The big picture
2 Chronicles 29 opens in verse 1 with “Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 18 with “Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the…”, and closes in verse 36 with “And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, burnt, house, offering, king. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Chronicles · King James Version · 362 Chronicles 29:1-8
1–8: Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he…
2 Chronicles 29:1–8 opens with “Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty…” and reaches “Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 29 develops its own movement around LORD, burnt, house, offering, king, with particular weight carried by LORD, doors, eyes.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And…” The number five makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD , and repaired them.” The line’s distinctive content terms include first, doors, house. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.
“And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your…” Naming Hear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Chronicles 29:1-8
King James Version1Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.
2And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD , according to all that David his father had done.
3He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD , and repaired them.
4And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street,
5And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.
6For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD , and turned their backs.
7Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel.
8Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes.
2 Chronicles 29:9-16
9–16: For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our…
2 Chronicles 29:9–16 opens with “For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are…” and reaches “And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD , to cleanse it, and brought…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 29 develops its own movement around LORD, burnt, house, offering, king, with particular weight carried by sons, LORD, house.
Context that brings the passage to life
“For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should…” The line’s distinctive content terms include burn, chosen, incense. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.
“And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah:” Naming Asaph and Elizaphan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Chronicles 29:9-16
King James Version9For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.
10Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us.
11My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn incense.
12Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites: and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel: and of the Gershonites; Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah:
13And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah:
14And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei: and of the sons of Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel.
15And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the LORD , to cleanse the house of the LORD .
16And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD , to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD . And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron.
2 Chronicles 29:17-24
17–24: They began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the…
2 Chronicles 29:17–24 opens with “Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the…” and reaches “And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 29 develops its own movement around LORD, burnt, house, offering, king, with particular weight carried by altar, LORD, king.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the…” The number eight makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and…” Naming Ahaz and Moreover keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their…” The line’s distinctive content terms include congregation, goats, hands. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.
2 Chronicles 29:17-24
King James Version17Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of the LORD : so they sanctified the house of the LORD in eight days; and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.
18Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the LORD , and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread table, with all the vessels thereof.
19Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they are before the altar of the LORD .
20Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD .
21And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the LORD .
22So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar.
23And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them:
24And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.
2 Chronicles 29:25-32
25–32: He set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with…
2 Chronicles 29:25–32 opens with “And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps…” and reaches “And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 29 develops its own movement around LORD, burnt, house, offering, king, with particular weight carried by LORD, burnt, offering.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the…” Naming David and Gad keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bowed, king, offering. Its relationship to verses 28 and 30 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD , come near and bring sacrifices and…” Naming Hezekiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Chronicles 29:25-32
King James Version25And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets.
26And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.
27And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel.
28And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.
29And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped.
30Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.
31Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD , come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD . And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings.
32And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, an hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD .
2 Chronicles 29:33-36
33–36: The consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.
2 Chronicles 29:33–36 opens with “And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.” and reaches “And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 29 develops its own movement around LORD, burnt, house, offering, king, with particular weight carried by offerings, burnt, priests.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.” The number six makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
2 Chronicles 29:33-36
King James Version33And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.
34But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.
35And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of the LORD was set in order.
36And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Chronicles 29:1 begins with “Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah, the…”
Where the chapter turns
2 Chronicles 29:18 forms a natural hinge: “Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the LORD , and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels…”
The final note
2 Chronicles 29:36 leaves the reader with “And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, burnt, house, offering, king, Levites help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does Laban's deception echo Jacob's earlier conduct?
An older and younger sibling are exchanged through a disguised identity, with family custom used to justify the outcome.
What changes when the narrator follows Leah?
Readers hear the pain of the less-loved woman and God's attention to her.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
- wherefore
- for that reason
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.