2Chronicles 29

Hezekiah Rules in Judah

29Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became the king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.H3169H4427H2568H6242H8141H1121H4427H8672H6242H8141H3389H517H8034H29H1323H21482He did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight, just as his ancestor David had done.H6213H3477H5869H3068H1732H1H6213

Hezekiah Reopens the Temple

3In the very first month of the first year of his reign, Hezekiah reopened the doors of the Temple of the LORD and repaired them.H7223H8141H4427H7223H2320H6605H1817H1004H3068H23884He summoned the priests and Levites to meet him at the courtyard east of the Temple.H935H3548H3881H622H4217H73395He said to them, "Listen to me, you Levites! Purify yourselves, and purify the Temple of the LORD, the God of your ancestors. Remove all the defiled things from the sanctuary.H559H8085H3881H6942H6942H1004H3068H430H1H3318H5079H69446Our ancestors were unfaithful and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD our God. They abandoned the LORD and his dwelling place; they turned their backs on him.H1H4603H6213H7451H5869H3068H430H5800H5437H6440H4908H3068H5414H62037They also shut the doors to the Temple's entry room, and they snuffed out the lamps. They stopped burning incense and presenting burnt offerings at the sanctuary of the God of Israel.H5462H1817H197H3518H5216H6999H7004H5927H5930H6944H430H34788"That is why the LORD's anger has fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem. He has made them an object of dread, horror, and ridicule, as you can see with your own eyes.H7110H3068H3063H3389H5414H2189H2113H8047H8322H7200H58699Because of this, our fathers have been killed in battle, and our sons and daughters and wives have been captured.H1H5307H2719H1121H1323H802H762810But now I will make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us.H3824H3772H1285H3068H430H3478H2740H639H772511My sons, do not neglect your duties any longer! The LORD has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him, and to lead the people in worship and present offerings to him."H1121H7952H3068H977H5975H6440H8334H8334H699912Then these Levites got right to work: From the clan of Kohath: Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah. From the clan of Merari: Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel. From the clan of Gershon: Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah.H3881H6965H4287H1121H6022H3100H1121H5838H1121H6956H1121H4847H7027H1121H5660H5838H1121H3094H1649H3098H1121H2155H5731H1121H309813From the family of Elizaphan: Shimri and Jeiel. From the family of Asaph: Zechariah and Mattaniah.H1121H469H8113H3273H1121H623H2148H498314From the family of Heman: Jehiel and Shimei. From the family of Jeduthun: Shemaiah and Uzziel.H1121H1968H3171H8096H1121H3038H8098H581615These men called together their fellow Levites, and they all purified themselves. Then they began to cleanse the Temple of the LORD, just as the king had commanded. They were careful to follow all the LORD's instructions in their work.H622H251H6942H935H4687H4428H1697H3068H2891H1004H306816The priests went into the sanctuary of the Temple of the LORD to cleanse it, and they took out to the Temple courtyard all the defiled things they found. From there the Levites carted it all out to the Kidron Valley.H3548H935H6441H1004H3068H2891H3318H2932H4672H1964H3068H2691H1004H3068H3881H6901H3318H2351H5158H693917They began the work in early spring, on the first day of the new year

, and in eight days they had reached the entry room of the LORD's Temple. Then they purified the Temple of the LORD itself, which took another eight days. So the entire task was completed in sixteen days.H2490H259H7223H2320H6942H8083H3117H2320H935H197H3068H6942H1004H3068H8083H3117H8337H6240H7223H2320H3615

The Temple Rededication

18Then the Levites went to King Hezekiah and gave him this report: "We have cleansed the entire Temple of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the table of the Bread of the Presence with all its utensils.H935H6441H2396H4428H559H2891H1004H3068H4196H5930H3627H4635H7979H362719We have also recovered all the items discarded by King Ahaz when he was unfaithful and closed the Temple. They are now in front of the altar of the LORD, purified and ready for use."H3627H4428H271H4438H2186H4604H3559H6942H6440H4196H306820Early the next morning King Hezekiah gathered the city officials and went to the Temple of the LORD.H3169H4428H7925H622H8269H5892H5927H1004H306821They brought seven bulls, seven rams, and seven male lambs as a burnt offering, together with seven male goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the Temple, and for Judah. The king commanded the priests, who were descendants of Aaron, to sacrifice the animals on the altar of the LORD.H935H7651H6499H7651H352H7651H3532H7651H6842H5795H2403H4467H4720H3063H559H3548H1121H175H5927H4196H306822So they killed the bulls, and the priests took the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. Next they killed the rams and sprinkled their blood on the altar. And finally, they did the same with the male lambs.H7819H1241H3548H6901H1818H2236H4196H7819H352H2236H1818H4196H7819H3532H2236H1818H419623The male goats for the sin offering were then brought before the king and the assembly of people, who laid their hands on them.H5066H8163H2403H6440H4428H6951H5564H302724The priests then killed the goats as a sin offering and sprinkled their blood on the altar to make atonement for the sins of all Israel. The king had specifically commanded that this burnt offering and sin offering should be made for all Israel.H3548H7819H2398H1818H4196H3722H3478H4428H559H5930H2403H347825King Hezekiah then stationed the Levites at the Temple of the LORD with cymbals, lyres, and harps. He obeyed all the commands that the LORD had given to King David through Gad, the king's seer, and the prophet Nathan.H5975H3881H1004H3068H4700H5035H3658H4687H1732H1410H4428H2374H5416H5030H4687H3027H3068H3027H503026The Levites then took their positions around the Temple with the instruments of David, and the priests took their positions with the trumpets.H3881H5975H3627H1732H3548H268927Then Hezekiah ordered that the burnt offering be placed on the altar. As the burnt offering was presented, songs of praise to the LORD were begun, accompanied by the trumpets and other instruments of David, the former king of Israel.H2396H559H5927H5930H4196H6256H5930H2490H7892H3068H2490H2689H3627H3027H1732H4428H347828The entire assembly worshiped the LORD as the singers sang and the trumpets blew, until all the burnt offerings were finished.H6951H7812H7892H7891H2689H2690H2690H5930H361529Then the king and everyone with him bowed down in worship.H3615H5927H4428H4672H3766H781230King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to praise the LORD with the psalms written by David and by Asaph the seer. So they offered joyous praise and bowed down in worship.H3169H4428H8269H559H3881H1984H3068H1697H1732H623H2374H1984H8057H6915H781231Then Hezekiah declared, "Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the LORD, bring your sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings to the Temple of the LORD." So the people brought their sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings, too.H3169H6030H559H4390H3027H3068H5066H935H2077H8426H1004H3068H6951H935H2077H8426H5081H3820H593032The people brought to the LORD 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 male lambs for burnt offerings.H4557H5930H6951H935H7657H1241H3967H352H3967H3532H5930H306833They also brought 600 cattle and 3,000 sheep and goats as sacred offerings.H6944H8337H3967H1241H7969H505H662934But there were too few priests to prepare all the burnt offerings. So their relatives the Levites helped them until the work was finished and more priests had been purified, for the Levites had been more conscientious about purifying themselves than the priests had been.H3548H4592H3201H6584H5930H251H3881H2388H4399H3615H3548H6942H3881H3477H3824H6942H354835There was an abundance of burnt offerings, along with the usual liquid offerings, and a great deal of fat from the many peace offerings. So the Temple of the LORD was restored to service.H5930H7230H2459H8002H5262H5930H5656H1004H3068H355936And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had done for the people, for everything had been accomplished so quickly.H3169H8055H5971H430H3559H5971H1697H6597