2 Chronicles 29:18 kjv
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 thereof, and the shewbread table, with all the vessels thereof.
2 Chronicles 29:18 nkjv
Then they went in to King Hezekiah and said, "We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offerings with all its articles, and the table of the showbread with all its articles.
2 Chronicles 29:18 niv
Then they went in to King Hezekiah and reported: "We have purified the entire temple of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the table for setting out the consecrated bread, with all its articles.
2 Chronicles 29:18 esv
Then they went in to Hezekiah the king and said, "We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the showbread and all its utensils.
2 Chronicles 29:18 nlt
Then 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.
2 Chronicles 29 18 Cross References
(table)| Verse | Text | Reference ||-------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| 2 Chron 29:3-5 | ...opened the doors... said, "Listen to me, Levites!... cleanse..." | Hezekiah's initial command for purification and restoration. || 2 Chron 30:1 | Hezekiah sent word... to come to the house of the Lord... | Following cleansing, Hezekiah invites all Israel to resume Passover worship. || Lev 16:16 | ...make atonement for the Holy Place... uncleaness... | Old Testament principle of cleansing the sanctuary from defilement. || Num 8:6-7 | ...cleanse them; thus you shall do to them: sprinkle... | Procedures for the ritual purification and consecration of the Levites themselves. || Psa 24:3-4 | Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? ...He who has clean hands and a pure heart. | Emphasis on purity for approaching God's holy presence. || Isa 52:11 | Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing... | Call for spiritual and ritual separation from defilement. || Exod 27:1-8 | "You shall make the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood..." | Instructions for the construction and sacred purpose of the altar. || Lev 1:9 | ...the priest shall offer up in smoke all of it on the altar... | Details of how sacrifices were conducted on the cleansed altar. || Exod 25:23-30 | "You shall make a table of acacia wood..." ...table of showbread. | Divine instructions for the creation and significance of the showbread table. || Lev 24:5-9 | You shall take fine flour and bake twelve loaves... on the table of showbread. | Details on the purpose and preparation of the bread for the holy table. || Heb 9:22-23 | ...almost all things are cleansed with blood... heavenly things. | Christ's superior cleansing that purified heavenly realities themselves. || John 2:13-17| Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found... casting out all. | Jesus' purification of the Temple, prefiguring true spiritual cleansing. || Mal 3:1-3 | The Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple; ...purify the sons of Levi. | Prophetic promise of future divine purification, especially for ministers. || Eze 37:23 | "They will no longer defile themselves with their idols... and will cleanse them." | Prophecy of future cleansing from sin and idolatry for God's people. || Zech 6:12-13| ...He will build the temple of the Lord... and will be a priest on His throne. | Messiah's role in building and ruling over a purified spiritual temple. || 1 Pet 1:15-16| ...as He who called you is holy, you also be holy... for it is written, "You shall be holy." | Exhortation to personal holiness, reflecting the divine nature of God. || Rom 12:1-2 | ...present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice... | Call for believers to live lives of spiritual worship and consecration. || 1 Cor 3:16-17| Do you not know that you are a temple of God...? If anyone destroys God's temple... | The body of believers as God's spiritual temple, emphasizing the need for purity. || 2 Tim 2:20-21| ...some are for honorable use, some for dishonorable... clean themselves... | Analogy of vessels for honorable use, requiring purification from defilement. || Neh 8:18 | ...and there was very great rejoicing. | Post-exilic restoration of worship and feasts after proper observance. || 2 Chron 33:16| He rebuilt the altar of the Lord and offered sacrifices... | Manasseh's later, temporary act of repentance and restoration of altar. |
2 Chronicles 29 verses
2 Chronicles 29 18 Meaning
This verse details the report delivered to King Hezekiah by the Levites, confirming the completion of the extensive purification of the Lord's house (the Temple). Specifically, they announced that the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the table of showbread with all its utensils, had been meticulously cleansed. This signifies the successful re-establishment of the Temple's holiness, a critical step towards restoring proper worship.
2 Chronicles 29 18 Context
2 Chronicles Chapter 29 marks the beginning of King Hezekiah's reign in Judah. Unlike his apostate father, Ahaz, Hezekiah immediately initiates a major spiritual reform and revival. Upon ascending the throne, his first act is to open the doors of the defiled Temple, which had been shut and desecrated. He then commissions the Levites and priests to sanctify themselves and cleanse the "house of the Lord." This cleansing process was extensive, taking over two weeks, and involved removing all unclean items and impurities accumulated from years of neglect and idolatrous practices under Ahaz. Verse 18 is the critical point where the Levites, having completed their rigorous and essential work, formally report back to Hezekiah, confirming that the sacred space and its vital elements were now ritually pure and ready for worship to be re-instituted. Historically, this act of purification was a direct and deliberate reversal of Judah's widespread spiritual decline and a re-assertion of Yahweh's sole sovereignty over His people, implicitly challenging the prevailing idolatry.
2 Chronicles 29 18 Word analysis
- Then they went in: "They" refers specifically to the Levites and priests, as detailed in the preceding verses (2 Chron 29:12-16). This indicates the successful completion of their divinely mandated task. The act of "going in" signifies presenting a formal, conclusive report to the highest authority, the king.
- to King Hezekiah: Highlights Hezekiah's central role as the righteous leader driving this spiritual reformation. His authority legitimizes and affirms the work undertaken. His name, יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ (Y'khizkiyahu), means "Yahweh strengthens," fitting for a king who restored God's worship.
- and said: Marks the beginning of a direct, official report, emphasizing accountability and communication within the spiritual and civil hierarchy.
- We have cleansed: Hebrew: טָהַר (tahar). This verb means "to be pure, purify, cleanse." It implies a thorough, ritual purification, making something fit for sacred use. The "we" emphasizes the Levites' collective effort and obedience. This word also carries strong implications against defilement from pagan practices, re-establishing Mosaic standards of purity.
- all the house of the Lord: Hebrew: בֵית יְהוָה (beit Yahweh), "house of Yahweh." This phrase refers to the entire Temple complex. "All" stresses the completeness and comprehensiveness of the purification, leaving no area defiled.
- and the altar of burnt offering: Hebrew: מִזְבַּח הָעֹלָה (mizbeach ha'olah). This was the primary altar in the Temple court, central to the sacrificial system for atonement and reconciliation with God. Its defilement meant proper worship and forgiveness were impossible. Cleansing it was paramount for re-instituting atonement.
- with all its utensils: Refers to the sacred tools and vessels used for preparing and offering sacrifices on the altar. Their purification ensured that every part of the sacrificial ritual was done in holiness.
- and the table of showbread: Hebrew: שֻׁלְחַן לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים (shulchan lechem hapanim), literally "table of the bread of the faces/presence." Located in the Holy Place, this table displayed twelve loaves of bread, symbolizing God's covenant presence and provision for the twelve tribes of Israel. Its cleansing signifies the restoration of fellowship and communion with God.
- with all its utensils: Similar to the altar, the showbread table also had specific implements. Cleansing these ensures the entire apparatus related to God's sustained presence and fellowship was purified for holy use.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Then they went in to King Hezekiah and said": This sequence demonstrates an ordered, accountable process where the commissioned individuals report back to their authority, signifying the completion of their task according to royal and divine command.
- "We have cleansed all the house of the Lord": This is the broad declaration of achievement, stating that the entire sacred edifice, God's dwelling place among His people, has been restored to its sanctified state.
- "and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the table of showbread with all its utensils": These clauses highlight specific, crucial elements within the Temple that were foundational to worship and fellowship with God. The altar represented atonement and the blood covenant, while the showbread table represented communion, sustenance, and God's enduring presence. The emphasis on "all its utensils" underlines the meticulous and comprehensive nature of the purification, reflecting reverence for God's holiness in every detail of worship.
2 Chronicles 29 18 Bonus section
The speed and thoroughness of the Temple cleansing initiated by Hezekiah immediately after ascending the throne underscore his deep piety and commitment to Yahweh. This wasn't merely a political move, but a sincere spiritual revival. The act of cleansing wasn't simply physical removal of dirt; it was a ritual act of making things holy again for God's presence, requiring precise adherence to Levitical law for the defiled to be made clean. The mention of the altar and showbread table represents the re-establishment of the atoning blood (altar) and the perpetual presence and provision of God (showbread), foundational to Israel's covenant relationship. This restoration paves the way for the celebration of the Passover (chapter 30), a unified national act of worship enabled by this very cleansing. This account serves as a timeless principle that spiritual renewal often begins with intentional and thorough purification from anything that defiles.
2 Chronicles 29 18 Commentary
This verse encapsulates the culmination of the initial phase of Hezekiah's pivotal spiritual reformation. It powerfully signifies the triumph of Yahwistic faith over idolatry and spiritual negligence. The Levites' concise report underscores not just the physical cleansing of the Temple, but a theological reset: the sacred space, desecrated under Ahaz, was once again consecrated to Yahweh, making true worship, atonement, and communion possible. The specific mention of the altar of burnt offering and the table of showbread points to the restoration of fundamental elements of the covenant relationship—where sins could be atoned for and God's provision and presence could be celebrated. This meticulous purification was a non-negotiable prerequisite for God's presence and blessing to return to Judah. It serves as a spiritual prototype for believers, demonstrating that purity, integrity, and diligence are essential for true worship and walking in fellowship with God.
- Example: Just as the physical temple needed cleansing to restore proper worship, a believer's heart (as God's spiritual temple) requires confession and repentance to restore communion when defiled by sin.