CHAPTER XXIX _Hezekiah's good reign_, 1, 2. _He opens and repairs the doors of the temple_, 3. _He assembles and exhorts the priests and Levites, and proposes_ _to renew the covenant with the Lord_, 4-11. _They all sanctify themselves and cleanse the temple_, 12-17. _They inform the king of th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 29:2. _HE DID THAT WHICH WAS RIGHT_] 2 Kings 18:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 29:8. _HE HATH DELIVERED THEM TO TROUBLE, TO ASTONISHMENT_] He probably refers here chiefly to that dreadful defeat by the Israelites in which _a hundred and twenty thousand_ were slain, and _two hundred thousand_ taken prisoners; see the preceding chapter, 2 Chronicles 28:6; 2 Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 29:10. _TO MAKE A COVENANT_] To renew the covenant under which the whole people were constantly considered, and of which circumcision was the sign; and the _spirit_ of which was, _I will be_ _your God: Ye shall be my people_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 29:16. _AND THE PRIESTS WENT_] The priests and Levites cleansed first the courts both of the priests and of the _people_. On this labour they spent eight days. Then they cleansed the _interior_ of the temple; but as the Levites had no right to enter the temple, the priests carried... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 29:17. _ON THE FIRST_ DAY] "They began on the first day of the first month Nisan." - _Targum_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 29:19. _ALL THE VESSELS, WHICH KING AHAZ_] The _Targum_ says, "All the vessels which King Ahaz had polluted and rendered abominable by strange idols, when he reigned in his transgression against the WORD of the Lord, we have collected and hidden; and others have we prepared to rep... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 29:21. _THEY BROUGHT SEVEN BULLOCKS, C._] This was more than the law required see Leviticus 4:13, c. It ordered _one calf_ or _ox_ for the sins of the _people_, and _one he-goat_ for the sins of the _prince_ but Hezekiah here offers many more. And the reason appears sufficiently... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 29:23. _THEY LAID THEIR HANDS UPON THEM_] That is, they confessed their sin; and as they had by their transgression _forfeited their lives_, they now offer these animals to die as vicarious offerings, their life being taken for the life of their owners.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 29:25. _WITH CYMBALS, WITH PSALTERIES_] Moses had not appointed any musical instruments to be used in the divine worship; there was nothing of the kind under the first tabernacle. The _trumpets_ or _horns_ then used were not for song nor for praise, but as we use _bells_, i.e., t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 29:34. _THEY COULD NOT FLAY ALL THE BURNT-OFFERINGS_] Peace-offerings, and such like, the Levites might flay and dress; but the whole burnt-offerings, that is, those which were _entirely_ _consumed_ on the altar, could be touched only by the priests, unless in a case of necessity,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 29:36. _AND HEZEKIAH REJOICED_] Both he and the people rejoiced that God had prepared their hearts to bring about so great a reformation in so short a time; _for_, it is added, _the thing was_ _done suddenly_. The king's example and influence were here, under God, the grand spring... [ Continue Reading ]