2 Chronicles 30 22

2 Chronicles 30:22 kjv

And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers.

2 Chronicles 30:22 nkjv

And Hezekiah gave encouragement to all the Levites who taught the good knowledge of the LORD; and they ate throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers.

2 Chronicles 30:22 niv

Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites, who showed good understanding of the service of the LORD. For the seven days they ate their assigned portion and offered fellowship offerings and praised the LORD, the God of their ancestors.

2 Chronicles 30:22 esv

And Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good skill in the service of the LORD. So they ate the food of the festival for seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

2 Chronicles 30:22 nlt

Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites regarding the skill they displayed as they served the LORD. The celebration continued for seven days. Peace offerings were sacrificed, and the people gave thanks to the LORD, the God of their ancestors.

2 Chronicles 30 verses

2 Chronicles 30 22 Meaning

2 Chronicles 30:22 describes King Hezekiah's appreciation for the Levites who expertly conducted the temple service during a special Passover celebration. This verse highlights the king's active encouragement, the Levites' competence in sacred duties, and the ensuing seven days of dedicated worship through peace offerings and heartfelt thanksgiving to the covenant God. It signifies the success of the revival marked by skilled service and joyful communal fellowship with the Divine.

2 Chronicles 30 22 Context

Chapter 30 details King Hezekiah's extraordinary Passover celebration. Following a significant national revival under Hezekiah, he extended an invitation to all Israel, including the scattered northern tribes, to come to Jerusalem for Passover, even though they were not fully purified. Due to the limited time for proper cleansing and the general spiritual state, the traditional Passover date was postponed by a month (similar to Num 9:10-11). Despite imperfections in the initial observance by many who came, God showed mercy. The Levites played a crucial role in compensating for the lack of priestly presence and assisting the people in their worship. This verse specifically highlights Hezekiah's discerning recognition of their diligent and skillful service, which enabled the entire prolonged celebration to be filled with genuine worship and fellowship, marked by a week of continuous feasting, offerings, and gratitude. This reflected the purity of heart, rather than ritualistic perfection, that was central to God's acceptance.

2 Chronicles 30 22 Word analysis

• Hezekiah (חִזְקִיָּהוּ - Chizqiyyahu): Means "Yahweh strengthens." His name foreshadows his reign where God's strength was evident in reforms and deliverance. As king, he demonstrated righteous leadership, not merely commanding but also participating and nurturing.
• spoke encouragingly (וַיְדַבֵּר עַל־לֵב - vaydabber al-lev): Literally, "spoke to the heart." The Hebrew idiom conveys speaking comfort, strength, or encouragement. It implies deep empathy, wisdom, and leadership that nourishes rather than merely directs. It was an affirmation of their spiritual maturity and effort. This demonstrates genuine, relational leadership.
• to all the Levites (לְכָל־הַלְוִיִּם - lechol-haLviyim): Refers to the entire tribal division consecrated for temple service. Their role included assisting priests, temple maintenance, singing, gatekeeping, and teaching. Here, their specific role in handling offerings and guiding the people is emphasized due to the extraordinary circumstances.
• who showed good skill (הַמַּשְׂכִּילִים - haMaskilim): From the root שָׂכַל (sakhal), meaning to be wise, understand, to act prudently, to show insight, or to have skill. This is more than mere competence; it denotes discernment, wisdom, and spiritual aptitude in performing their duties, specifically related to the "service of the Lord." It implies both technical proficiency and a deep spiritual understanding of the rituals.
• in the service of the Lord (בְּשֵׂכֶל טוֹב לַיהוָה - besekhel tov La-YHWH): Combines "skill" (from "haMaskilim" and also found here as "besekhel tov" for good insight/skill) with "service" (implicitly in the context, but also referring to the direct action of "to the Lord"). It signifies not just mechanical duty but work done with a good mind, discernment, and proper reverence before God. The emphasis is on intelligent and wise execution of sacred duties.
• So they ate (וַיֹּאכְלוּ - vayyokhlu): A direct consequence. The previous actions of the Levites and Hezekiah's commendation led to the sustained feasting. Eating together signified fellowship, joy, and the completion of sacrifice, particularly peace offerings.
• the festival food (הַמּוֹעֵד - hamo'ed): Refers to the set time or appointed feast. Here it refers to the meals of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which immediately followed Passover, and which was also extended. Eating from the peace offerings indicated shared fellowship with God and with fellow worshippers.
• for seven days (שִׁבְעַת יָמִים - shivat yamim): The standard duration for the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Lev 23:6), signifying full, complete observance. In this extended Passover, the focus remained on consecrated time for worship and communion.
• sacrificing peace offerings (זִבְחֵי שְׁלָמִים - zivchei shlamim): These were voluntary sacrifices signifying reconciliation, fellowship, and gratitude (Lev 7:11-21). A portion was offered to God, and the remainder was eaten by the worshipper and the priests, symbolizing communion and shared peace. Their abundance highlighted the joy and spiritual abundance of the revival.
• and giving thanks (וּמוֹדִים - u'modim): From יָדָה (yadah), meaning to praise, thank, or confess. This reflects a joyful and grateful heart response to God's mercy and faithfulness, a fundamental element of true worship. It points to a deep spiritual transformation and appreciation.
• to the Lord God of their ancestors (לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם - La-YHWH Elohei avoteihem): Emphasizes the continuity of the covenant and God's faithfulness across generations, linking this present revival back to the promises and relationships God had with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It grounds the current worship in the rich history of divine-human interaction and covenant.

2 Chronicles 30 22 Bonus section

The recognition Hezekiah gave to the Levites set an important precedent for leadership in the community of faith. It shows that leaders should not only command or correct but also commend and uplift those who serve well, recognizing both their competence (skill) and their attitude (serving God). This approach builds morale and strengthens dedication. The emphasis on "good skill" in service underlines that spiritual duties are not to be performed haphazardly but with thoughtful excellence, reflecting the seriousness and glory of God whom one serves. The concept of "God of their ancestors" resonated deeply with a people whose history was inextricably linked to God's covenant. It anchored their current revival in a legacy of divine faithfulness, assuring them that the same God who acted powerfully in the past was actively present among them, affirming their renewed commitment despite imperfections.

2 Chronicles 30 22 Commentary

2 Chronicles 30:22 paints a vivid picture of healthy spiritual leadership and devoted service culminating in profound communal worship. Hezekiah's action of "speaking to the heart" of the Levites highlights transformative leadership—it wasn't about punitive measures but affirming and encouraging competence. This leader recognized the Levites' "good skill" which wasn't merely technical ability but spiritual discernment in carrying out sacred duties. Their understanding and commitment made the complex and unique Passover celebration possible for a multitude of people, including many who were not ritually clean but whose hearts were turned to God. The immediate consequence was the sustained feasting and an abundance of "peace offerings," symbolizing deep communion, reconciliation, and peace with God and one another. The overarching spirit of "giving thanks to the Lord God of their ancestors" encapsulates the entire experience—a joyous acknowledgment of God's covenant faithfulness that transcended generations and extended mercy even to those imperfectly pure. This verse powerfully illustrates that God delights in sincere worship, offered skillfully and thankfully, enabled by encouraging leadership. It teaches the importance of honoring those who serve faithfully and the joy found in corporate thanksgiving for God's provision and presence.