2 Chronicles 29 35

2 Chronicles 29:35 kjv

And 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.

2 Chronicles 29:35 nkjv

Also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings and with the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of the LORD was set in order.

2 Chronicles 29:35 niv

There were burnt offerings in abundance, together with the fat of the fellowship offerings and the drink offerings that accompanied the burnt offerings. So the service of the temple of the LORD was reestablished.

2 Chronicles 29:35 esv

Besides the great number of burnt offerings, there was the fat of the peace offerings, and there were the drink offerings for the burnt offerings. Thus the service of the house of the LORD was restored.

2 Chronicles 29:35 nlt

There 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.

2 Chronicles 29 verses

2 Chronicles 29 35 Meaning

2 Chronicles 29:35 describes a significant practical challenge during King Hezekiah's spiritual revival and the recommissioning of temple worship. The vast quantity of sacrificial animals presented by the people overwhelmed the limited number of consecrated priests available to perform the necessary tasks, particularly the flaying of the burnt offerings. To ensure the service could continue, the Levites, who were themselves in a greater state of readiness and "more upright in heart" regarding their own sanctification, stepped in to assist the priests until all tasks were completed and the remaining priests could adequately purify themselves. The verse highlights the zealous readiness of the Levites and, by contrast, the initial spiritual unpreparedness of some of the priests.

2 Chronicles 29 35 Context

The events of 2 Chronicles 29 occur during the reign of King Hezekiah, who ascended to the throne of Judah after his wicked father Ahaz. Ahaz had systematically defiled the temple, shut its doors, and promoted idolatry. Hezekiah, in his first month as king, immediately embarked on a fervent program of spiritual restoration, beginning with cleansing and reconsecrating the temple. This process involved not only physical purification but also a call for the Levites and priests to sanctify themselves for the Lord's service. The massive scale of offerings—burnt offerings and sin offerings for all Israel—represented a profound national repentance and renewal of the covenant with God. Verse 35 specifically highlights a logistical and spiritual bottleneck during this ambitious, fast-paced restoration. Despite the zeal for sacrifice, the immediate readiness and purity of all necessary personnel, particularly among the hereditary priesthood, was not yet uniform. This created a situation where divine work necessitated immediate support from others within the temple service hierarchy who demonstrated a greater readiness of heart.

2 Chronicles 29 35 Word analysis

• For: (Hebrew: kî - כִּי) – Often used as a causal conjunction, introducing a reason or explanation for the preceding statement or action. Here, it explains why the Levites needed to help.
• the service: (Hebrew: hā-‘ăḇōḏāh - הָעֲבֹדָה) – Refers to the work, labor, or ministry. In this context, it specifically denotes the religious rites and temple functions, especially the preparation and offering of the sacrifices.
• was great: (Hebrew: rabbâ - רַבָּה) – Much, numerous, great. Indicates a very large quantity or volume of work, likely referring to the sheer number of animals to be processed for the burnt offerings. This highlights the overwhelming nature of the task for the available personnel.
• but: (Hebrew: wĕlō’ - וְלֹא) – Conjunction "and" with the negative "not." Introduces a contrast or a limitation.
• the priests: (Hebrew: hak-kōhănîm - הַכֹּהֲנִים) – The designated descendants of Aaron who held the primary responsibility for temple sacrifices and holy duties.
• were too few: (Hebrew: him‘îṭû - הִמְעִיטוּ) – Literally, "they were few," or "they became few." It suggests an insufficient number or inadequacy, perhaps due to past neglect or a slow response to Hezekiah's call for sanctification.
• so that they could not: (Hebrew: wəlō’ - וְלֹא) – And not, indicating inability.
• flay: (Hebrew: lehafsheṭ - לְהַפְשִׁיט) – To strip off the hide, to skin. This was a necessary and hands-on part of preparing the animal for burnt offering (Lev 1:6). It emphasizes the physical and perhaps time-consuming nature of the task.
• all the burnt offerings: (Hebrew: kāl-hā‘ōlōwṯ - כָּל־הָעֹלוֹת) – Refers to the "whole burnt offerings," which were entirely consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing complete devotion. Their multitude created the processing backlog.
• Therefore: (Hebrew: la-ḵēn - לָכֵן) – A conjunction signifying consequence, "thus, so, wherefore." It introduces the immediate solution to the problem.
• their brethren the Levites: (Hebrew: ’ăḥêhem hal-lĕwiyyim - אֲחֵיהֶם הַלְוִיִּם) – The fellow tribesmen, members of the tribe of Levi, who were not direct descendants of Aaron but served alongside the priests in the temple.
• helped them: (Hebrew: ḥizqūm - חִזְּקוּם) – From the root ḥāzaq, meaning to be strong, strengthen, support. Implies active assistance, strengthening the hand of the priests in their tasks.
• until the work was finished: (Hebrew: ‘aḏ-hāmlō’ḵāh - עַד־הַמְּלָאכָה) – Until the complete carrying out or completion of the task or project. Indicates a temporary, practical arrangement to ensure the service continued without delay.
• and until the other priests: (Hebrew: wə‘aḏ-hitqaḏdeš - וְעַד הִתְקַדֵּשׁ) – Literally, "and until sanctified," with "the other priests" implied by the context of needing more to sanctify themselves.
• had sanctified themselves: (Hebrew: hāka-kohǎnîm - הַכֹּהֲנִים) – To make holy, consecrate, purify oneself. This purification was ritualistically necessary for priests to participate in temple service. The delay implies some priests had not yet fully completed this process.
• for: (Hebrew: kî - כִּי) – Again, a causal conjunction, introducing the reason for the Levites' readiness.
• the Levites were more upright in heart: (Hebrew: yal-lĕwiyyim yišrê-lēḇāḇ - הַלְוִיִּם יִשְׁרֵי־לֵבָב) – This is a crucial phrase. Yišrê-lēḇāḇ means "those upright of heart" or "sincere of heart." It indicates a moral and spiritual integrity, a true inner readiness and devotion to God. This phrase provides the spiritual explanation for the Levites' willingness and the priests' relative slowness.
• to sanctify themselves: (Hebrew: lehitqaddeš - לְהִתְקַדֵּשׁ) – To make themselves holy, to purify themselves. Their inner "uprightness of heart" propelled them to complete this vital act more readily.
• than the priests: (Hebrew: mik-kōhănîm - מִכֹּהֲנִים) – "From the priests," implying a comparison or contrast, signifying that the priests generally exhibited less zeal in this aspect.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For the service was great, but the priests were too few...": This opening clause presents the central problem: a massive spiritual undertaking encountered a bottleneck due to insufficient personnel who met the necessary purity standards. It highlights the divine blessing of overwhelming response to God's call met with human practical limitations, specifically priestly unpreparedness.
• "...so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings.": This specifies the immediate, critical bottleneck – a crucial and tangible task in the sacrificial process. The inability to perform this foundational step halted the entire flow of worship.
• "Therefore their brethren the Levites helped them until the work was finished and until the other priests had sanctified themselves...": This describes the temporary, practical solution implemented. It demonstrates inter-tribal cooperation within the house of Levi and the immediate pragmatic necessity for the ongoing sacred service, while also implying the priests' necessary spiritual catch-up. This was not a permanent shift in duties, but an urgent relief measure.
• "...for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.": This provides the underlying spiritual reason for the Levites' readiness and the priests' comparative deficiency. It moves beyond mere logistics to the internal disposition, indicating that the Levites had a more earnest and diligent attitude towards spiritual purity and service, which manifested in their prompt self-consecration. This contrast underscores that heart attitude is paramount in God's eyes for those engaged in His work.

2 Chronicles 29 35 Bonus section

The account in 2 Chronicles 29 provides a vital theological lesson that is echoed throughout scripture: the heart is paramount in divine service. While the priests had the lineage and prescribed roles, the Levites exhibited a greater internal desire for holiness that manifested in their prompt external actions. This prefigures the New Covenant emphasis on inward transformation (Heb 10:22) over mere outward ritual. The Lord desires those who minister to Him to have a right and pure heart, valuing spiritual zeal and readiness over established privilege or office that may have become spiritually slack. It's a reminder that effectiveness in ministry, even in mundane tasks like flaying sacrifices, requires a foundational commitment to holiness and readiness. This narrative showcases God's willingness to use instruments, like the Levites in this instance, who are truly ready and dedicated, bridging gaps created by the unpreparedness of others to ensure His purposes are fulfilled.

2 Chronicles 29 35 Commentary

2 Chronicles 29:35 reveals a critical insight into the nature of true worship and leadership within God's house during Hezekiah's reforms. The vast number of sacrifices reflected a national outpouring of repentance and a desire for renewal, a blessed problem of abundance. However, it also exposed a significant deficit: many priests, by law, were the primary agents of such rituals but were not immediately ready for sacred duty because they had not sanctified themselves as promptly or as diligently as the Levites. The Levites, who generally assisted the priests, demonstrated a superior readiness of "heart" to consecrate themselves. This wasn't merely about physical presence but about inner disposition and zeal for holiness, which directly enabled them to be useful instruments for God's purposes without delay. The verse implicitly rebukes spiritual complacency among those in positions of formal authority, underscoring that God values an immediate and sincere heart for service more than mere hereditary status. It highlights that the spirit of obedience and eagerness to be ritually pure, born of an "upright heart," facilitates God's work even when unexpected deficiencies arise among primary functionaries. The urgency of worship required a pragmatic solution and divine work pressed on despite human failings.