2 Chronicles 29

King James Version

Full text for 2 Chronicles Chapter 29

1¶ Hezekiah began to reign [when he was] five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.

2And he did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.

3He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them.

4And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street,

5And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy [place].

6For our fathers have trespassed, and done [that which was] evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned [their] backs.

7Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy [place] unto the God of Israel.

8Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes.

9For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives [are] in captivity for this.

10Now [it is] in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us.

11My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn incense.

12¶ Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites: and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel: and of the Gershonites; Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah:

13And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah:

14And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei: and of the sons of Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel.

15And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD.

16And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD, to cleanse [it], and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took [it], to carry [it] out abroad into the brook Kidron.

17Now they began on the first [day] of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of the LORD: so they sanctified the house of the LORD in eight days; and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.

18Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread table, with all the vessels thereof.

19Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they [are] before the altar of the LORD.

20¶ Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD.

21And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer [them] on the altar of the LORD.

22So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled [it] on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar.

23And they brought forth the he goats [for] the sin offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them:

24And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded [that] the burnt offering and the sin offering [should be made] for all Israel.

25And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for [so was] the commandment of the LORD by his prophets.

26And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.

27And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began [also] with the trumpets, and with the instruments [ordained] by David king of Israel.

28And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: [and] all [this continued] until the burnt offering was finished.

29And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped.

30Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.

31Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings.

32And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, an hundred rams, [and] two hundred lambs: all these [were] for a burnt offering to the LORD.

33And the consecrated things [were] six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.

34But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the [other] priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites [were] more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

35And also the burnt offerings [were] in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for [every] burnt offering. So the service of the house of the LORD was set in order.

36And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was [done] suddenly.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

King Hezekiah began his reign by immediately restoring the worship of the LORD, opening and repairing the defiled temple doors. He commanded the priests and Levites to sanctify themselves and cleanse the holy place, acknowledging past national transgressions. This led to a comprehensive temple purification, followed by extensive sin offerings and burnt offerings for atonement, and the reestablishment of musical praise, bringing great joy and order to the service of the LORD.

Medium Summary

King Hezekiah, at twenty-five years old, commenced his reign by doing what was right in the sight of the LORD, emulating King David. In his first month, he initiated a profound spiritual renewal by opening and repairing the long-neglected temple doors. He gathered the priests and Levites, urging them to sanctify themselves and the house of the LORD, recognizing that past unfaithfulness had brought divine wrath upon Judah. The Levites diligently undertook the cleansing, removing all uncleanness from the temple and its vessels, a task completed within sixteen days. Following this, Hezekiah led the rulers and congregation in offering numerous sin offerings and burnt offerings for the kingdom, sanctuary, and all Israel, making a comprehensive atonement. The service was further enriched by the reintroduction of musical worship with instruments, as ordained by David, and the people's free-hearted bringing of additional sacrifices. The chapter concludes with the successful reestablishment of proper temple service and widespread rejoicing among Hezekiah and the people.

Long Summary

King Hezekiah, commencing his reign at the age of twenty-five, immediately distinguished himself by doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD, following the example of his ancestor David. In the very first month of his reign, he prioritized the spiritual restoration of Judah by opening and repairing the long-neglected doors of the house of the LORD. He then assembled the priests and Levites, delivering a fervent address that highlighted the past transgressions of their fathers, which had led to God's wrath, trouble, and captivity for Judah and Jerusalem. Hezekiah urged them to sanctify themselves and cleanse the holy place, expressing his heart's desire to make a covenant with the LORD to avert further divine displeasure. Responding to the king's charge, the Levites, including specific families mentioned, diligently sanctified themselves and began the arduous task of purifying the temple. They systematically removed all uncleanness from the inner sanctuary to the outer court, carrying it forth to the brook Kidron. This extensive cleansing process commenced on the first day of the first month and concluded on the sixteenth day, signifying a swift and thorough restoration. Upon completion, the Levites reported to Hezekiah that the entire temple, including the altar of burnt offering and all its vessels, had been prepared and sanctified. Subsequently, Hezekiah gathered the city's rulers for a grand act of atonement, offering seven bullocks, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven he-goats as sin offerings for the kingdom, sanctuary, and Judah, thereby making reconciliation for all Israel. The worship service was further enriched by the reestablishment of musical praise, with Levites playing cymbals, psalteries, and harps, and priests sounding trumpets, all according to the ancient commands of David and the prophets. As burnt offerings were presented, the congregation worshipped with singing and trumpeting. Hezekiah encouraged the people to bring additional sacrifices and thank offerings, which they did in great abundance, including numerous burnt offerings and consecrated animals. A notable detail highlights that the priests were too few to handle all the offerings, requiring the assistance of the more diligent Levites in flaying the sacrifices. The chapter concludes with the successful and sudden reordering of the service of the house of the LORD, leading to great rejoicing among Hezekiah and all the people, recognizing God's providential preparation.

Core Concepts

  • Hezekiah's Righteous ReignHezekiah's reign began with immediate and decisive action to restore the worship of the LORD, demonstrating a commitment to righteousness akin to King David.
  • Temple Cleansing and RestorationThe chapter details the thorough purification of the defiled temple, initiated by Hezekiah, involving the removal of uncleanness and the re-sanctification of its vessels.
  • Atonement and ReconciliationExtensive sin offerings and burnt offerings were made for the kingdom, sanctuary, and all Israel, signifying a national act of atonement and reconciliation with God.
  • Levitical DiligenceThe Levites are highlighted for their promptness in sanctifying themselves and their readiness to assist the priests, indicating their uprightness of heart in fulfilling their sacred duties.
  • Restoration of WorshipThe reestablishment of proper temple service included the offering of sacrifices, the reintroduction of musical praise with instruments, and the bringing of free-will offerings by the congregation.
  • Consequences of TransgressionHezekiah explicitly links the past transgressions of their fathers to God's wrath, which resulted in trouble, astonishment, and captivity for Judah and Jerusalem.