by 2 Chronicles 29:1-36, Hezekiah: The Temple
This interpretive Commentary contains an outline that I created. To follow along, I highly suggest that you follow along in your Bible to read the verses that I am interpreting. Enjoy!
29:1-2, Hezekiah overview and his righteousness
Hezekiah is compared to David thirteen generations earlier to show that he was a follower of God and wanted to be as faithful and successful as David was.[1] He has been praised as one of the best rulers of Judah due to his devotion to God.[2]
29:3, Temple repairs
The repairs and re-focus on God is similar to the works of Solomon. The first month of the first year meant the first month of the start of the new sacred year in celebration of Passover.[3] Matthews states, “The temple was the center of culture, economy and society in Syria, Mesopotamia and Israel. It served as the house of the city’s patron deity, and thus the god was believed to be present there. It was incumbent upon the ruler of the city to attend to the ‘care and feeding’ of the deity. The statue of the god was bathed, clothed and fed daily.”[4]
29:4-11, Requests Priests and Levites sanctify and re-open God’s temple
Hezekiah was reversing the damage done by his father, Ahaz. He knew that the punishment came from God because of Ahaz and the people worshipping false Gods. The country was in despair from losing all of the wars and having many people captive in foreign land. Their prosperity and glory are gone, but Hezekiah makes a covenant to restore the land back to its original glory by worshipping the true God.[5] Matthews states, “In accordance with typical restoration procedures, Hezekiah used the traditional priestly families to cleanse the temple and restore it to ritual purity.”[6]
29:12-15, The Levites arise by clans, sanctify themselves, and cleanse the temple
Fourteen chiefs took charge and led the efforts to cleansing God’s house. Consecration is a ritual purification process to prepare someone for association with that which is holy. The procedure was necessary so that impurities could be removed, and the sanctity is preserved.[7]
29:16-19, Priests sanctify the temple and announce completion
The Levites were not allowed inside the temple which is why the priests brought everything out to them for disposal. Kidron Valley was a burial ground for the common people and a dumping ground for all illegal cultic items. The purification process was complex, when one level of purity was reached, an area could be entered which allowed access to the next level to be accessed. The rededication process was in three steps. First, the temple was cleansed. Second, it was reconsecrated. Third, there was an inaugural dedication ceremony.[8]
29:20-24, Gathering of leaders, request for offerings for all of Israel
Seven was the number that indicated completeness with the offering. The sin offering was to cleanse for the past mistakes of previous kings and people. The burnt offering was a consecration for a better future. Hezekiah requested the offerings for all of Israel versus only his half of the nation.[9] The sprinkling of blood was required for something to be sanctified.[10]
29:25-30, Musical instruments issued, offerings with worshipping, singing and music
The singing of psalms of David and Asaph was a joyous occasion with a choir, musical instruments, singers, and a hymnal or psalter like the book of Psalms. The cymbals were probably made of bronze. The singers were normally employed for use in the temple and over twenty-four classes of singers are known in Israel (Asaph is one of them).[11]
29:31-33, Hezekiah requests offerings and people bring offerings
Thank offerings were fellowship offerings and portions of the offering were consumed on the alter while the worshipers ate the remainders.[12] The combination of offerings along with a communal meal was common in public ceremonies.[13]
29:34-35, The Levites assist the priests in skinning the offerings
There is a negative reflection on the priests upon their order as tardy and not universally ready for duty.[14]
29:36, Hezekiah and the people rejoice
There was much celebration including eating and drinking. Joy is a theme in the Bible, and this is another example where people are joyful for the restoration of the temple of God.[15] Curtis states, “This change from apostasy to loyalty to Yahweh took place almost immediately on Hezekiah’s accession to the throne. It was a common impulse of both King and people, apparently without any preparation. This, too, then was a ground of great joy.”[16]
[1] Michael J. Wilcock, “1 and 2 Chronicles” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 415.
[2] John D. Barry, Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), 2 Ch 29:1.
[3] Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, et al., Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 281.
[4] Victor Harold Matthews, Mark W. Chavalas, et al., The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000), 2 Ch 29:3.
[5] Jamieson, Commentary Critical, 281.
[6] Matthews, The IVP, 2 Ch 29:4–15.
[7] Ibid., 2 Ch 29:15.
[8] Ibid., 2 Ch 29:16–17.
[9] Wilcock, “1 and 2 Chronicles”, 415.
[10] Geneva Bible: Notes (Geneva: Rovland Hall, 1560), 203.
[11] Matthews, The IVP, 2 Ch 29:25–30.
[12] Ibid., 2 Ch 29:31.
[13] Ibid., 2 Ch 29:32–33.
[14] Jamieson, Commentary Critical, 281.
[15] Wilcock, “1 and 2 Chronicles”, 415.
[16] Edward Lewis Curtis and Albert Alonzo Madsen, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Books of Chronicles (New York: C. Scribner’s Sons, 1910), 470.