# 2 Chronicles 29 š: Hezekiah Cleanses the Temple
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#š Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#š Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#š§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#āļø Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#š Key Principles / š Life Application]]
> [[#š¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#āļø Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#š Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#š Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#š Internal Notes]]
## š Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Hezekiah Consecrates the Temple
[[#Verse 01.]]Ā Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His motherĀ was Abijah,Ā the daughter of Zechariah.
[[#Verse 02.]]Ā He did what theĀ LordĀ approved, just as his ancestor David had done.
[[#Verse 03.]]Ā In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of theĀ Lordās temple and repaired them.Ā
[[#Verse 04.]]Ā He brought in the priests and Levites and assembled them in the square on the east side.Ā
[[#Verse 05.]] He said to them: āListen to me, you Levites! Now consecrate yourselves, so you can consecrate the temple of theĀ LordĀ God of your ancestors.Ā Remove from the sanctuary what is ceremonially unclean.Ā
[[#Verse 06.]]Ā For our fathers were unfaithful; they did what is evil in the sight ofĀ theĀ LordĀ our God and abandoned him. They turned awayĀ from theĀ Lordās dwelling place and rejected him.Ā
[[#Verse 07.]]Ā They closed the doors of the temple porch and put out the lamps; they did not offer incense or burnt sacrifices in the sanctuary of the God of Israel.Ā
[[#Verse 08.]]Ā TheĀ LordĀ was angry at Judah and Jerusalem and made them an appalling object of horror at which people hiss out their scorn,Ā as you can see with your own eyes.
[[#Verse 09.]]Ā Look, our fathers died violentlyĀ and our sons, daughters, and wives were carried offĀ because of this.Ā
[[#Verse 10.]]Ā Now I intendĀ to make a covenant with theĀ LordĀ God of Israel, so that he may relent from his raging anger.Ā
[[#Verse 11.]]Ā My sons, do not be negligent now, for theĀ LordĀ has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him,Ā to be his ministers,Ā and offer sacrifices.ā
[[#Verse 12.]]Ā The following Levites prepared to carry out the kingās orders: From the Kohathites: Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah; from the Merarites: Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel; from the Gershonites: Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah;
[[#Verse 13.]]Ā from the descendants of Elizaphan: Shimri and Jeiel; from the descendants of Asaph: Zechariah and Mattaniah;
[[#Verse 14.]]Ā from the descendants of Heman: Jehiel and Shimei; from the descendants of Jeduthun: Shemaiah and Uzziel.
[[#Verse 15.]]Ā They assembled their brothers and consecrated themselves. Then they went in to purify theĀ Lordās temple, just as the king had ordered, in accordance with the wordĀ of theĀ Lord.Ā
[[#Verse 16.]]Ā The priests then entered theĀ Lordās temple to purify it; they brought out to the courtyard of theĀ Lordās temple every ceremonially unclean thing they discovered inside.Ā The Levites took them out to the Kidron Valley.Ā
[[#Verse 17.]]Ā On the first day of the first month they began consecrating; by the eighth day of the month they reached the porch of theĀ Lordās temple.Ā For eight more days they consecrated theĀ Lordās temple. On the sixteenth day of the first month they were finished.
[[#Verse 18.]]Ā They went to King Hezekiah and said: āWe have purified the entire temple of theĀ Lord, including the altar of burnt sacrifice and all its equipment, and the table for the Bread of the Presence and all its equipment.Ā
[[#Verse 19.]]Ā We have prepared and consecrated all the items that King Ahaz removed during his reign when he acted unfaithfully. They are in front of the altar of theĀ Lord.ā
[[#Verse 20.]]Ā Early the next morning King Hezekiah assembled the city officials and went up to theĀ Lordās temple.Ā
[[#Verse 21.]]Ā They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, the sanctuary, and Judah.Ā The kingĀ told the priests, the descendants of Aaron, to offer burnt sacrifices on the altar of theĀ Lord.Ā
[[#Verse 22.]]Ā They slaughtered the bulls, and the priests took the blood and splashed it on the altar. Then they slaughtered the rams and splashed the blood on the altar; next they slaughtered the lambs and splashed the blood on the altar.Ā
[[#Verse 23.]]Ā Finally they brought the goats for the sin offering before the king and the assembly, and they placed their hands on them.
[[#Verse 24.]]Ā Then the priests slaughtered them. They offered their blood as a sin offering on the altar to make atonement for all Israel, because the king had decreedĀ that the burnt sacrifice and sin offering were for all Israel.
[[#Verse 25.]]Ā HezekiahĀ stationed the Levites in theĀ Lordās temple with cymbals and stringed instruments just as David, Gad the kingās prophet,Ā and Nathan the prophet had ordered. (TheĀ LordĀ had actually given these orders through his prophets.)Ā
[[#Verse 26.]]Ā The Levites hadĀ Davidās musical instruments and the priests had trumpets.Ā
[[#Verse 27.]]Ā Hezekiah ordered the burnt sacrifice to be offered on the altar. As they began to offer the sacrifice, they also began to sing to theĀ Lord, accompanied by the trumpets and the musical instruments of King David of Israel.Ā
[[#Verse 28.]]Ā The entire assembly worshiped, as the singers sang and the trumpeters played. They continued until the burnt sacrifice was completed.
[[#Verse 29.]]Ā When the sacrifices were completed, the king and all who were with him bowed down and worshiped.Ā
[[#Verse 30.]]Ā King Hezekiah and the officials told the Levites to praise theĀ Lord, using the psalmsĀ of David and Asaph the prophet.Ā So they joyfully offered praise and bowed down and worshiped.Ā
[[#Verse 31.]]Ā Hezekiah said, āNow you have consecrated yourselvesĀ to theĀ Lord. Come and bring sacrifices and thank offeringsĀ to theĀ Lordās temple.ā So the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and whoever desired to do soĀ brought burnt sacrifices.
[[#Verse 32.]]Ā The assembly brought a total of 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs as burnt sacrifices to theĀ Lord,Ā
[[#Verse 33.]]Ā and 600 bulls and 3,000 sheepĀ were consecrated.Ā
[[#Verse 34.]]Ā But there were not enough priests to skin all the animals,Ā so their brothers, the Levites, helped them until the work was finished and the priests could consecrate themselves. (The Levites had been more conscientious about consecrating themselves than the priests.)Ā
[[#Verse 35.]]Ā There was a large number of burnt sacrifices, as well as fat from the peace offerings and drink offerings that accompanied the burnt sacrifices. So the service of theĀ Lordās temple was reinstituted.Ā
[[#Verse 36.]]Ā Hezekiah and all the people were happy about what God had doneĀ for them,Ā for it had been done quickly.
## š Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
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###### Verse 29.
###### Verse 30.
###### Verse 31.
###### Verse 32.
###### Verse 33.
###### Verse 34.
###### Verse 35.
###### Verse 36.
## š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Hezekiah's name means "the Lord strengthens."
2. Chronicles gives four chapters to Hezekiah (29-32), and much of it focuses on worship. Kings focuses more on the Assyrian crisis (2 Kings 18-20).
3. His father Ahaz had shut the temple doors (28:24), so Hezekiah's first act was to open them (29:3).
4. The Levites carried the impure things out to the Kidron Valley (29:16), east of the temple.
5. Cleansing the temple took sixteen days (29:17).
6. The sin offering included seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats (29:21).
7. Hezekiah ordered the sin offering for "all Israel," including the northern tribes (29:24).
8. The music followed the commands of David, Gad the seer, and Nathan the prophet (29:25).
9. The Levites sang the words of David and Asaph (29:30). Twelve psalms are credited to Asaph (Psalm 50; 73-83).
10. The Levites were more conscientious than the priests in consecrating themselves (29:34).
## š§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## āļø Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the sin offering made for all Israel (29:24). Hezekiah's sacrifices covered the people for a time, but Christ offered one sacrifice for sins for all time (Hebrews 10:12), and He who knew no sin became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21).
## š Key Principles / š Life Application
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## š¬ Discussion Questions
1. Hezekiah reopened the temple in the first month of his reign (29:3). What does it say about our priorities when we go to God first?
2. Hezekiah told the Levites, "Don't be negligent now, for the Lord chose you" (29:11). What has God chosen you to do that you may be neglecting?
3. The people rejoiced at what God had done so quickly (29:36). When have you seen God move faster than you expected?
## āļø Key Verses to Remember
- š verse 3: In the first month of his first year Hezekiah opens and repairs the temple doors.
- š verse 11: Do not be negligent, for the Lord has chosen you to serve Him.
- š verse 36: Hezekiah and the people rejoice over what God has done so quickly.
## š Related Passages/Cross Reference
- š [[2 Kings 18#Verse 01.|2 Kings 18:1-7]] - Hezekiah trusts the Lord.
- š [[Hebrews 10#Verse 10.|Hebrews 10:10-12]] - Christ's one sacrifice for all time.
- š [[2 Corinthians 05#Verse 21.|2 Corinthians 5:21]] - He who knew no sin became sin for us.
- š [[John 02#Verse 13.|John 2:13-17]] - Jesus cleanses the temple.
- š [[Psalm 24#Verse 07.|Psalm 24:7-10]] - Lift up your heads, O gates.
## š Devotional Reflection
š SOAP: [[2 Chronicles 29 - SOAP|Do Your God Given Duty With Honor]]
## š Internal Notes