2 Chronicles 29:1-11

Judah's King Hezekiah

1 Hezekiah was 25 years old when he became king; he reigned 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abijah^[a] daughter of Zechariah.

2 He did what was right in the Lord's sight just as his ancestor David had done.^[b]

3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the Lord's temple and repaired them.

4 Then he brought in the priests and Levites and gathered them in the eastern public square.^[c]

5 He said to them, "Hear me, Levites. Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the Lord God of your ancestors. Remove everything detestable from the holy place.

6 For our fathers were unfaithful and did what is evil in the sight of the Lord our God. They abandoned Him, turned their faces away from the Lord's tabernacle, and turned their backs on Him.^[d]

7 They also closed the doors of the vestibule, extinguished the lamps, did not burn incense, and did not offer burnt offerings in the holy place of the God of Israel.

8 Therefore, the wrath of the Lord was on Judah and Jerusalem, and He made them an object of terror, horror, and hissing, as you see with your own eyes.

9 Our fathers fell by the sword, and our sons, our daughters, and our wives are in captivity because of this.

10 It is in my heart now to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel so that His fierce wrath may turn away from us.

11 My sons, don't be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand in His presence, to serve Him, and to be His ministers and burners of incense."

2 Chronicles 29:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 29

This chapter begins with the good reign of Hezekiah, who upon his accession to the throne opened the doors of the temple, 2Ch 29:1-3, summoned the priests and Levites, and exhorted them to purge the temple, and restore the worship of it, 2Ch 29:4-11, who accordingly set about the work immediately, and cleansed the temple, and, when they had done, reported it to the king, 2Ch 29:12-19 upon which he, with the princes, went into the temple and offered sacrifices, 2Ch 29:20-24 and ordered singers to sing at the offering of burnt offerings, 2Ch 29:25-30 when he and his people offered burnt offerings and peace offerings in great abundance, 2Ch 29:31-36.

\\see Gill on "2Ki 18:2"\\, \\see Gill on "2Ki 18:3"\\. 19751-950128-1017-2Ch29.2

Footnotes

• [a]. Abi; 2 Kg 18:2
• [b]. 2 Kg 18:1-3
• [c]. Ezr 10:9; Neh 8:1
• [d]. Lit and they gave the back of the neck