2 Chronicles 29

Hezekiah Reigns in Judah

1 Hezekiah a became king when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was 1 Abijah the daughter of Zechariah. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done.

Hezekiah Cleanses the Temple

3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he b opened the doors of the house of the LORD and repaired them. 4 Then he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them in the East Square, 5 and said to them: "Hear me, Levites! Now 2 sanctify yourselves, c sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place. 6 "For our fathers have trespassed and done evil in the eyes of the LORD our God; they have forsaken Him, have d turned their faces away from the 3 dwelling place of the LORD, and turned their backs on Him. 7 e "They have also shut up the doors of the vestibule, put out the lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. 8 "Therefore the f wrath of the LORD fell upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has g given them up to trouble, to desolation, and to h jeering, as you see with your i eyes. 9 "For indeed, because of this j our fathers have fallen by the sword; and our sons, our daughters, and our wives are in captivity. 10 "Now it is in my heart to make k a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us. 11 "My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has l chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense."

12 Then these Levites arose: m Mahath the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the n Kohathites; of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah and Eden the son of Joah; 13 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeiel; of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; 14 of the sons of Heman, Jehiel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel. 15 And they gathered their brethren, o sanctified 4 themselves, and went according to the commandment of the king, at the words of the LORD, p to cleanse the house of the LORD. 16 Then the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD to cleanse it, and brought out all the debris that they found in the temple of the LORD to the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it out and carried it to the Brook q Kidron. 17 Now they began to 5 sanctify on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the vestibule of the LORD. So they sanctified the house of the LORD in eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished. 18 Then they went in to King Hezekiah and said, "We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offerings with all its articles, and the table of the showbread with all its articles. 19 "Moreover all the articles which King Ahaz in his reign had r cast aside in his transgression we have prepared and 6 sanctified; and there they are, before the altar of the LORD."

Hezekiah Restores Temple Worship

20 Then King Hezekiah rose early, gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD. 21 And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats for a s sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. Then he commanded the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the LORD. 22 So they killed the bulls, and the priests received the blood and t sprinkled it on the altar. Likewise they killed the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar. They also killed the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar. 23 Then they brought out the male goats for the sin offering before the king and the assembly, and they laid their u hands on them. 24 And the priests killed them; and they presented their blood on the altar as a sin offering v to make an atonement for all Israel, for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering be made for all Israel.

25 w And he stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with stringed instruments, and with harps, x according to the commandment of David, of y Gad the king's seer, and of Nathan the prophet; z for thus was the commandment of the LORD by His prophets. 26 The Levites stood with the instruments a of David, and the priests with b the trumpets. 27 Then Hezekiah commanded them to offer the burnt offering on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, c the song of the LORD also began, with the trumpets and with the instruments of David king of Israel. 28 So all the assembly worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. 29 And when they had finished offering, d the king and all who were present with him bowed and worshiped. 30 Moreover King Hezekiah and the leaders commanded the Levites to sing praise to the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshiped.

31 Then Hezekiah answered and said, "Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the LORD, come near, and bring sacrifices and e thank offerings into the house of the LORD." So the assembly brought in sacrifices and thank offerings, and as many as were of a f willing heart brought burnt offerings. 32 And the number of the burnt offerings which the assembly brought was seventy bulls, one hundred rams, and two hundred lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD. 33 The consecrated things were six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep. 34 But the priests were too few, so that they could not skin all the burnt offerings; therefore g their brethren the Levites helped them until the work was ended and until the other priests had 7 sanctified themselves, h for the Levites were i more diligent in j sanctifying themselves than the priests. 35 Also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with k the fat of the peace offerings and with l the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of the LORD was set in order. 36 Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly.

  1. Cross References
    2 Kings 18:1
    Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign.
    2 Chronicles 32:22
    Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side.
    2 Chronicles 32:33
    So Hezekiah rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper tombs of the sons of David; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. Then Manasseh his son reigned in his place.
  2. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 28:24
    So Ahaz gathered the articles of the house of God, cut in pieces the articles of the house of God, shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and made for himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
    2 Chronicles 29:7
    They have also shut up the doors of the vestibule, put out the lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel.
  3. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 15:12
    He said to them, "You are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it.
    2 Chronicles 29:15
    And they gathered their brethren, sanctified themselves, and went according to the commandment of the king, at the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD.
    2 Chronicles 29:34
    But the priests were too few, so that they could not skin all the burnt offerings; therefore their brethren the Levites helped them until the work was ended and until the other priests had sanctified themselves, for the Levites were more diligent in sanctifying themselves than the priests.
    2 Chronicles 35:6
    "So slaughter the Passover offerings, consecrate yourselves, and prepare them for your brethren, that they may do according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses."
  4. Cross References
    Isaiah 1:4
    Alas, sinful nation, A people laden with iniquity, A brood of evildoers, Children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the LORD, They have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel, They have turned away backward.
    Jeremiah 2:27
    Saying to a tree, 'You are my father,' And to a stone, 'You gave birth to me.' For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble They will say, 'Arise and save us.
    Ezekiel 8:16
    So He brought me into the inner court of the LORD's house; and there, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east, and they were worshiping the sun toward the east.
  5. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 28:24
    So Ahaz gathered the articles of the house of God, cut in pieces the articles of the house of God, shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and made for himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
  6. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 24:18
    Therefore they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass.
  7. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 28:5
    Therefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. They defeated him, and carried away a great multitude of them as captives, and brought them to Damascus. Then he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who defeated him with a great slaughter.
  8. Cross References
    1 Kings 9:8
    "And as for this house, which is exalted, every...
    Jeremiah 18:16
    To make their land desolate and a perpetual his...
    Jeremiah 19:8
    I will make this city desolate and a hissing; e...
    Jeremiah 25:9
    Behold, I will send and take all the families o...
    Jeremiah 25:18
    Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, its kings an...
    Jeremiah 29:18
    And I will pursue them with the sword, with fam...
  9. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 28:32
    Your sons and your daughters shall be given to another people, and your eyes shall look and fail with longing for them all day long; and there shall be no strength in your hand.
  10. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 28:25
    The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them; and you shall become troublesome to all the kingdoms of the earth.
    2 Chronicles 28:5 - 8
    Therefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. They defeated him, and carried away a great multitude of them as captives, and brought them to Damascus. Then he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who defeated him with a great slaughter.
    2 Chronicles 28:17
    For again the Edomites had come, attacked Judah, and carried away captives.
  11. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 15:12
    Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul.
    2 Chronicles 23:16
    Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, the people, and the king, that they should be the LORD's people.
  12. Cross References
    Numbers 3:6
    Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them ...
    Numbers 8:14
    Thus you shall separate the Levites from among ...
    Numbers 18:2
    Also bring with you your brethren of the tribe ...
    Numbers 18:6
    Behold, I Myself have taken your brethren the L...
    2 Chronicles 30:16
    They stood in their place according to their cu...
    2 Chronicles 30:17
    For there were many in the assembly who had not...
  13. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 31:13
    Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.
  14. Cross References
    Numbers 3:19
    And the sons of Kohath by their families: Amram, Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
    Numbers 3:20
    And the sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites by their fathers' houses.
  15. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 29:5
    And said to them: "Hear me, Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place.
  16. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 23:28
    Because their duty was to help the sons of Aaron in the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts and in the chambers, in the purifying of all holy things and the work of the service of the house of God.
  17. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 15:16
    Also he removed Maachah, the mother of Asa the king, from being queen mother, because she had made an obscene image of Asherah; and Asa cut down her obscene image, then crushed and burned it by the Brook Kidron.
    2 Chronicles 30:14
    They arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and they took away all the incense altars and cast them into the Brook Kidron.
  18. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 28:24
    So Ahaz gathered the articles of the house of God, cut in pieces the articles of the house of God, shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and made for himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
  19. Cross References
    Leviticus 4:3 - 14
    If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, then let him offer to the LORD for his sin which he has sinned a young bull without blemish as a sin offering.
  20. Cross References
    Leviticus 8:14
    And he brought the bull for the sin offering. Then Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull for the sin offering.
    Leviticus 8:15
    And Moses killed it. Then he took the blood, and put some on the horns of the altar all around with his finger, and purified the altar. And he poured the blood at the base of the altar, and consecrated it, to make atonement for it.
    Leviticus 8:19
    And Moses killed it. Then he sprinkled the blood all around on the altar.
    Leviticus 8:24
    Then he brought Aaron's sons. And Moses put some of the blood on the tips of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. And Moses sprinkled the blood all around on the altar.
    Hebrews 9:21
    Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry.
  21. Cross References
    Leviticus 4:15
    And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the LORD. Then the bull shall be killed before the LORD.
    Leviticus 4:24
    And he shall lay his hand on the head of the goat, and kill it at the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD. It is a sin offering.
    Leviticus 8:14
    And he brought the bull for the sin offering. Then Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull for the sin offering.
  22. Cross References
    Leviticus 14:20
    And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar. So the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean.
  23. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 16:4
    And he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the LORD God of Israel:
    1 Chronicles 25:6
    All these were under the direction of their father for the music in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the authority of the king.
  24. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 23:5
    Four thousand were gatekeepers, and four thousand praised the LORD with musical instruments, "which I made," said David, "for giving praise.
    1 Chronicles 25:1
    Moreover David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals. And the number of the skilled men performing their service was:
    2 Chronicles 8:14
    And, according to the order of David his father, he appointed the divisions of the priests for their service, the Levites for their duties (to praise and serve before the priests) as the duty of each day required, and the gatekeepers by their divisions at each gate; for so David the man of God had commanded.
  25. Cross References
    2 Samuel 24:11
    Now when David arose in the morning, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying.
  26. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 30:12
    Also the hand of God was on Judah to give them singleness of heart to obey the command of the king and the leaders, at the word of the LORD.
  27. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 23:5
    Four thousand were gatekeepers, and four thousand praised the LORD with musical instruments, "which I made," said David, "for giving praise.
    Amos 6:5
    Who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments, And invent for yourselves musical instruments like David.
  28. Cross References
    Numbers 10:8
    The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and these shall be to you as an ordinance forever throughout your generations.
    Numbers 10:10
    "Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the LORD your God."
    1 Chronicles 15:24
    Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God; and ObedE'dom and Jehiah, doorkeepers for the ark.
    1 Chronicles 16:6
    Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests regularly blew the trumpets before the ark of the covenant of God.
    2 Chronicles 5:12
    And the Levites who were the singers, all those of Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, stood at the east end of the altar, clothed in white linen, having cymbals, stringed instruments and harps, and with them one hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets -
  29. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 23:18
    Also Jehoiada appointed the oversight of the house of the LORD to the hand of the priests, the Levites, whom David had assigned in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was established by David.
  30. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 20:18
    And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the LORD, worshiping the LORD.
  31. Cross References
    Leviticus 7:12
    If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer, with the sacrifice of thanksgiving, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, unleavened wafers anointed with oil, or cakes of blended flour mixed with oil.
  32. Cross References
    Exodus 35:5
    Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze.
    Exodus 35:22
    They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart, and brought earrings and nose rings, rings and necklaces, all jewelry of gold, that is, every man who made an offering of gold to the LORD.
  33. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 35:11
    And they slaughtered the Passover offerings; and the priests sprinkled the blood with their hands, while the Levites skinned the animals.
  34. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 30:3
    For they could not keep it at the regular time, because a sufficient number of priests had not consecrated themselves, nor had the people gathered together at Jerusalem.
  35. Cross References
    Psalms 7:10
    My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart.
  36. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 29:5
    And said to them: "Hear me, Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place.
  37. Cross References
    Leviticus 3:15
    The two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, he shall remove.
    Leviticus 3:16
    And the priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma; all the fat is the LORD's.
  38. Cross References
    Numbers 15:5 - 10
    And one-fourth of a hin of wine as a drink offering you shall prepare with the burnt offering or the sacrifice, for each lamb.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Previous Book Next Book