2 Chronicles 29

1 Hezekiah [a king who served Jehovah] was twenty-five [five and twenty] years old when he became king [to reign, to rule as a king], and he reigned [as a wise and just ruler] in Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital of Judah] twenty-nine [nine and twenty] years. His mother’s [female parent, maternal figure] name was Abijah [meaning my father is Jehovah], the daughter [female child, woman] of Zechariah [Jehovah remembers]. word study 2 And he did what was right [upright, just, and pleasing] in the eyes [the all-seeing gaze] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], just as his father [ancestor, progenitor] David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] had done [accomplished, fulfilled]. word study 3 In the first [initial, primary] month of the first year of his reign, Hezekiah opened [unlocked, swung wide] and repaired [strengthened, restored] the doors [gates, entrances] of the house [temple, dwelling place] of the LORD [Yehovah, the divine King]. word study 4 Then he brought in [summoned, gathered] the priests [those who serve God, spiritual leaders] and Levites [descendants of Levi, temple servants] and gathered [assembled, brought together] them in the square [street, plaza, public area] on the east [direction of sunrise, facing the rising sun] side. word study 5 “Listen to me, O Levites [descendants of Levi, priests],” he said. “Consecrate [set apart as holy, sanctify] yourselves now [at this time, immediately] and consecrate [dedicate, make sacred] the house [temple, dwelling place] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God], the God [Elohim, Creator] of your fathers [ancestors, forefathers]. Remove [take away, carry out] from the Holy Place [sanctuary, sacred area] every impurity [uncleanness, moral corruption]. word study 6 For our fathers [ancestors, forefathers] were unfaithful [sinful, treacherous] and did evil [wrong, bad] in the sight [presence, eye] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] our God [Elohim, the supreme God]. They abandoned [forsaken, loosened] Him, turned [to turn away, surround] their faces [presence, countenance] away from the dwelling place [tabernacle, house] of the LORD, and turned [to turn, give] their backs [neck, back of the neck] on Him. word study 7 They also [even, too] shut the doors [gates, entrances] of the portico [covered area, vestibule] and extinguished [put out, quenched] the lamps [light sources, torches]. They did not [never, at no time] burn incense [sweet smoke, fragrance] or present [offer, bring forth] burnt offerings [sacrifices, consecrated gifts] in the Holy Place [sanctuary, sacred area] of the God [Elohim, supreme Being] of Israel [Jacob’s descendants, the chosen people]. word study 8 Therefore, the wrath [anger, indignation] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of Israel] has fallen upon Judah [the southern kingdom of Israel] and Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital], and He has made them an object of terror [fear, dread], horror [great fear, astonishment], and mockery [ridicule, hissing], as you can see with your own eyes [as you behold, as is evident]. word study 9 For behold [look, see], this is why our fathers [ancestors, predecessors] have fallen [been defeated, failed] by the sword [cutting instrument, weapon], and our sons [descendants, children] and daughters [female children, women] and wives [women, spouses] are in captivity [exile, bondage]. word study 10 Now [at this present time, in this moment] it is in my heart [my innermost being, mind, and will] to make [to cut, establish] a covenant [a promise, agreement, or treaty] with the LORD [Yehovah], the God [Elohim, the supreme God] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob], so that His fierce anger [burning wrath, intense indignation] will turn away [return, be averted] from us. word study 11 Now, my sons [like my descendants, my spiritual children], do not be [do not become, cease to be] negligent [at rest, complacent], for the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of Israel] has chosen [selected, elected] you to stand [to be stationary, to remain] before Him [in His presence, face to face], to serve [to minister, to worship] Him, to minister [to attend, to care for] before Him, and to burn [to offer, to present] incense [a fragrant offering].” word study 12 Then the Levites [arose, stood up, as if to a new task] set to work: Mahath [a leader’s name] son of Amasai [burdensome, a name] and Joel [Jehovah is God, a prophet’s name] son of Azariah [God is my helper, a priest’s name] from the Kohathites [descendants of Kohath, a Levite]; Kish [a name meaning gift] son of Abdi [my servant, a name] and Azariah [God is my helper] son of Jehallelel [God is praised, a name] from the Merarites [descendants of Merari, a Levite]; Joah [Jehovah is brother, a name] son of Zimmah [a name, possibly meaning a melody] and Eden [a place of pleasure, a name] son of Joah from the Gershonites [descendants of Gershon, a Levite]; word study 13 Shimri [a vigilant one] and Jeuel [a Levite of the sons of Elizaphan] from the Elizaphanites [sons of Elizaphan, a leader in Israel]; Zechariah [Jehovah remembers, a Levite of the sons of Asaph] and Mattaniah [a gift of Jehovah] from the Asaphites [sons of Asaph, a gatherer and Levite]; word study 14 Jehiel [a name meaning God lives] and Shimei [a common Israelite name] from the Hemanites [descendants of Heman, a Levite]; and Shemaiah [heard by God] and Uzziel [my strength is God] from the Jeduthunites [descendants of Jeduthun, a Levite and chief of a temple choir]. word study 15 When they had assembled [gathered together, called to unity] their brothers [fellow descendants of Levi, close relatives] and consecrated [set apart, made holy] themselves, they went in [entered, approached] to cleanse [purify, make ceremonially clean] the house [dwelling place, temple] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God], according to the command [instruction, law] of the king [ruler, monarch] by the words [commands, teachings] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God]. word study 16 So the priests [spiritual leaders, mediators between God and people] went inside the house [temple, dwelling place] of the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] to cleanse [purify, make holy] it, and they brought out to the courtyard [outer court, open area] all the unclean things [impurities, sinful objects] that they found [discovered, uncovered] in the temple [sacred building, place of worship] of the LORD. Then the Levites [descendants of Levi, assistants to the priests] took these things and carried them out to the Kidron [dark, brook or valley] Valley [low area of land between hills]. word study 17 They began [to initiate, start anew] the consecration [to set apart as holy, sanctify] on the first [primary, initial] day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they reached the portico [a covered area, vestibule] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. For eight more days they consecrated [to dedicate, make holy] the house [dwelling place, temple] of the LORD itself, finishing [completing, bringing to an end] on the sixteenth [ten and six, a combination of completeness and man’s number] day of the first month. word study 18 Then they went in [within the palace, to] to King Hezekiah [the ruler of Judah, son of Ahaz] and reported, “We have cleansed [purified, made holy] the entire house [temple, dwelling place] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God], the altar [place of sacrifice] of burnt offering [step or stairs, ascent to God] with all its utensils [articles, tools], and the table [sacred furniture] of the showbread [shewbread, sacred loaves] with all its utensils [vessels, equipment]. word study 19 Moreover, we have prepared [set in order, restored] and consecrated [set apart as holy, sanctified] all the articles [vessels, utensils] that King Ahaz [the unfaithful king of Judah] in his unfaithfulness [transgression, rebellion] cast aside [rejected, threw away] during his reign [royal power, kingdom]. They are now in front of [before the face, in the presence of] the altar [place of sacrifice] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God].” word study 20 Early [at dawn, rising early] the next morning King [royal ruler, sovereign] Hezekiah [faithful to God, a righteous king] gathered [assembled, brought together] the city [urban, municipal] officials [rulers, leaders] and went up [ascended, rose] to the house [temple, dwelling place] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 21 They brought seven bulls [young oxen], seven rams [strong male sheep], seven lambs [young sheep], and seven male goats [he-goats, used for sin offerings] as a sin offering [a sacrifice to atone for sin, to purify] for the kingdom [the realm or domain of a king], for the sanctuary [a holy or set-apart place], and for Judah [the tribe or region of Judah]. And the king commanded [gave orders to, instructed] the priests [spiritual leaders, mediators between God and man], the descendants of Aaron [the first high priest, a leader in Israel], to offer them on the altar [a place of sacrifice, a table for God] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God, the covenant-keeping God]. word study 22 So they slaughtered [killed, offered as a sacrifice] the bulls [oxen, cattle], and the priests [spiritual leaders, mediators] took the blood [life-giving fluid] and sprinkled [poured, scattered] it on the altar [place of sacrifice, worship]. They slaughtered [killed, sacrificed] the rams [strong male sheep] and sprinkled the blood [the liquid that flows through the body] on the altar. And they slaughtered [killed, offered] the lambs [young sheep, innocent victims] and sprinkled the blood [a token of forgiveness, cleansing] on the altar. word study 23 Then they brought [drew near, presented] the goats [he-goats, male goats] for the sin [guilt, punishment for sin] offering [purification, atonement] before the king [royal person, ruler] and the assembly [congregation, group of people], who laid [placed, supported] their hands [open hands] on them [upon, above them]. word study 24 And the priests [who served God] slaughtered [killed as a sacrifice] the goats and put their blood [the liquid that flows through the body] on the altar [a place of sacrifice] for a sin offering [to make reconciliation], to make atonement [to cover and forgive sins] for all [every single one] Israel, because the king [the ruler, leader] had ordered [commanded, decreed] the burnt offering [a sacrifice completely consumed by fire] and the sin offering [a sacrifice to atone for sin] for all [every single one] Israel. word study 25 Hezekiah stationed the Levites [descendants of Levi, a tribe of Israel] in the house [place of worship, temple] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] with cymbals [metal plates used for music], harps [stringed instruments], and lyres [musical instruments with strings] according to the command [instruction, law] of David [the king of Israel], of Gad [the king’s seer, a prophet] the king’s seer [one who receives visions from God], and of Nathan [a prophet in the time of King David] the prophet [one who speaks for God]. For the command [instruction, law] had come from the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] through His prophets [those who speak for God]. word study 26 The Levites [descendants of Levi, a tribe of priests] stood [in a strong sense] with the instruments [articles, utensils, or tools] of David [a king of Israel], and the priests [those who serve God and lead others in worship] with the trumpets [used to signal important events, making a quavering note]. word study 27 And Hezekiah [the faithful king] ordered that the burnt offering [a sacrifice to atone for sin] be sacrificed on the altar [a place of worship and sacrifice]. When the burnt offering [the act of worship, the olah] began, the song [a musical expression of praise] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] and the trumpets [used to signal important events] began as well, accompanied by the instruments [tools for worship] of David [the king and worship leader] king of Israel [the people of God]. word study 28 The whole [entire, complete] assembly [congregation, group of people] was worshiping [bowing down, giving reverence], the singers [musicians, choir] were singing [making music, praising], and the trumpeters [those sounding the trumpet] were playing [blowing, sounding] [with horns, trumpets]. All [everything, the whole] this continued [went on, lasted] until [as far as, till] the burnt offering [sacrifice, gift to God] was completed [finished, ended]. word study 29 When the offerings [sacrifices, acts of worship] were completed [finished, brought to an end], the king [ruler, monarch] and all [everything, everyone] those present [found, gathered] with him [near, alongside] bowed down [knelt, prostrated] and worshiped [paid homage, revered]. word study 30 Then King [ruler, monarch] Hezekiah and his officials [princes, leaders] ordered the Levites [descendants of Levi, worship leaders] to sing praises [hymns, songs of worship] to the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] in the words [chronicles, writings] of David [the king, a man after God’s heart] and of Asaph [a prophet] the seer [a prophet, one who receives visions]. So they sang praises [with joy, gladly] with gladness [joy, celebration] and bowed their heads [in reverence, humility] and worshiped [bowed down, showed reverence]. word study 31 Then Hezekiah [the faithful king of Judah] said, “Now [at this present time] that you have consecrated [dedicated, set apart] yourselves to the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], come near [approach, draw close] and bring sacrifices [offerings to atone for sin] and thank offerings [expressions of gratitude, praise] to the house [temple, dwelling place] of the LORD.” So the assembly [congregation, gathered people] brought sacrifices [gifts to God] and thank offerings [praise and worship], and all whose hearts [inner being, spirit] were willing [generous, noble] brought burnt offerings [completely consumed by fire]. word study 32 The number [quantity, total count] of burnt offerings [sacrifices, gifts to God] the assembly [congregation, gathered people] brought was seventy [a symbolic number] bulls [oxen, cattle], a hundred [one hundred, a multitude] rams [strong male sheep], and two hundred [a large number] lambs [young sheep]; all [everything, the entirety] these were for a burnt offering [a sacrifice, a gift to God] to the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 33 And the consecrated [holy, set-apart] offerings [dedicated things, sanctified gifts] were six [the number of man] hundred [a large quantity, multitude] bulls [oxen, cattle, domesticated animals] and three thousand [a large company, multitude] sheep [a flock, goats, or other sacrificial animals]. word study 34 However, since there were not enough [a few, a small number] priests [spiritual leaders, those who serve God] to skin [remove the outer layer, strip] all the burnt offerings [sacrifices completely consumed by fire], their Levite [descendants of Levi, assistants to the priests] brothers [fellow descendants, close relatives] helped them until the work [task, labor, employment] was finished and until the priests had been consecrated [set apart, made holy, purified]. For the Levites had been more diligent [careful, devoted, upright in heart] in consecrating [setting apart, making holy] themselves than the priests had been. word study 35 Furthermore, the burnt offerings [in abundance, many] were abundant, along with the fat [the richest or best part] of the peace offerings [voluntary sacrifices to show thanks] and the drink offerings [ceremonial libations] for the burnt offerings [steps or stairs to the altar]. So the service [work or worship] of the house [dwelling place, temple] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] was established [set in order, restored]. word study 36 Then Hezekiah [the faithful king] and all [every single one of] the people rejoiced [were glad, celebrated] at what God [Elohim, the supreme God] had prepared [established, set up] for the people, because everything [the whole matter] had been accomplished [done, completed] so quickly [suddenly, in an instant]. word study