2 Chronicles 29:1-11

Hezekiah Purifies the Temple

1 Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah.

2 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done.

3 In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the temple of the LORD and repaired them.

4 He brought in the priests and the Levites, assembled them in the square on the east side

5 and said: “Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the LORD, the God of your ancestors. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary.

6 Our parents were unfaithful; they did evil in the eyes of the LORD our God and forsook him. They turned their faces away from the LORD’s dwelling place and turned their backs on him.

7 They also shut the doors of the portico and put out the lamps. They did not burn incense or present any burnt offerings at the sanctuary to the God of Israel.

8 Therefore, the anger of the LORD has fallen on Judah and Jerusalem; he has made them an object of dread and horror and scorn, as you can see with your own eyes.

9 This is why our fathers have fallen by the sword and why our sons and daughters and our wives are in captivity.

10 Now I intend to make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us.

11 My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before him and serve him, to minister before him and to burn 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.

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Cross References

• 1. S 1 Chronicles 3:13
• 2. 2 Chronicles 28:1; 2 Chronicles 34:2
• 3. 2 Chronicles 28:24; 2 Kings 18:16
• 4. S Leviticus 11:44; Nehemiah 13:9; 2 Chronicles 35:6
• 5. Ezra 9:7; Psalms 106:6-47; Jeremiah 2:27; Jeremiah 18:17; Ezekiel 23:35; Daniel 9:5-6
• 6. S 1 Chronicles 5:25; Ezekiel 8:16
• 7. S Exodus 30:7
• 8. S Deuteronomy 28:25; 2 Chronicles 24:18
• 9. S Leviticus 26:32; Jeremiah 18:16; Jeremiah 19:8; Jeremiah 25:9,18
• 10. 2Ch 28:5-8,17
• 11. S 2 Kings 11:17; S 2 Chronicles 15:12; 2 Chronicles 23:16
• 12. S Numbers 25:4; 2 Chronicles 30:8; Ezra 10:14
• 13. S Numbers 3:6; Numbers 8:6,14
• 14. S 1 Chronicles 15:2