Definition: And his princes gave willingly unto the people, to the priests, and to the Levites: Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God, gave unto the priests for the passover offerings two thousand and six hundred [small cattle], and three hundred oxen.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from 2 Chronicles 35:8. It's a really important section about how the people of Israel were handling their religious obligations during the time of King Josiah. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: The Israelites were willingly giving money and livestock to the priests and Levites for Passover, which was a major Jewish holiday. They were providing a lot of resources – hundreds of oxen and cattle – specifically for these offerings. Let's unpack it further: "And his princes gave willingly unto the people..." : This means the Israelites’ leaders (the princes) were contributing their money, livestock, and other goods to the religious celebrations. They weren’t just participating; they were willingly giving. "...to the priests, and to the Levites:" : This tells us these contributions went specifically to the priestly class – the priests who performed rituals and offered sacrifices. The Levites were a group of people responsible for leading prayers and performing services. "Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel..." : These are two key leaders within the religious system. They were designated as "rulers of the house of God." Think of them as high-ranking officials who oversaw these offerings. "...gave unto the priests for the passover offerings two thousand and six hundred [small cattle], and three hundred oxen." : This is where it gets a little more specific. They were giving: Two thousand and six hundred small cattle: This is a huge amount of livestock – imagine hundreds of cows, goats, sheep, etc. Three hundred oxen: They were providing three hundred oxen (large sacrificial animals) for Passover. What's the Significance? This passage suggests that there was a significant amount of money and resources being given to the religious leaders during this time. It’s a bit puzzling, because it seems like a lot of money was being spent on rituals and sacrifices. It raises questions about: Wealth Distribution: Were these offerings truly for God, or were they primarily meant to benefit the priests and Levites? Potential Disruption: Some scholars believe this could be a sign that there was growing unrest among the Israelites, leading them to question the practices of their religious leaders. In short, it's a record of a substantial financial contribution made by the Israelites to the religious life of the time. --- Do you want me to: Explain why this passage is significant? Discuss potential interpretations of what the text might be suggesting?