The Meaning of 2 Chronicles 31:2 Explained

2 Chronicles 31:2

KJV: And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.

YLT: And Hezekiah appointeth the courses of the priests, and of the Levites, by their courses, each according to his service, of the priests and of the Levites, for burnt-offering, and for peace-offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to give praise in the gates of the camps of Jehovah.

Darby: And Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests, and the Levites after their divisions, every man according to his service, as well the priests as the Levites, for burnt-offerings and for peace-offerings, to serve and to give thanks and to praise in the gates of the courts of Jehovah.

ASV: And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, both the priests and the Levites, for burnt-offerings and for peace-offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the camp of Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Hezekiah  appointed  the courses  of the priests  and the Levites  after their courses,  every man  according  to his service,  the priests  and Levites  for burnt offerings  and for peace offerings,  to minister,  and to give thanks,  and to praise  in the gates  of the tents  of the LORD. 

What does 2 Chronicles 31:2 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Chronicles 31:1-10 - Abundant Giving To God
This Passover left a permanent impression on the nation, and led to the complete overthrow of idolatry. The pure worship of God was now established throughout the land, and the people returned to their homes, in confident expectation that a long period of national prosperity was now in store. Hezekiah therefore turned his attention to provide for the maintenance of the Temple worship and the proper provision of revenues for the priests and Levites. As an example to his people, the king followed in the steps of David and Solomon, providing out of his own purse for the expenses of the altar.
Following on this good example, a proclamation was made to the nation, with the result that contributions of first-fruits and tithes poured in with great liberality from the children of Israel, as well as Judah. There had been an abundant harvest, as the great heaps testified. It is not often that ministers of religion are in the same happy condition as Azariah was, but they are partly to blame for not instructing their people to give systematically. Everyone should set apart a stated portion of his income for God. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Chronicles 31

1  The people go forward in destroying idolatry
2  Hezekiah orders the courses of the priests and Levites,
4  and provides for their work and maintenance
5  The people's forwardness in offerings and tithes
11  Hezekiah appoints officers to dispose of the tithes
20  The sincerity of Hezekiah

What do the individual words in 2 Chronicles 31:2 mean?

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

וַיַּעֲמֵ֣ד  And  appointed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
יְחִזְקִיָּ֡הוּ  Hezekiah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: חִזְקִיָּה 
Sense: 2th king of Judah, son of Ahaz and Abijah; a good king in that he served Jehovah and did away with idolatrous practices.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מַחְלְק֣וֹת  the  divisions 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: מַחֲלֹקֶת  
Sense: division, course, class, share, allotment.
הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים  of  the  priests 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
וְ֠הַלְוִיִּם  and  the  Levites 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: לֵוִי  
Sense: the descendants of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah.
עַֽל־  according  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
מַחְלְקוֹתָ֞ם  their  divisions 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: מַחֲלֹקֶת  
Sense: division, course, class, share, allotment.
אִ֣ישׁ ׀  each  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
כְּפִ֣י  according  to 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
עֲבֹדָת֗וֹ  his  service 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עֲבֹדָה  
Sense: labour, service.
לַכֹּהֲנִים֙  the  priests 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
וְלַלְוִיִּ֔ם  and  Levites 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: לֵוִי  
Sense: the descendants of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah.
לְעֹלָ֖ה  for  burnt  offerings 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֹלָה  
Sense: whole burnt offering.
וְלִשְׁלָמִ֑ים  and  peace  offerings 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שֶׁלֶם  
Sense: peace offering, requital, sacrifice for alliance or friendship.
לְשָׁרֵת֙  to  serve 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁרַת  
Sense: (Piel) to minister, serve, minister to.
וּלְהֹד֣וֹת  and  to  give  thanks 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: יָדָה 
Sense: to throw, shoot, cast.
וּלְהַלֵּ֔ל  and  to  praise 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: הָלַל 
Sense: to shine.
בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֖י  in  the  gates 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: שַׁעַר  
Sense: gate.
מַחֲנ֥וֹת  of  the  camp  of 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct
Root: מַחֲנֶה  
Sense: encampment, camp.
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation