4. He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to provide the required portion for the priests and the Levites so they could devote themselves to the Lord’s Instruction.
5. As soon as the order was issued, the Israelites generously gave the best of their grain, new wine, oil, honey, and all their crops—a tenth of everything, a huge amount.
6. The people of Israel and Judah, living in the cities of Judah, also brought in a tenth of their herds and flocks and a tenth of the items that had been dedicated to the Lord their God, stacking it up in piles.
7. They began stacking up the piles in the third month and finished them in the seventh.
8. When Hezekiah and the officials saw the piles, they blessed the Lord and his people Israel.
9. When Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the piles,
10. the chief priest Azariah, who was from Zadok’s family, answered, "Ever since the people started bringing contributions to the Lord’s temple we’ve had enough to eat with plenty to spare. The Lord has definitely blessed his people! There’s a lot left over."