II Chronicles 31:6 · Bible study
2 Chronicles 31:6 Commentary: Heaps of Gratitude
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why did country dwellers bring only livestock tithes? A study on progressive obedience and the overflow of revived hearts.
Research Summary
- Meaning: After Hezekiah’s Passover, residents of Judah’s towns brought tithes of livestock and consecrated gifts, forming heaps of abundance that sustained the priests and testified to God’s blessing.
- Key words: Tithe (מַעֲשַׂר, ma‘aser, a tenth); heaps (עֲרֵמוֹת, a.re.mot, piles, repeated for emphasis); consecrated (קָדַשׁ, qadash, set apart as holy).
- Main debate: Whether the distinction between Jerusalem’s gifts and the country’s gifts reflects a lesser obedience or a natural, progressive expansion of revival response.
- Theological theme: Genuine revival generates material generosity; God accepts and multiplies even partial obedience offered with a willing heart.
- Best use: Teaching on giving as a response to grace, the organic spread of spiritual renewal, and the celebration of God’s provision for ministry.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
And the Israelites and Judahites who lived in the cities of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things consecrated to the LORD their God, and they laid them in large heaps.
WEB World English Bible 2000
The children of Israel and Judah, who lived in the cities of Judah, also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and the tithe of dedicated things which were consecrated to Yahweh their God, and laid them in heaps.
KJV King James Version 1769
And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the Lord their God, and laid them by heaps.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of dedicated things which were consecrated unto Jehovah their God, and laid them by heaps.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And the sons of Israel and Judah, those dwelling in cities of Judah, they also a tithe of herd and flock, and a tithe of the holy things that are sanctified to Jehovah their God, have brought in, and they give--heaps, heaps;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And the children of Israel and of Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated to Jehovah their God, and laid them by heaps.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Moreover the children of Israel and Juda, that dwelt in the cities of Juda, brought in the tithes of oxen, and sheep, and the tithes of holy things, which they had vowed to the Lord their God: and carrying them all, made many heaps.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
También los hijos de Israel y de Judá, que habitaban en las ciudades de Judá, dieron del mismo modo los diezmos de las vacas y de las ovejas: y trajeron los diezmos de lo santificado, de las cosas que habían prometido á Jehová su Dios, y pusiéronlos por montones.
Também os filhos de Israel e de Judá, que habitavam nas cidades de Judá, deram do mesmo modo os dízimos das vacas e das ovelhas: e trouxeram os dízimos do santificado, das coisas que haviam prometido ao SENHOR seu Deus, e puseram-nos por amontoados.
De même, les enfants d’ Israël et de Juda qui demeuraient dans les villes de Juda donnèrent la dîme du gros et du menu bétail, et la dîme des choses saintes qui étaient consacrées à l’ Éternel, leur Dieu, et dont on fit plusieurs tas.
Und die Kinder Israel und Juda, die in den Städten Juda' s wohnten, brachten auch Zehnten von Rindern und Schafen und Zehnten von dem Geheiligten, das sie dem HERRN, ihrem Gott, geheiligt hatten, und machten hier einen Haufen und da einen Haufen.
En de kinderen van Israel en Juda, die in de steden van Juda woonden, brachten ook tienden der runderen en der schapen, en tienden der heilige dingen, die den HEERE, hun God, geheiligd waren, en maakten vele hopen.
I figliuoli d’Israele e di Giuda che abitavano nelle città di Giuda menarono anch’essi la decima dei buoi e delle pecore, e la decima delle cose sante che erano consacrate all’Eterno, al loro Dio, e delle quali si fecero tanti mucchi.
Nadto synowie Izraelscy i Judzcy, którzy mieszkali w miastach Judzkich, i oni dziesięcinę z wołów i z owiec, i dziesięcinę z rzeczy świętych, poświęconych Panu, Bogu ich, zniósłszy składli na gromady.
И Израильтяне и Иудеи, живущие по городам Иудейским, также представили десятины из крупного и мелкого скота и десятины из пожертвований, посвященных Господу Богу их; и наложили груды, груды.
住 猶大 各城 的以色列 人 和猶大人 也 將牛 羊 的十分之一，並分別為聖 歸耶和華─他們 神 之物，就是十分取一之物，盡都送來，積成 堆壘；
And the children of Israel and Judah, who were living in the towns of Judah came with the tenth part of their oxen and sheep, and a tenth of all the holy things which were to be given to the Lord their God, and put them in great masses.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Chronicles 31:6
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that 2 Chronicles 31:5, 6 draws a distinction between two groups. Verse 5 records the response of Jerusalemites who brought both firstfruits and tithes of every product. Verse 6 then describes the inhabitants of Judah’s outlying cities, including Israelites who had moved south after the northern kingdom’s fall (see 2 Chronicles 11:16). Barnes notes that this second group brought only tithes of livestock and dedicated things, not all the firstfruits and tithes. Gill adds that the Hebrew lacks the word “concerning” which appears in the KJV; the verse simply states their action. The Cambridge Bible similarly omits “concerning” as supplied. The heaps (עֲרֵמוֹת, a.re.mot, repeated twice for emphasis) signal an abundance that surprised even the king and priests (v.8, 10). Wesley explains that the Levites used what they needed and stored the rest. The shared conclusion: revival first stirred the capital, then spread to the countryside, producing generous but incomplete obedience that God still blessed extravagantly.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Distinction reflects delayed obedience: The Jerusalemites obeyed the king’s command (v.4) fully by bringing firstfruits and tithes of everything. The country dwellers, not initially commanded, brought only livestock and holy things—a partial but welcome response.
- Distinction reflects natural progression of revival: The revival began in Jerusalem, then spread. The country dwellers gave according to their agricultural cycles (first grain, then livestock) as the heaps grew from third to seventh month. Their gift was not less obedient but simply later in the harvest timeline.
- ‘Tithe of holy things’ defines the category: Some Jewish interpreters (e.g., Jarchi) see the ‘tithe of holy things’ as the Levites’ second tithe for priests, implying a different legal obligation for the country dwellers, not just a smaller gift.
What is clear: All Christians can agree that this verse records a spontaneous and abundant outpouring of material support for the temple ministry, prompted by a deep spiritual renewal under King Hezekiah.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of the givers | The group in v.6 includes both native Judeans and Israelites from the north who settled in Judah after the kingdom’s fall (2 Chronicles 11:16; 30:25). | Some commentators (e.g., Barnes) see them as distinct from the Jerusalemites, not because of origin but because of the timing of their inclusion in the king’s command. |
| Scope of tithes brought | The Jerusalemites (v.5) brought tithes of ‘all things,’ while the country dwellers brought only tithes of livestock and ‘holy things.’ | Gill notes a rabbinic debate: Jarchi interprets the ‘tithe of holy things’ as the second tithe the Levites gave to priests; Kimchi sees it as consecrated items no longer subject to regular tithing. The exact category remains unclear. |
| Significance of the heaps | The heaps (literal piles of grain and goods) indicate an extraordinary supply that far exceeded the priests’ immediate needs. | Wesley says the heaps are what the Levites stored after using what they needed. Lange and others highlight the seven-month accumulation as a sign of systematic, ongoing generosity rather than a one-time event. |
| Progressive obedience vs. incomplete response | The passage describes a revival that began in Jerusalem and spread outward. | Some (e.g., Matthew Henry) frame the country dwellers’ gift as a positive, albeit lesser, participation. Others (e.g., Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) emphasize that the timing also reflects harvest seasons, grain tithes came first, then livestock. The question is whether the difference is one of obedience or simply of agricultural cycles. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse sits within Hezekiah’s sweeping religious restoration. After the Passover celebration described in chapter 30, a festival that included northern pilgrims from the fallen kingdom of Israel, the king turned to reestablishing the temple’s daily worship. He appointed priestly divisions (v.2), provided the king’s portion for burnt offerings (v.3), and commanded Jerusalem’s residents to give the priests and Levites their allotted portions so they could devote themselves to studying and teaching God’s law (v.4). The response began immediately: those living in Jerusalem brought firstfruits and tithes in abundance (v.5).
Verses 6, 7 then show the movement spreading. The “children of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah” likely refers to both native Judeans and Israelites who had migrated south after the Assyrian conquest (cf. 2 Chronicles 30:25). The temporal markers, ”In the third month” (Sivan, wheat harvest) to “the seventh month” (Tishri, after the fruit harvest), indicate that the contributions poured in over an entire growing season. Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown observe that the first sheaves of wheat formed the “foundation” of the heaps, and subsequent gifts progressively raised them. The heaps were not haphazard piles but orderly stores in the temple courts, used to sustain the priests and their families. This practical outflow of revived faith echoes the ancient tithe laws (Leviticus 27:30; Deuteronomy 14:28), but the scale, heaps upon heaps, far exceeded any legal requirement. The historical context teaches that genuine revival always produces tangible, material consequences for the support of worship and community.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant manuscript variants for this verse. The KJV adds the word “concerning” at the beginning (“And concerning the children of Israel…”), but most modern translations (WEB, ASV, BSB) omit this as an interpretive supplement. The Hebrew simply begins with “And the sons of Israel…” (וּ/בְנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל). The repetition of “heaps” (עֲרֵמ֥וֹת עֲרֵמֽוֹת) is present in the Masoretic Text and preserved in translations such as the YLT (“heaps, heaps”). This doubled form likely intensifies the sense of abundance.
Reception History
This verse has been cited throughout church history as a model of generous giving that flows from spiritual renewal. In the patristic era, interpreters such as John Chrysostom pointed to the heaps as evidence that God multiplies offerings given with a sincere heart. During the Reformation, both Luther and Calvin used Hezekiah’s example to argue that the material support of ministers is a necessary fruit of true revival, not a legal requirement but a joyful response. In later evangelical tradition, the passage was often preached during stewardship campaigns, emphasizing that even imperfect, gradual giving (the country dwellers brought only a portion) is honored when it stems from a revived relationship with God. The repetition of “heaps” also became a poetic device in hymns about God’s provision, though no specific hymn is associated with this verse alone. Acro
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- The command was local, but the response crossed borders. Hezekiah first addressed Jerusalem (v.4), but the gift came from residents and migrants alike (v.6). Revival spreads when those far off hear the call.
- The offering was not complete, but it was abundant. Country dwellers brought only livestock and dedicated things, not all crops. Yet the heaps grew so high there was more than enough for everyone (v.10). God blesses partial obedience begun in faith.
- The result was joy and blessing, not scrutiny. Hezekiah and the princes blessed the Lord and the people (v.8). They did not rebuke the country givers for bringing less; they celebrated the overflow. Revival leaders praise what God is doing rather than criticize what He has not yet done.
Five-Point Outline
- Context: Hezekiah’s reforms and the call to support the temple ministry (vv.2, 4).
- Initial response: Jerusalem’s overwhelming generosity (v.5).
- Second wave: The country districts join in, bringing livestock tithes and dedicated things (v.6).
- Season of giving: The long harvest months of accumulating heaps (v.7).
- Result: Blessing from leaders, satisfaction for priests, and a demonstration of God’s blessing on His people (vv.8, 10).
Illustration Hooks
- A community pantry. Imagine a neighborhood church appeals for food donations. The first families bring full grocery bags. Neighbors who hear later bring only what they have, maybe rice and canned beans. But when it all piles up, there is enough for everyone, and the pantry grows beyond anyone’s expectation.
- A farmer’s year-end store. After a good harvest, a farmer stockpiles grain, hay, and preserves. The first piles are from the earliest crops; later gifts add to the heap. By winter’s start, the barn is full, proof of a season’s worth of steady generosity.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- “Am I giving only the leftovers, or am I joining a revival movement of generous support for ministry?”
- “Does my church celebrate small offerings as part of God’s abundance, or do we only applaud the large gifts?”
- “What ‘heaps’ can we see in our congregation when everyone contributes their portion, even if it seems small?”
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows how spiritual renewal and material generosity are inseparable. Hezekiah’s revival moved from the capital to the countryside, and the people responded with produce, livestock, and dedicated gifts until there was more than enough. As you discuss this verse, pay attention to who gave what, and why the writer makes that distinction.
Discussion Questions
- Observation: What did the Jerusalemites bring (v.5), and what did the people from the cities of Judah bring (v.6)? List the differences.
- Observation: The Hebrew word for “heaps” (עֲרֵמוֹת) appears twice in v.6. Why might the writer repeat it? What does the rhythm of that repetition suggest?
- Interpretation: Why do you think the country dwellers did not bring firstfruits of grain, oil, and wine, even though the Jerusalemites did? (Hint: compare the command in v.4 with the response in v.5, 6.)
- Interpretation: The gifts arrived from the third month to the seventh month (v.7). How does this timeline affect how we understand the “heaps”? What does it teach about persistence in giving?
- Application: Hezekiah and the princes “blessed Yahweh and his people Israel” when they saw the heaps (v.8). How can we practice celebrating what God is doing through others’ contributions, even when those contributions differ from our own?
- Application: Azariah the chief priest said, “We have eaten and had enough, and have plenty left over” (v.10). In what areas of church life do we see “more than enough” because of shared generosity? Where might we need to trust God for an increase?
- Reflection: Think of a time when you gave out of a revived heart, not out of obligation. How did that experience compare to giving that felt merely dutiful? What conditions helped that generosity arise?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Leviticus 27:30 | “‘All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is Yahweh’s. It is holy to Yahweh. |
| Deuteronomy 14:28 | At the end of every three years you shall bring all the tithe of your increase in the same year, and shall store it within your gates. |
| II Chronicles 11:16 | After them, out of all the tribes of Israel, those who set their hearts to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Yahweh, the God of their fathers. |
| II Chronicles 11:17 | So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong for three years, for they walked three years in the way of David and Solomon. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes draws a careful distinction between two groups: the inhabitants of Jerusalem brought first-fruits and tithes of everything, while Jews from country districts and Israelites living among them gave only first-fruits and tithes of livestock and vowed items. The command had applied fully to the first group only.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that what the King James Version calls "holy things" the Revised Version more accurately renders as "dedicated things," cross-referencing a parallel passage where the same expression appears. This is a specific translation improvement, not a doctrinal comment.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
And the children of Israel and Iudah that dwelt in ye cities of Iudah, they also brought the tithes of bullockes and sheepe, and the holy tithes which were consecrate vnto the Lord their God, and laide them on many heapes.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that the word "concerning" is not needed in the translation; the verse simply records that the people brought their tithes in large heaps. He also highlights two Jewish interpretations: Jarchi takes the "holy things" as the second tithe Levites gave to priests, while Kimchi sees them as items already consecrated and exempt from tithing.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights the gradual, seasonal buildup of firstfruit offerings, noting that the wheat harvest in the third month formed the foundation layer, with successive contributions raised heap upon heap through the summer until the seventh month.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights how Hezekiah's reform moved from tearing down idols to building up true worship in a deliberate, orderly way. The king personally provided for the sacrifices, and the people responded with overflowing generosity, giving so much that it piled in heaps. For Henry, this shows that faithful leadership and heartfelt devotion naturally produce joyful, abundant giving.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley observes that the priests and Levites took only what they actually needed from the offerings, and the surplus was simply stored in piles. This detail shows both practical provision and an abundance beyond immediate use.