2Chronicles 29

1 Hezekiah began his reign at the age of 25. He reigned for 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah, Zechariah’s daughter.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:1

2 He practiced what the LORD considered to be right, following all of the examples set by his ancestor David. ( )ISV — 2Chronicles 29:2

3 In the first month of the first year of his reign he repaired and reopened the doors of the LORD’s Temple.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:3

4 Then he brought in the priests and descendants of Levi, gathered them into the square in the eastern part of the Temple, ^{a29:4 The Heb. lacks part of the temple}ISV — 2Chronicles 29:4

5 and told them, “Pay attention to me, you descendants of Levi! Consecrate yourselves and the Temple of the LORD God of your ancestors by taking out from the Holy Place whatever is unclean.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:5

6 Our ancestors have been unfaithful. They practiced what the LORD considers to be evil, abandoned him, turned their faces away from the place where the LORD resides, and turned their backs to him.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:6

7 They shut the doors to the vestibule ^{b29:7 Or the outer courtyard} of the Temple, ^{c29:7 The Heb. lacks of the temple} extinguished its lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel in the Holy Place.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:7

8 That’s why the LORD was angry with Judah and Jerusalem and made them an object of terror, horror, and derision, as you’ve seen with your own eyes.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:8

9 Now look! Our ancestors have been killed with swords and our sons, daughters, and wives are being held captive because of all of this.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:9

10 I’m intending to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel so his burning anger may turn away from us.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:10

11 Please don’t be careless, you descendants of Aaron, ^{d29:11 The Heb. lacks of Aaron} because the LORD has chosen you to minister in his presence, to serve him, to be his ministers, and to burn incense.”ISV — 2Chronicles 29:11

12 Here are the names of the descendants of Levi who made themselves available to God: Amasai’s son Mahath and Azariah’s son Joel from the descendants of Kohath; Abdi’s son Kish and Jehallelel’s son Azariah from the descendants of Merari; Zimmah’s son Joah and Joah’s son Eden from the descendants of Gershon;ISV — 2Chronicles 29:12

13 Elizaphan’s sons Shimri and Jeiel; Asaph’s sons Zechariah and Mattaniah;ISV — 2Chronicles 29:13

14 Heman’s sons Jehiel and Shimei; and Jeduthun’s sons Shemaiah and Uzziel.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:14

15 They also brought together their brothers, consecrated themselves, and proceeded to cleanse the LORD’s Temple, just as the king had ordered in accordance with what the LORD had told him.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:15

16 The priests entered the inner courts of the LORD’s Temple to cleanse it, and they brought out everything unclean that they found there to the outer court of the LORD’s Temple. Then the descendants of Levi carried everything from there out to the Kidron Valley.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:16

17 They began their consecration duties on the first day of the first month and finished at the LORD’s outer vestibule ^{e29:17 Or courtyard} on the eighth day of the month. Another eight days was used to consecrate the LORD’s Temple, so they completed the work on the sixteenth day of the first month.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:17

18 After this, they went to King Hezekiah and told him, “We have cleansed all of the LORD’s Temple, including the altar for burnt offerings, all of its utensils, the table of showbread, and all of its utensils.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:18

19 In addition, we have prepared and rededicated all of the utensils that King Ahaz threw away during his unfaithful reign, and now they’re back in service at the LORD’s altar.”ISV — 2Chronicles 29:19

20 Early the next morning, King Hezekiah got up and assembled the city officials and went up to the LORD’s Temple,ISV — 2Chronicles 29:20

21 where they brought seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats for a sin offering on behalf of the kingdom, the Holy Place, and Judah. He ordered that the priests, as descendants of Aaron, place the offerings ^{f29:21 The Heb. lacks the offerings} on the LORD’s altar.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:21

22 So they slaughtered the bulls and the priests sprinkled the blood on the altar. They also slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar, and they also slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:22

23 They brought the male goats for the sin offering to the king within the assembled gathering, laid their hands on them,ISV — 2Chronicles 29:23

24 and then the priests slaughtered them and purged the altar with their blood as a sin offering to atone for all Israel, because the king ordered that the burnt offering and the sin offering be made for all Israel.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:24

25 Hezekiah ^{g29:25 Lit. He} stationed descendants of Levi in the LORD’s Temple to play cymbals and stringed instruments, just as David, Gad the seer, ^{h29:25 Cf. 2Sam 24:11} and Nathan the prophet ^{i29:25 Cf. 2Sam 7:2} had directed, because the command to do so was from the LORD through those prophets.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:25

26 The descendants of Levi played instruments that had been crafted by David and the priests sounded trumpets.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:26

27 Hezekiah gave a command to offer burnt offerings on the altar, and when the burnt offerings began, a song to the LORD also began with trumpets sounding and with the instruments that King David of Israel had crafted.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:27

28 Everybody in the assembly worshipped, the singers sang, and the trumpets sounded. They continued doing this until the burnt offering sacrifice was completed.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:28

29 When the sacrifices had been offered, the king and everyone else who was present with him bowed down and worshipped.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:29

30 King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the descendants of Levi to sing praises to the LORD based on psalms that had been written by David and Asaph the seer. ^{j29:30 i.e. portions of the book of Psalms; cf. Prov25:1} So they all joyfully sang praises, bowed low, and worshipped.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:30

31 After this, Hezekiah announced, “Now that you’ve consecrated yourselves to the LORD, come near and bring your sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings to the LORD’s Temple. So the assembly brought sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings, and everyone who was willing to do so brought burnt offerings.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:31

32 The number of burnt offerings brought by the assembly was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs. All of these were burnt offerings to the LORD.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:32

33 The consecrated offerings numbered 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:33

34 Because there weren’t enough priests, they were unable to prepare all the burnt offerings until other priests came forward after having consecrated themselves, so their descendant of Levi relatives assisted them until the services were complete. (The descendants of Levi had been more conscientious in consecrating themselves than had been the priests.)ISV — 2Chronicles 29:34

35 Furthermore, there were also many burnt offerings, fat from peace offerings, and drink offerings. And that’s how the service of the Lord’s Temple was restored.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:35

36 Hezekiah and all of the people were ecstatic with joy because of what God had done for the people, since everything had come about so suddenly.ISV — 2Chronicles 29:36