Chapter 29

1 Hezekiah’s good reign. 3 He restoreth religion. 5 He exhorteth the Levites. 12 They sanctify themselves, and cleanse the house of God. 20 Hezekiah offereth solemn sacrifices, wherein the Levites were more forward than the priests.

1. Hezekiah. The account of Hezekiah’s reign covers four chapters, 29–32. The contrast with the parallel account in 2 Kings 18–20 is striking. In Chronicles the main emphasis is upon Hezekiah’s religious reformation, to which three chapters (29–31) are devoted, while in Kings this topic is dealt with in a few verses (2 Kings 18:4–6). Only one chapter in Chronicles (2 Chron. 32) is devoted to a record of the civil affairs of the reign, while in Kings this is the subject of greatest emphasis (2 Kings 18:7 to 20:21). Thus 2 Chron. 29–31 is almost entirely new material, while ch. 32 is only a brief rйsumй of what constitutes practically the entire account of the reign in Kings.

Abijah. The shortened form “Abi” appears in 2 Kings 18:2.

3. First month. That is, Nisan, the first month of the sacred year, not the first month of his reign. On the numbering of the months and the method of counting the years of reign, see Vol. II, pp. 108, 109, 116, 138, 140.

Opened the doors. Hezekiah’s father, Ahaz, had closed these doors and discontinued the Temple services (ch. 28:24).

4. The east street. The place of meeting was probably an open area outside the eastern, or front, gate of the Temple enclosure (see Ezra 10:9; Neh. 3:26; 8:1, 3).

5. Sanctify now yourselves. Compare vs. 15, 34; ch. 30:3, 15, 17. David ascribed the calamity that attended his attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem to the fact that the priests had not sanctified themselves. When next he was about to complete the removal he required that all the priests and Levites who took part in the ceremonies should sanctify themselves (1 Chron. 15:12–14).

Sanctify the house. This work included the removal of dirt and debris that had accumulated during the long period when the Temple was not in use (see vs. 15, 16).

The filthiness. In part mere dust and dirt, but it could also have included idolatrous objects (see 2 Kings 16:10–16).

8. Wrath. Compare ch. 24:18.

Delivered them to trouble. This Moses had foretold (see Deut. 28:15, 25, 37).

9. Fathers have fallen. See ch. 28:5, 6, 8, 17, 18.

10. A covenant with the Lord. An agreement that the nation would henceforth serve Jehovah. Such a covenant was entered into from time to time after periods of transgression (2 Chron. 15:12; 34:31; 2 Kings 23:3; Neh. 10:28, 29).

12. The Levites arose. See 1 Chron. 23:6 on the triple division of the Levites. This verse enumerates two members of each of the three great Levitical subtribes—Kohath, Merari, and Gershon.

13. Sons of Asaph. There was also a triple division of the Levites who were musicians (1 Chron. 25:1–6; 2 Chron. 5:12).

14. Sons of Heman. This verse names two Levites of each of the remaining musical guilds—the Kohathite Hemanites and the Merarite Jeduthites. These, with the preceding pairs, make up a total of 7 pairs, or 14 principal men, of the Levitical order (see 1 Chron. 6:18–47).

15. Gathered their brethren. As heads of their houses, they had the authority and responsibility of executing this task.

16. The inner part. The priests went into the most holy place as well as into the first apartment of the Temple to carry on the work of cleansing. Into these apartments the Levites might not enter.

Brook Kidron. This seems to have been used as a place for casting refuse (see 1 Kings 15:13; 2 Kings 23:12; 2 Chron. 15:16; 30:14).

17. Eight days. It seems that the first eight days were spent in cleaning the outside and the second eight days in cleansing the Temple itself. Thus by the 16th of Nisan the work of purification had been completed. It is clear that in this short period of only 16 days no major repairs of the Temple could have been effected. Such were evidently not needed at this time, for the Temple itself had probably not been allowed to fall into disrepair but had only become defiled by neglect.

18. Altar of burnt offering. Ahaz had removed this altar from its regular position and profaned it (2 Kings 16:14, 15).

Shewbread table. Only one table is here mentioned (see 2 Chron. 4:8, 19; cf. 1 Chron. 28:16; see on 1 Kings 7:48).

19. Did cast away. Compare 2 Chron. 28:24; 2 Kings 16:14, 17.

21. Seven bullocks. The various animals were apparently for both burnt and sin offerings (see 2 Chron. 29:23, 24; cf. Lev. 1:2, 3).

23. Laid their hands. Compare Lev. 4:4, 15, 24, 29.

24. To make an atonement. Compare Lev. 4:20, 26, 31, 35.

25. He set the Levites. He stationed the Levitical musicians in the Temple, restoring the ancient choral worship originally established by David (1 Chron. 25:1).

Of Gad. The information is not given elsewhere that the musical service of the Temple was established at the injunction of the prophets Gad and Nathan; but it is of interest to know that this important part of the Temple service was instituted in accord with the divine will as expressed by the prophetic messengers.

26. Instruments of David. Compare 1 Chron. 23:5; Amos 6:5.

With the trumpets. Compare Num. 10:8; 1 Chron. 5:24; 2 Chron. 5:12.

30. Asaph the seer. Asaph’s name appears in the introduction to several of the psalms (Ps. 50; 73–83).

31. Ye have consecrated yourselves. Literally, “You have filled your hand,” the “hand” presumably being the symbol of service.

Thank offerings. In the peace offerings and thank offerings the greater part of the victim belonged to, and was consumed by, the worshiper, his family, and friends in a joyous festival of thanksgiving (see Lev. 7:11–21). The burnt offerings were wholly consumed on the altar (Lev. 1:3–17).

34. Flay. Heb. pashat\, “to strip off”; used of an animal, “to skin.”

More upright. It is probable that the priests as a class were more deeply involved in the corruptions introduced during the reign of Ahaz than were the Levites.

35. In abundance. Another reason why the priests could not flay all the burnt offerings. They were also doubtless busily engaged with their many other activities, such as burning the fat of the peace offerings (see Lev. 3:3–5) and taking care of the drink offerings for the burnt offerings (Num. 15:3–5).

36. Rejoiced. David and the people rejoiced greatly over the offerings brought in for the building of the Temple (1 Chron. 29:9), and the people returned to their homes “joyful and glad of heart” after the dedication of the Temple (1 Kings 8:66). “All the princes and all the people rejoiced” when offerings were brought in to restore the Temple in the days of Joash (2 Chron. 24:10). There is no deeper and holier joy than that which comes from a participation with God in His service.

Prepared the people. They rejoiced over what God had done for the people in preparing their hearts for participation in the worship of that occasion and for bringing about a restoration of the Temple services, which for some years had been discontinued.

Done suddenly. Hezekiah had only recently taken the throne, and there had been little time to bring about a change from the apostasy of Ahaz to the present loyalty to Jehovah. The hand of God was seen in the sudden turn from indifference and hostility to joyous participation in the worship of God. This was truly ground for great joy.

Ellen G. White comments

1–36PK 331–335

1–4PK 331

5 PK 332

6 PK 331

7 PK 332

8 PK 328

10, 11, 15 PK 332

16–19, 24, 29 PK 333

30 ML 238

36 PK 333