2 Chronicles 29
DOYLYChap. XXX. ver. 1. — to Ephraim and Manasseh. ] This expression seems to imply that, while Hezekiah sent messages to all the tribes, he sent more particularly to these two tribes, being the nearest to him, and many of them having settled themselves in the land of Judah, in the reign of Ass. chap. xv. 9. Bp. Patrick.
2 Chronicles 29:2
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— to keep the passover in the second month. ] The late king had caused such confusion in religious matters, and many of the priests and people had been so long unaccustomed to the holy services, that the preparations for the passover could not be made by the time appointed by the law, the first month, ver. 3; and accordingly it was resolved to defer it till the second, without the least apprehension of the displeasure of
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a Numb. 9. 10, 11.
2 Chronicles 29:16
- — into the inner part of the house] That is, into the holy place, for into the most holy none but the high priest might enter. By “the court of the house of the Lord” is meant the court of the priests, where the Levites attended upon them and ministered unto them. Bp. Patrick.
2 Chronicles 29:21
- — to offer them on the altar] There are two laws in the books of Moses, requiring a sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the whole congregation; the one at Lev. iv. 13, 14, where a bullock was required for sins into which they had ignorantly fallen; the other at Numb. xv. 22, where the sacrifice of a goat as a sin offering is commanded, together with that of a bullock as a burnt offering, when they had fallen into error in the practice of external rites. Now Hezekiah, being sensible that the people had not only acted contrary to their religion, but had in fact abolished it, by closing the doors of their temple, and omitting the appointed sacrifices, and every where exercising strange worship, appointed seven bullocks for a burnt offering, and as many goats for a sin offering, (though the law never required more than one,) thinking that these numerous sacrifices (together with the rams and lambs) were, if not necessary, at least very becoming, on account of the great and long neglect of the Divine service, and of the multitude and heinousness of their other sins against the Lord, for which they now required forgiveness. Bp. Patrick. Hezekiah offereth solemn sacrifices. 736. fering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.
2 Chronicles 29:31
- — brought in sacrifices and thank offerings. ] The sacrifices of expiation being now ended, the king desired the assembly to present such other sacrifices as they had prepared, by way of thanksgiving and acknowledgment to God, or for the entertainment of themselves and their friends. Some of these were burnt offerings, and, as such, were wholly consumed on the altar; but part of them were peace offerings, and feasted upon by the offerers, as the law permitted. Pyle.
2 Chronicles 29:33
- — the consecrated things ] That is, the things otherwise devoted to the service of God. Dr. Wells.
2 Chronicles 29:34
- — the priests were too few. ] The reason of this was, that a great many priests, tainted with the corruptions of the foregoing reign, had neglected the king’s order, and did not appear prepared for the service; whereupon, as the Levites were far more zealous for the reformation, they were appointed to supply the defects