֙ וֶאֱלִיאֵ֣ל וְיִסְמַכְיָ֔הוּ וּמַ֖חַת וּבְנָיָ֑הוּ פְּקִידִ֗ים מִיַּ֤ד ׳כּוֹנַנְיָהוּ׳ ״כָּֽנַנְיָ֙הוּ֙״ וְשִׁמְעִ֣י אָחִ֔יו בְּמִפְקַד֙ יְחִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַעֲזַרְיָ֖הוּ נְגִ֥יד בֵּית־הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃

[13] while Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers assisting Conaniah and Shimei his brother, by the appointment of Hezekiah the king and Azariah the chief officer of the house of God.

וְקוֹרֵ֨א בֶן־יִמְנָ֤ה הַלֵּוִי֙ הַשּׁוֹעֵ֣ר לַמִּזְרָ֔חָה עַ֖ל נִדְב֣וֹת הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים לָתֵת֙ תְּרוּמַ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה וְקָדְשֵׁ֖י הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים׃

[14] And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, keeper of the east gate, was over the freewill offerings to God, to apportion the contribution reserved for the Lord and the most holy offerings.

וְעַל־יָד֡וֹ עֵ֣דֶן וּ֠מִנְיָמִן וְיֵשׁ֨וּעַ וּֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֜הוּ אֲמַרְיָ֧הוּ וּשְׁכַנְיָ֛הוּ בְּעָרֵ֥י הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים בֶּאֱמוּנָ֑ה לָתֵ֤ת לַאֲחֵיהֶם֙ בְּמַחְלְק֔וֹת כַּגָּד֖וֹל כַּקָּטָֽן׃

[15] Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah were faithfully assisting him in the cities of the priests, to distribute the portions to their brothers, old and young alike, by divisions,

מִלְּבַ֞ד הִתְיַחְשָׂ֣ם לִזְכָרִ֗ים מִבֶּ֨ן שָׁל֤וֹשׁ שָׁנִים֙ וּלְמַ֔עְלָה לְכָל־הַבָּ֥א לְבֵית־יְהוָ֖ה לִדְבַר־י֣וֹם בְּיוֹמ֑וֹ לַעֲב֣וֹדָתָ֔ם בְּמִשְׁמְרוֹתָ֖ם כְּמַחְלְקוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃

[16] except those enrolled by genealogy, males from three years old and upward—all who entered the house of the Lord as the duty of each day required—for their service according to their offices, by their divisions.

וְאֵ֨ת הִתְיַחֵ֤שׂ הַכֹּהֲנִים֙ לְבֵ֣ית אֲבוֹתֵיהֶ֔ם וְהַ֨לְוִיִּ֔ם מִבֶּ֛ן עֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וּלְמָ֑עְלָה בְּמִשְׁמְרוֹתֵיהֶ֖ם בְּמַחְלְקוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃

[17] The enrollment of the priests was according to their fathers' houses; that of the Levites from twenty years old and upward was according to their offices, by their divisions.

וּלְהִתְיַחֵ֗שׂ בְּכָל־טַפָּ֧ם נְשֵׁיהֶ֛ם וּבְנֵיהֶ֥ם וּבְנוֹתֵיהֶ֖ם לְכָל־קָהָ֑ל כִּ֥י בֶאֱמוּנָתָ֖ם יִתְקַדְּשׁוּ־קֹֽדֶשׁ׃

[18] They were enrolled with all their little children, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, the whole assembly, for they were faithful in keeping themselves holy.

וְלִבְנֵי֩ אַהֲרֹ֨ן הַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים בִּשְׂדֵ֨י מִגְרַ֤שׁ עָרֵיהֶם֙ בְּכָל־עִ֣יר וָעִ֔יר אֲנָשִׁ֕ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִקְּב֖וּ בְּשֵׁמ֑וֹת לָתֵ֣ת מָנ֗וֹת לְכָל־זָכָר֙ בַּכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וּלְכָל־הִתְיַחֵ֖שׂ בַּלְוִיִּֽם׃

[19] And for the sons of Aaron, the priests, who were in the fields of common land belonging to their cities, there were men in the several cities who were designated by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to everyone among the Levites who was enrolled.

וַיַּ֧עַשׂ כָּזֹ֛את יְחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ בְּכָל־יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיַּ֨עַשׂ הַטּ֤וֹב וְהַיָּשָׁר֙ וְהָ֣אֱמֶ֔ת לִפְנֵ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽיו׃

[20] Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God.

וּבְכָֽל־מַעֲשֶׂ֞ה אֲשֶׁר־הֵחֵ֣ל׀ בַּעֲבוֹדַ֣ת בֵּית־הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים וּבַתּוֹרָה֙ וּבַמִּצְוָ֔ה לִדְרֹ֖שׁ לֵֽאלֹהָ֑יו בְּכָל־לְבָב֥וֹ עָשָׂ֖ה וְהִצְלִֽיחַ׃ פ

[21] And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.