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Hezekiah Brings an Offering

20 Then King Hezekiah arose early and gathered the princes of the city and went up to the house of Yahweh. 21 And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats (A)for a sin offering for the kingdom, the sanctuary, and Judah. And he ordered the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of Yahweh. 22 So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests took the blood and splashed it on the altar. They also slaughtered the rams and splashed the blood on the altar; they slaughtered the lambs also and (B)splashed the blood on the altar. 23 Then they had the male goats of the sin offering approach before the king and the assembly, and (C)they laid their hands on them. 24 And the priests slaughtered them and purged the altar with their blood (D)to atone for all Israel, for the king ordered the burnt offering and the sin offering for all Israel.

25 (E)He then caused the Levites to stand in the house of Yahweh with cymbals, with harps, and with lyres, (F)according to the command of David and of (G)Gad the king’s seer, and of (H)Nathan the prophet; for the command was from Yahweh by the hand of His prophets. 26 And the Levites stood with (I)the musical instruments of David, and (J)the priests with the trumpets. 27 Then Hezekiah said to offer the burnt offering on the altar. When the burnt offering began, (K)the song to Yahweh also began with the trumpets, [a]accompanied by the instruments of David, king of Israel. 28 While the whole assembly worshiped, the singers also sang and the trumpets sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was completed.

29 Now at the completion of the burnt offerings, (L)the king and all who were present with him bowed down and worshiped. 30 Moreover, King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to Yahweh with the words of David and Asaph the seer. (M)So they sang praises with gladness, and bowed down and worshiped.

31 Then Hezekiah answered and said, “(N)Now that you have [b]become ordained to Yahweh, approach and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of Yahweh.” And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and (O)all those who were willing of heart brought burnt offerings. 32 And the number of the burnt offerings which the assembly brought was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to Yahweh. 33 And the holy things were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep. 34 But the priests were too few, so that they were unable to skin all the burnt offerings; (P)therefore their brothers the Levites helped them until the work was completed and until the other priests had set themselves apart as holy. For (Q)the Levites were more upright of heart to set themselves apart as holy than the priests. 35 There were also [c](R)many burnt offerings with (S)the fat of the peace offerings and with (T)the drink offerings for the burnt offerings. Thus the service of the house of Yahweh was established again. 36 Then Hezekiah and all the people were glad over what God had prepared for the people, because the thing came about suddenly.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 29:27 Lit and according to the authority of the instruments
  2. 2 Chronicles 29:31 Lit filled your hands
  3. 2 Chronicles 29:35 Lit the burnt offerings to an abundance

Renewal of Temple Worship

20 King Hezekiah got up early, gathered the city officials, and went to the Lord’s temple. 21 They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. Then he told the descendants of Aaron, the priests, to offer them on the altar of the Lord. 22 So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests received the blood and sprinkled it on the altar.(A) They slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar. They slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar. 23 Then they brought the goats for the sin offering right into the presence of the king and the congregation, who laid their hands on them.(B) 24 The priests slaughtered the goats and put their blood on the altar for a sin offering, to make atonement for all Israel,(C) for the king said that the burnt offering and sin offering were for all Israel.

25 Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the Lord’s temple with cymbals, harps, and lyres(D) according to the command of David,(E) Gad the king’s seer,(F) and Nathan the prophet.(G) For the command was from the Lord through His prophets. 26 The Levites stood with the instruments of David,(H) and the priests with the trumpets.(I)

27 Then Hezekiah ordered that the burnt offering be offered on the altar. When the burnt offerings began, the song of the Lord and the trumpets began, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel. 28 The whole assembly was worshiping, singing the song, and blowing the trumpets—all of this continued until the burnt offering was completed. 29 When the burnt offerings were completed, the king and all those present with him bowed down and worshiped.(J) 30 Then King Hezekiah and the officials told the Levites to sing praise to the Lord in the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with rejoicing and bowed down and worshiped.

31 Hezekiah concluded, “Now you are consecrated[a] to the Lord. Come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the Lord’s temple.” So the congregation brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all those with willing hearts(K) brought burnt offerings. 32 The number of burnt offerings the congregation brought was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord. 33 Six hundred bulls and 3,000 sheep were consecrated.

34 However, since there were not enough priests, they weren’t able to skin all the burnt offerings, so their Levite brothers helped them(L) until the work was finished and until the priests consecrated themselves. For the Levites were more conscientious[b](M) to consecrate themselves than the priests were.(N) 35 Furthermore, the burnt offerings were abundant, along with the fat of the fellowship offerings(O) and with the drink offerings(P) for the burnt offering.

So the service of the Lord’s temple was established. 36 Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced over how God had prepared the people, for it had come about suddenly.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 29:31 Lit Now you have filled your hands
  2. 2 Chronicles 29:34 Lit upright of heart; Ps 32:11; 64:10