2 Chronicles 29 36

2 Chronicles 29:36 kjv

And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.

2 Chronicles 29:36 nkjv

Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly.

2 Chronicles 29:36 niv

Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced at what God had brought about for his people, because it was done so quickly.

2 Chronicles 29:36 esv

And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had provided for the people, for the thing came about suddenly.

2 Chronicles 29:36 nlt

And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had done for the people, for everything had been accomplished so quickly.

2 Chronicles 29 verses

2 Chronicles 29 36 Meaning

King Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced immensely because the Lord God had divinely prepared their hearts and minds, enabling them to accomplish the massive task of restoring pure worship and offering the prescribed sacrifices. The collective spiritual readiness and the rapid, efficient completion of the temple rites were a testament to God's intervention, making what seemed daunting, suddenly achievable and profoundly effective.

2 Chronicles 29 36 Context

This verse concludes the description of the initial phase of King Hezekiah's extensive spiritual reforms. Having ascended to the throne after the apostate reign of his father Ahaz, Hezekiah immediately initiated the cleansing and consecration of the defiled Temple. Within a remarkably short time—sixteen days for the initial cleansing and consecration (2 Chr 29:17), followed by the reinstitution of sacrificial worship—the priests and Levites completed the essential ritual purification and offered extensive sacrifices. The verse highlights the culmination of this immense undertaking, emphasizing that its success and the unexpected swiftness with which it was accomplished were not due to human effort alone, but to God's divine enablement and preparation of both the people and the circumstances. The profound sense of joy expressed underscores the relief and gratitude for God's clear favor on their efforts to restore proper worship.

2 Chronicles 29 36 Word analysis

• And Hezekiah (וַיִּשְׂמַח vayyiśmaḥ - and rejoiced): The word indicates deep gladness or delight. It marks the king's personal joy as well as his leadership in the celebration. This joy is a response to divine activity, not mere human achievement.

• and all (וְכָל vᵉḵāl - and all): Emphasizes the inclusivity. The joy was collective, indicating a widespread spiritual revival and unity among the people under Hezekiah's leadership. This collective participation and rejoicing were crucial after a period of national apostasy, showing true repentance and engagement.

• the people (הָעָם hā‘ām - the people): Refers to the whole community of Judah, encompassing all segments who had gathered for the rededication and sacrifices. Their collective state of mind was prepared by God, which contributed to the overwhelming sense of unity and spiritual fervor.

• rejoiced (וַיִּשְׂמַח vayyiśmaḥ - and rejoiced): This is the same verb as for Hezekiah, reinforcing the shared and abundant gladness felt by king and commoner alike. Their joy was deeply felt and shared, a celebration of God's restorative hand.

• because (כִּי kî - for, because): Introduces the reason for their joy, clearly attributing the success and swiftness of the temple’s restoration and worship to God's intervention.

• God (הָאֱלֹהִים hā’ĕlōhîm - God): The use of the generic "Elohim" here signifies God in His general providence and mighty power, rather than His covenant name (YHWH). This emphasizes His sovereign, overarching work.

• had prepared (הֵכִין hēkhîn - had prepared, established, made ready): From the root כּוּן (kun), meaning to establish, to make firm, to make ready. This is a crucial theological point. It means God was the active agent, making the people fit, ready, and willing. It implies both internal disposition (willing hearts) and external enablement (resources, coordination, wisdom). This wasn't merely human effort but divine orchestration.

• the people (הָעָם hā‘ām - the people): Again, stressing that it was the community, their collective will and capacity, that God had sovereignly equipped for the task.

• for (כִּי kî - for, because): Another causal conjunction, providing an additional layer of explanation for the success and joy.

• the thing (הַדָּבָר haddāvār - the word, the matter, the thing): Refers to the entire process of re-instituting Temple worship, including the cleansing, the consecration of priests, and the abundance of sacrifices. It highlights the vast scope of the divine task accomplished.

• came about (הָיָה hāyâ - came to be, happened): Indicates that the events unfolded, came into existence, implying a divine enablement for their happening.

• suddenly (פֶּתַע peta'): This adverb signifies swiftness, unexpectedness, or immediacy. It underscores that the speed and efficiency with which such an immense spiritual and logistical task was completed were miraculous. It removes any notion of a long, arduous struggle by human strength and instead highlights God's supernatural speed in His work of restoration. This challenges the idea of human agency being solely responsible.

• "Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced": This group represents the unity of leadership and congregants in spiritual revival. Their shared joy reflects divine blessing upon a united effort, signifying complete communal embrace of the reform.

• "because God had prepared the people": This phrase directly attributes the success of the spiritual reforms and the willing participation of the people not to human leadership or charisma alone, but to the direct, preceding, sovereign work of God. It's a statement of theological depth, acknowledging divine initiative in human obedience and transformation.

• "for the thing came about suddenly": This emphasizes God's efficient and potent power. What might have taken years of painstaking effort or faced numerous obstacles was accomplished rapidly through divine intervention, revealing God's hand unmistakably. It implies a miracle of enablement and synchronization.

2 Chronicles 29 36 Bonus section

The divine preparation mentioned in this verse stands in stark contrast to the previous reign of King Ahaz, who led Judah into deep idolatry and closed the Temple doors. The swiftness of Hezekiah's reform, from utter apostasy to joyous, re-established worship, underscores God's ability to turn hearts rapidly when leaders respond to Him. This passage is a prime example of a 'revival from above', where God supernaturally prepares people for extraordinary service and worship, overcoming significant spiritual and logistical barriers in an unlooked-for manner. It speaks to the sovereignty of God over human wills and the profound impact of faithful leadership that trusts in His empowering hand rather than solely human strategy.

2 Chronicles 29 36 Commentary

2 Chronicles 29:36 succinctly captures the triumphant spiritual renewal under King Hezekiah. The central theme is God's active, preceding role in the spiritual readiness of His people. The human elements—Hezekiah's fervent leadership and the people's widespread participation—were not self-generated but divinely enabled. The use of "prepared" (כּוּן kun) denotes God's intentional work to establish, incline, and make their hearts ready for obedience and worship. This points to the divine initiative in revival; true repentance and fervent worship originate with God, not merely with human will or zeal. The striking word "suddenly" (פֶּתַע peta') underlines the miraculous speed of the process. Restoring the temple after decades of desecration and idolatry was an enormous undertaking, yet it was accomplished with unprecedented haste and effectiveness. This "suddenness" signals God's extraordinary favor and power, removing any possibility of attributing the success to human strength or meticulous planning alone. It brings a clear testimony to His providential hand, orchestrating the hearts and circumstances for His glory. The resulting joy, shared by king and people, signifies a collective realization of God's manifest presence and blessing. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that spiritual awakenings are fundamentally God's work, a testament to His grace to equip His people and swiftly accomplish His will.