2 Chronicles 29
DortHizkia a pious King, applieth himself to repair the worship of God, vers.1. etc. gathered for that purpose the Priests, and the Levites together, 4. To whom for this very end he maketh an excellent exhortation, 5. Which they follow, 12. Which they acquait the King withal, 18. Who by way of thanksgiving, offereth many sacrifices, with songs of praise, 20. The congregation add thereunto their offerings, 31. To offer up these, the Priests are helped by the Levites, who had been more diligent to sanctify themselves, than the Priests, 34.
1. Ehizkia [Others, Hizkia, below vers.18,27.] became king, being five and twenty years old, [Hebr. a son of five and twenty years] and his mothers name was Abia, a daughter of Zacharia.
2. And he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord; according to all that David his father had done.
3. The same, in the first year of his reign, in the first months, [Yea on the first day of this first month, as appeareth below vers.17.] opened the doors of the house of the Lord [to wit, which Achas his father had shut up, that the Lord might not be worshipped in his Temple. See above chap.28.24. and below vers.7. and compare 2 Kings 16:14, etc.] and repaired them. [To wit, the doors. Others, and strengthened them; namely, the Priests, to wit, in their office.]
4. And he brought in the Priests, and the Levites: and he gathered them together in the East-street. [Meaning the plain, which was at the East end of the Temple, before the gate of the people court, which gate was the chiefest gate.]
5. And he said unto them; Hear me, O Levites, Sanctify now your selves, [That is, cleans your selves from all pollutions, which are against both the moral and ceremonial Law, and that according to the command and prescript given you by God in his Law. Compare Genes.35.2. Item Exod.19.10. and the Annotations] and sanctify the house of the LORD God your fathers, [that is, cleanse it. So below vers.17, and 19.] and bring forth the uncleanness called, because it must be separated, and put away. In like manner the time of the purity or uncleanness of a woman in child-bed, is called a time of separation; because, as long as that time lasted, she was to be separated from the society of men. See Levit.12.on vers.2. Understand here by uncleanness, or, pollution, what so ever had polluted or defiled the Temple by means, or by reason of idolaters, and idolatry] out of the Sacntuary. [Understand the holy places; that is, the fore-part of the Temple, below vers.16.or also the court of the Priests, which is likewise called a Saanctuary. See below vers.7. and the Annotations.]
6. For our fathers have trespassed, [Namely, my father Achaz, and your fathers, that followed his idolatry] and done that which was civil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him: and they have turned away their faces from the tabernacle of the LORD, and have turned [Or, presented, offered, Hebr. given] the neck toward (it.) [That is, they have turned their backs (towards it, or, upon it,) refusing to give ear unto the LORD, and to worship him according to his Law.]
7. Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burnt incense; neither have they offered burnt-offering in the Sanctuary [Meaning, the Priests court, wherein the altar of burnt-offering stood, 1 Kings 8:64. And the same is called an holy place, Lev.6.16. and 10.13. and 14.13. and the Sanctuary, as here, and Numb.28.7. and below chap.35.5. because it was hallowed or consecrated unto God] unto the God of Israel.
8. Therefore a great wrath of the LORD hath been upon Juda and Jerusalem, and (he) hath delivered them up to trouble, [Or, scattering. See Deut.28.on vers.24.] to desolation, and to hissing on [see 1 Kings 9. On vers.8.] like as ye see with your eyes.
9. For lo. Our fathers have fallen by the sword: [That is have been destroyed by war. See Lev.26.on vers.7.] besides our sons, and our daughters, and our wives have been in captivity for it. [See above chap.28. vers.5. and 8.]
10. Now it is in mine heart [That is, I am minded and do intend. See 1 Kings 8.on vers.17.] to make a covenant with the LORD the God of Israel: that the heat of his anger may turn away from us.
11. My sons, [He calleth the Priests, and the Levites, sons, not in respect of his great age, (for he had as yet attained but to the age of five and twenty years, above vers.1.) but because he bare a love and actions towards them, as if they had been his sons] be not now [to wit, as in time past, when ye neglected the time, and pure worship of God] slack: [or, be not still, negligent, quiet. Others, go not now astray, or, err not, to wit, that you should not quit your selves well in the office, or discharge the duty, whereunto God hath chosen, and called you] for the LORD hath chosen you to stand before his face, [See Deut.10.on vers.8.] to serve him, and that ye should be ministers and burners of incense unto him.
12. Then the Levites gat them up, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azaria, of the children of the Kehatites; and of the children of Merari, Kis the son of Abdi, and Azaria the son of Jehallelel: and of the Gersomites, Joab the son of Zimma, and Eden the son of Joab.
13. And of the children of Elizaphan, [This man in Moseh’s time had been a Ruler in the family of the Kahatites, Numb.3.30.] Simri, and Jeiel: and of the children of Asaph, [see of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, and of their children, 1 Chron.25.1.2, etc. and below chap.35.15. and the Annotations] Zacharia, and Mattania.
14. And of the children of Heman, Jehiel, and Simei: and of the children of Jeduthun, Semaja, and Uzziel.
15. And they gathered their brethren, and hallowed themselves, [See above on vers.5.] and came according to the command of the King, by the words of the LORD; [that is, which command the King had given, being moved by the words of the Law of God, which imported as much, whereby he warranted his action] to cleanse the house of the LORD.
16. But the Priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD, [For it was onely permitted to them, to enter into the holy place, and not to the Levites] to cleanse (it,) and they brought out into the court of the house of the LORD [meaning the Priests court, where the altar of burnt-offering stood] all the uncleanness, which they found in the Temple of the LORD: [that is, in the holy place, and also according to the opinion of some, in the most holy place] and the levites took it up to carry it cut abroad, into the brook Kidron. [See 1 Kings 2.on v.37.]
17. Now they began to hallow [That is, to cleanse the house of the LORD] on the first [Hebr.one. See Gen.1.on v.5.] (day) of the first month, [Meaning the first month of the first year of King Hizkia’s reign, as above v.3. Others understand it of the first month of the year called Nisan] and on the eight day of the month they came into the porch of the LORD, and hallowed the house of the LORD in the eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.
18. Then they went into King Hizkia, and said; We have cleansed all the house of the LORD: together with the altar of burnt-offering, with all the furniture thereof, and the table of disposition, [meaning, the holy Table over-laid with God, standing in the holy place, upon over-laid with Gold, standing in the holy place, upon which the shew-bread-loaves were to be disposed, that is, orderly set and laid in order, Exod.25.30. Levit.24.5,6, etc, which actions is called the disposing of the continual (bread,) above chap.2.4.] with all the furniture therefore.
19. Also all the furniture, which King Achaz under his reign had cast away by his transgression, have we prepared, [To wit, for their lawful use, whereunto they were ordained] and hallowed, and behold, they are before the altar of the LORD.
20. Then King Jehizkia gat him up early, and gathered the chief of the city: [Meaning the Magistrates, Council, and Officers of the City, who are also called the eldest of the city. See 1 Kings 21:8. and the Annotations] and he went up into the house of the LORD.
21. And 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 Juda: [Here are named all sorts of clean four-footed beasts, that were sit for sacrifice, and which were offered up, First, for the Kingdom; that is, for the King, his Counsellors, and Officers. Secondly, for the Sanctuary; that is, for the sins and uncleanness, that were committed in the Temple by idolatry, false worship, violence, and otherways. Thirdly, For Juda; that is, for the sins of all the congregation] and he said to the sons o Aaron, the Priests, that they should offer (them) upon the altar of the LORD.
22. So they killed the bullocks, and the Priests received the bloud, and sprinkled it on the altar: they also killed the rams, and sprinkled the bloud upon the altar: likewise they killed the lambs, and sprinkled the bloud upon the altar.
23. Then they brought forth the he-goats, for the sin-offering, before the face of the KING, and of the congregation; and they [Namely, the King, and the Congregation, or those that appeared there in the name, or in the behalf of the Congregaton] laid their hands upon them. [They declared by this ceremony, that they confessed their sins, and prayed to God for perdon, by virtue of the sacrifice, which should once be made by the Messiah, and was now typified by these offerings. See Levit.1.4. and 4 15,4. And 8.18. also the Annotations chap.1.on vers 4.]
24. And the Priests killed them, and make expiation [To wit, for the Kingdom, the Sanctuary, and the Congregation, as above vers.21. that is, for all Israel, consisting of the King, his Court, and his Officers; of Ecclesiastical persons, and of all other inhabitants of the land] with their bloud upon the altar, to make atonement for all Israel: [see above chap.21.on vers.2.] for the king had commanded [Hebr. said. So below vers.7. Job 9 7.] that burnt-offering, and that sin-offering (to be made) for all Israel.
25. And he put the Levites in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, with lutes, and harps, according to the command of David, and of God the Kings Seer, [That is, Prophet. See 1 Sam.9.9. and above chap.9.on vers.29.] and of Nathan the Prophet: for this command was from the hand of the LORD, by the hand of his Prophets.
26. Now the Levites stood with the instruments [Meaninng musical instruments] of David, [that is, as David being taught and lead by the Spirit of God, had prescribed, and caused to be made] and the Priests with the trumpets.
27. And Hizkia commanded to offer the burnt-offering upon the altar: now at the time when that burnt-offering began, the song of the Lord began (also) with the trumpets, [According to the command of the LORD, of which we read, Numb.10.10.] and with the instruments of David [Hebr. by the hands of the instruments of David. Others, according to the hands; that is, according to the institution, which David had ordained by Gods command. See above chap.23.on vers.18. and here vers.25.] the King of Israel.
28. Now all the congregation bowed themselves down, [To wit, in token of reverence, supplication, and thanksgiving to God. Compare above chap.20.18. and here the following verses, vers.29,30.] when they sang the song, and founded with trumpets: all this (continued) until the burnt-offering was finished.
29. Now when they had made an end of offering, [To wit, the burnt-offering, mentioned in the two former verses] the King and all that were found [or, were present at hand; as Gen.19.15.] with him, bended, and bowed themselves down.
30. After that king Jehizkia, and the Princes said unto the Levites, that they should praise the LORD, with the words of David, and of Asaph the Seer: and they praised (even) unto gladness, and bowed their heads, and bowed themselves down.
31. And Jehizkia answered, [That is, began again to speak. See Judges 18.on vers 14.] and said; Now ye have filled your hands [that is, consecrated your service. See of this phrase, Lev.7.on v.37. on the word Fill-offering] unto the LORD; come near, and bring slay-offerings, [meaning, all kind of sacrifice of beasts that were slain or killed, Ex.12.27. Lev.3.6. Deut.32.38.] and praise-offerings [whereby they acknowledged Gods mercies, and praised and thanked him for the same] into the house of the LORD: and the congregation brought slay-offering, and praise-offerings, and all (that were) free willing of heart, burnt-offerings. [See of these Gen.8.on vers.20.]
32. And the numbered of the burnt-offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, an hundred rams, two hundred lambs; all these (were) for a burnt-offering to the LORD.
33. Moreover, of the consecrated things were [That is, over and above the fore-mentioned beasts consecrated to the Lord, are these yet to be added to them] six hundred bullocks, and three thousand sheep. [Or, small cattle; that is, sheep, and goats. See Gen.12.on vers.16.]
34. But of the Priests (there were too few, neither could (they) flay all the burnt-offerings: therefore their brethren the Levites did help [Hebr. strengthen] them till the work was ended, [The Priests were too few, to wit, to prepared all these offering; that is, to kill them, wit, to prepare all these offerings; that is, to kill them, to slay them, and to divide them in pieces; which was properly the work of the Priests, lev.1.5,6. However the ministry of the Levites might be used therein, which were added for an help to the Priests] and until the (other) Priests had hallowed themselves; [see above on vers.5.] for the Levites were more right of heart, [see Psalm 7.on vers.11.] to sanctify themselves, than the Priests.
35. And also the burnt-offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the thank-offerings, [See Lev.3.on v.1.] and with the drink-offerings, [See Gen.35.on vers.14. and Levit.23.on vers.13.] for the burnt-offerings: [others, of the burnt-offerings, or, to or, with the burnt-offerings: that is, which drink-offerings were added to the burnt-offerings, and belonged thereto. Compare Numb.28.7.] so the service of the house of the LORD was fitted.
36. Now Jehizkia, and all the people, rejoiced at that which God had prepared for the people: [Meaning, the good affection and inclination, which GOD had put into the heart of the people, whereby they were very willing and exceedingly bent to this work of reformation, so that it went on very speedily and prosperously, according to desire, yea beyond all expectation. Others, because God had prepared the people] for this thing was done suddenly. [To wit, in the very first beginning of Hizkia’s reign, and without any opposition of the people; yea with their great bent and inclination thereunto, although immediately fallen to idolatry, and were turned aside from the pure and sincere worship of God.]