2 Chronicles 29 34

2 Chronicles 29:34 kjv

But 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.

2 Chronicles 29:34 nkjv

But the priests were too few, so that they could not skin all the burnt offerings; therefore their brethren the Levites helped them until the work was ended and until the other priests had sanctified themselves, for the Levites were more diligent in sanctifying themselves than the priests.

2 Chronicles 29:34 niv

The priests, however, were too few to skin all the burnt offerings; so their relatives the Levites helped them until the task was finished and until other priests had been consecrated, for the Levites had been more conscientious in consecrating themselves than the priests had been.

2 Chronicles 29:34 esv

But the priests were too few and could not flay all the burnt offerings, so until other priests had consecrated themselves, their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was finished ? for the Levites were more upright in heart than the priests in consecrating themselves.

2 Chronicles 29:34 nlt

But 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.

2 Chronicles 29 verses

2 Chronicles 29 34 Meaning

2 Chronicles 29:34 reveals a crucial logistical and spiritual challenge during King Hezekiah's Temple purification. It states that the existing priests were insufficient in number, specifically, they could not manage the demanding task of flaying all the numerous burnt offerings. Consequently, their brethren, the Levites, stepped in to assist them with this labor until all the sacrifices were prepared and, significantly, until the other priests had properly consecrated themselves for service. The verse emphasizes the spiritual distinction between the two groups, noting that the Levites exhibited a greater readiness and sincerity of heart when it came to purifying themselves for their sacred duties compared to many of the priests. This highlights a deficit in spiritual preparation among some of the priesthood, contrasting with the Levites' commendable dedication.

2 Chronicles 29 34 Context

This verse is situated within 2 Chronicles 29, which recounts King Hezekiah's fervent reforms immediately upon ascending the throne. His father, King Ahaz, had defiled and neglected the Temple, shutting its doors and promoting idolatry throughout Judah. Hezekiah, recognizing the dire spiritual state of the nation, prioritizes the cleansing and re-consecration of the Temple as the first order of business for his reign. He gathers the priests and Levites, urging them to sanctify themselves and the Temple, to restore the true worship of the LORD. The process involved cleansing the sanctuary, restoring its vessels, and offering numerous sacrifices—burnt offerings, sin offerings, and peace offerings. Verse 34 arises as a practical detail within this large-scale spiritual revival. The sheer volume of offerings necessitated an extraordinary effort, revealing a practical deficit in consecrated personnel that also stemmed from a deeper spiritual deficiency among some priests. Historically, this occurred in the late 8th century BCE, a time of significant spiritual decay in Judah following the influence of Assyrian idolatry.

2 Chronicles 29 34 Word analysis

• But (אַךְ - 'ak): This conjunction introduces a qualification or a contrast. It highlights the unexpected inadequacy of the priests despite their central role in the sacrificial system.
• the priests (הַכֹּהֲנִים - hak-kōhanîm): Refers specifically to the descendants of Aaron, set apart for ritual service and mediation between God and man. Their role required strict purity and knowledge of the Law.
• too few (מְעָט - me'at): Indicates quantitative scarcity. Not enough personnel for the immediate, immense task at hand. This practical issue implies a deeper problem of readiness.
• could not flay (וְלֹא יָכְלוּ לְהַפְשִׁיט - wə·lō yā·ḵə·lū lə·hap̄·šiṭ): "Flay" (הִפְשִׁיט - hiphshit) means to remove the skin from the animal. This was a precise, often difficult, ritual task explicitly assigned to the priests in Mosaic Law (Lev 1:6). Their inability suggests a shortage of ready hands.
• all the burnt offerings (אֶת־כָּל־הָעֹלוֹת - ’eṯ-kāl-hā-‘ōlōṯ): Emphasizes the overwhelming number of sacrifices brought by the repentant people during the Temple dedication (specified as 70 bulls, 100 rams, 200 lambs for burnt offerings alone in v.32, with many more subsequent peace offerings). The task was immense.
• therefore (וּבַעֲבוּר - ū·ḇa‘·ă·ḇūr): Signifies a direct causal relationship, explaining the solution that followed.
• their brethren the Levites (אֲחֵיהֶם הַלְוִיִּם - ’aḥêhem hal·ləwiyyîm): Highlights the familial tribal relationship between the two groups. While priests were a sub-group of Levites (descended from Aaron), here "Levites" refers to the broader tribe assisting them. Levites typically performed support tasks (carrying, singing, guarding, preparing) but flaying was usually a priestly duty.
• helped them (עֲזָרוּם - ‘ă·zā·rūm): Denotes direct, active assistance, highlighting cooperation necessitated by circumstances.
• till the work was ended (עַד כְּלֹה הַמְּלָאכָה - ‘aḏ kəlōh ham·mə·lā·ḵāh): This specifies a temporary arrangement, indicating a pragmatic approach to completing an urgent spiritual task.
• and until the other priests had sanctified themselves (וְעַד הִתְקַדֵּשׁ הַכֹּהֲנִים - wə·‘aḏ hiṯ·qaddêš hak·kō·hă·nîm): "Sanctified themselves" (הִתְקַדֵּשׁ - hiṯqaddêš) means to make oneself ritually and morally clean, set apart for God's service. Many priests were not ready, perhaps having been complacent under Ahaz's reign or not having prioritized personal purity.
• for (כִּי - kî): Introduces the reason for the Levites' greater readiness compared to the priests.
• the Levites were more upright in heart (הַלְוִיִּם יִשְׁרֵי לֵבָב מֵהַכֹּהֲנִים - hal·ləwiyyîm yišrê lêḇāḇ mêhak·kō·hă·nîm): This is the critical spiritual contrast. "Upright" (יָשָׁר - yashar) implies straight, morally correct, sincere. "Heart" (לֵבָב - levav) refers to the inner core of one's being—one's will, intellect, and emotion. The Levites were spiritually disposed towards purity and dedication more readily than many of the priests.
• to sanctify themselves (לְהִתְקַדֵּשׁ - lə·hiṯ·qaddêš): Reinforces the specific act of purification that the Levites were eager to undertake, distinguishing their zeal.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings": This phrase immediately establishes the dilemma. It's not just a shortage of people, but a shortage of people fit for service. The sheer volume of offerings exposed this critical deficit. The verb "flay" emphasizes the hands-on, physically demanding, and ritually precise nature of the work.
• "therefore their brethren the Levites helped them till the work was ended and until the other priests had sanctified themselves": This section details the immediate, temporary, and necessary solution. The term "brethren" underscores their shared lineage and collective responsibility in God's service. The temporary nature of the help points to the ideal where priests should carry out their designated duties once properly prepared. This showcases a flexible and pragmatic response to an urgent need for divine worship.
• "for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests": This is the heart of the verse's theological message. It shifts from logistics to spirituality. The comparison "more upright in heart" (יִשְׁרֵי לֵבָב) reveals an internal state, a greater sincerity and spiritual readiness. This contrasts with the implication that many priests, perhaps complacent or tainted by previous apostasy, lacked this immediate inward inclination toward purification required for service. It subtly critiques those in primary religious positions who were spiritually unprepared.

2 Chronicles 29 34 Bonus section

The verse shows the pragmatic yet spiritual emphasis of the Chronicler's theology. While adherence to the Law's specific assignments for priests and Levites was ideal, extraordinary circumstances like national repentance and revival sometimes necessitated adaptations. The deeper point isn't about legal technicality (who should flay), but about the spiritual state required for God's service. The "upright heart" of the Levites foreshadows the New Covenant emphasis on inward transformation for true worship (Jer 31:33, Heb 10:16). This episode illustrates that even those designated for primary spiritual leadership must actively cultivate personal holiness, and spiritual zeal can be found in unexpected quarters within the body of God's people.

2 Chronicles 29 34 Commentary

2 Chronicles 29:34 provides a practical insight into the realities of restoring true worship after a period of spiritual decline. King Hezekiah initiated a massive undertaking to cleanse and rededicate the Temple, resulting in an unprecedented number of sacrifices. This presented a logistical challenge: not enough priests were present or, more significantly, not enough were ritually clean and spiritually ready to perform all the necessary duties, particularly the task of flaying the animals. The law specifically assigned this and other direct sacrificial tasks to the priests (Lev 1:6).

The solution highlights the Levites' vital supporting role and, more profoundly, their spiritual disposition. While Levites' usual duties were ancillary to the priests (Numbers 3, 8), the urgency and the priests' spiritual unpreparedness called for an exception. The statement "the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests" is crucial. It’s a powerful commendation for the Levites and a subtle yet significant critique of some among the Aaronic priesthood. It's not a general condemnation of all priests, as many eventually purified themselves, but highlights that at this pivotal moment, the Levites demonstrated a superior spiritual earnestness and a greater alacrity to pursue the required holiness. This points to the importance of inner readiness and sincere desire to serve God, rather than mere titular position or inheritance, for true divine service. The emphasis for the Chronicler is not merely on adherence to ritual form, but on the purity of heart that accompanies it.