2. Chronik 29:6 Kommentar

We are here entering upon a pleasant scene, the good and glorious reign of Hezekiah, in which we shall find more of God and religion than perhaps in any of the good reigns we have yet met with; for he was a very zealous, devout, good man, none like him. In this chapter we have an account of the work of reformation which he set about with vigour immediately after his accession to the crown. Here is, I. His exhortation to the priests and Levites, when he put them in possession of the house of God again (Ch2 29:1-11). II. The care and pains which the Levites took to cleanse the temple, and put things in order there (Ch2 29:12-19). III. A solemn revival of God's ordinances that had been neglected, in which atonement was made for the sins of the last reign, and the wheels were set a-going again, to the great satisfaction of king and people (v. 20-36).

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, Ch2 29:1, summoned the priests and Levites, and exhorted them to purge the temple, and restore the worship of it, Ch2 29:4, who accordingly set about the work immediately, and cleansed the temple, and, when they had done, reported it to the king, Ch2 29:12 upon which he, with the princes, went into the temple and offered sacrifices, Ch2 29:20 and ordered singers to sing at the offering of burnt offerings, Ch2 29:25 when he and his people offered burnt offerings and peace offerings in great abundance, Ch2 29:31.

Also they have shut up the doors of the porch,.... So that there was no entering into the temple, Ch2 28:24. and put out the lamps; for the priests not being able to go in morning and evening to light them, and dress them, they in course went out; the Jews say (n), that on the eighteenth of Ab, which answers to part of July and August, the western lamp was extinct in the days of Ahaz, for which a fast was kept on that day: and have not burnt incense, nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel; but had done these in the high places to idols, Ch2 28:3. (n) Schulchan Aruch, par. 1. c. 580. sect. 2.

Hezekiah's good reign, Ch2 29:1, Ch2 29:2. He opens and repairs the doors of the temple, Ch2 29:3. He assembles and exhorts the priests and Levites, and proposes to renew the covenant with the Lord, Ch2 29:4-11. They all sanctify themselves and cleanse the temple, Ch2 29:12-17. They inform the king of their progress, Ch2 29:18, Ch2 29:19. He collects the rulers of the people: and they offer abundance of sin-offerings, and burnt-offerings, and worship the Lord, Ch2 29:20-30. Every part of the Divine service is arranged, and Hezekiah and all the people rejoice, Ch2 29:31-36.

HEZEKIAH'S GOOD REIGN. (Ch2 29:1-2) Hezekiah began to reign, &c.--(see on Kg2 18:1). His mother's name, which, in Kg2 18:2, appears in an abridged form, is here given in full.

our fathers have trespassed--Ahaz and the generation contemporary with him were specially meant, for they "turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord," and whether or not they turned east to the rising sun, they abandoned the worship of God. They "shut up the doors of the porch," so that the sacred ritual was entirely discontinued.

The celebration of the passover. - Ch2 30:1-12. The preparations for this celebration. - Ch2 30:1. Hezekiah invited all Israel and Judah to it; "and he also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh," the two chief tribes of the northern kingdom, which here, as is manifest from Ch2 30:5, Ch2 30:10, are named instar omnium. But the whole sentence serves only to elucidate כּל־שׂראל על ישׁלה. To all Israel (of the ten tribes) he sent the invitation, and this he did by letters. The verse contains a general statement as to the matter, which is further described in what follows.