2 chronicles 31:15 - 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;

Generated Verse: 2 chronicles 31:15

What does "2 chronicles 31:15" mean?


This verse, 2 Chronicles 31:15, describes a system put in place during the reign of King Hezekiah in Judah to ensure the fair and equitable distribution of offerings and tithes to the priests. Let's break it down:

"Under him were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah..." This lists the names of individuals who were appointed as supervisors or managers. The "him" likely refers to Conaniah and Shimei (mentioned in the verses immediately preceding this one) who were leaders overseeing these individuals. These names likely represent families or clans of priests assigned to different administrative roles.

"...in the cities of the priests..." The priests didn't live in the temple in Jerusalem. Instead, they resided in designated cities scattered throughout the land of Judah. These cities were their home bases.

"...in their office of trust..." This emphasizes the integrity and responsibility expected of these supervisors. They held a position of confidence and were expected to be honest and just.

"...to give to their brothers by divisions..." "Brothers" here refers to fellow priests. "Divisions" indicates that the distribution of the offerings and tithes was done according to a pre-determined system or groups (divisions of priests). This likely ensured a fair allocation to all priests across different locations and responsibilities.

"...to the great as well as to the small;" This is a crucial point, highlighting equality. The distribution wasn't biased towards high-ranking priests or those with more prestigious duties. All priests, regardless of their position or status, received a fair share. "Great" could refer to priests with more important duties or elder priests, while "small" could refer to younger or less prominent priests. The important thing is they were treated equitably.

In essence, this verse describes a system of organized distribution of offerings and tithes to the priests, emphasizing fairness, equity, and the importance of trusted administrators within the priestly community. It shows Hezekiah's efforts to reform religious practices and ensure the well-being of the priests, who relied on these offerings for their sustenance. It also highlights the importance of organization and integrity in managing religious resources.