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2
Chronicles Chapter Thirty
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 30
Hezekiah
having consulted his nobles about keeping the passover the second month
and
determined upon it
sent messengers throughout Israel and Judah
to acquaint
them with it
at which some mocked
and others seriously attended to it
2 Chronicles 30:1
so it was celebrated in a solemn manner
though some were not qualified for it
according to the law
and for whose pardon Hezekiah prayed
and it was granted
2 Chronicles 30:13
also the feast of unleavened bread was kept seven days
and a festival of seven
days more was likewise observed with great joy and gladness
2 Chronicles 30:21.
2 Chronicles
30:1 And Hezekiah
sent to all Israel and Judah
and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh
that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem
to keep the
Passover to the Lord
God of Israel.
YLT
1And Hezekiah sendeth unto
all Israel and Judah
and also letters he hath written unto Ephraim and
Manasseh
to come in to the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem
to make a passover
to Jehovah
God of Israel.
And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah
.... Sent
messengers to them
not only to the subjects of his own kingdom
Judah
but to
all the Israelites that dwelt in it
who were come thither for the sake of
religion
and the worship of God:
and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh; which are put
for all the ten tribes
as appears from 2 Chronicles 30:10
and are distinguished from Israel in the preceding clause:
that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem; not that he
laid his commands upon them to come
they not being his subjects
namely
those
of the ten tribes; but he hereby admonished them of their duty
and gave them a
kind invitation
signifying the doors of the temple were open for them
and
they were welcome to come thither:
to keep the passover unto the Lord God of Israel; to the glory
of his name
who was the common Lord of them all
and whose command it was to
keep the passover
and that at Jerusalem
and nowhere else
see Deuteronomy 16:1.
2 Chronicles
30:2 2 For
the king and his leaders and all the assembly in Jerusalem had agreed to keep
the Passover in the second month.
YLT
2And the king taketh
counsel
and his heads
and all the assembly in Jerusalem
to make the passover
in the second month
For the king had taken counsel
and his princes
and all the
congregation in Jerusalem
.... He and his nobles
and the great
sanhedrim or senate of the nation
had consulted together:
to keep the passover in the second month; in the month
Ijar
as the Targum
because they could not keep it in the first month
as it
should have been kept
according to the law of God
for the reasons following.
2 Chronicles
30:3 3 For
they could not keep it at the regular time
[a] because a
sufficient number of priests had not consecrated themselves
nor had the people
gathered together at Jerusalem.
YLT
3for they have not been able
to make it at that time
for the priests have not sanctified themselves
sufficiently
and the people have not been gathered to Jerusalem.
For they could not keep it at the time
.... In the
month Nisan
as the Targum adds
on the fourteenth day of the month
as the law
enjoined
because the cleansing of the temple was not finished until the
sixteenth day
see 2 Chronicles 29:17
and
besides this
two other reasons follow:
because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently; that is
a
sufficient number of them were not sanctified
to slay all the passover lambs
the people that came to the feast would want:
neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem; they had no
notice of it
nor summons for it; and it was required that
at such a time
all
the males in the land should appear at Jerusalem; but this custom having been
long disused
it required time to acquaint them of the revival of it.
2 Chronicles
30:4 4 And
the matter pleased the king and all the assembly.
YLT
4And the thing is right in
the eyes of the king
and in the eyes of all the assembly
And the thing pleased the king
and all the congregation. They all
unanimously agreed to it
and determined it should be done.
2 Chronicles
30:5 5 So
they resolved to make a proclamation throughout all Israel
from Beersheba to
Dan
that they should come to keep the Passover to the Lord God of Israel
at Jerusalem
since they had not done it for a long time in the prescribed
manner.
YLT
5and they establish the
thing
to cause to pass over an intimation into all Israel
from Beer-Sheba
even unto Dan
to come in to make a passover to Jehovah
God of Israel
in
Jerusalem
for not for a long time had they done as it is written.
So they established a decree
to make proclamation throughout all
Israel
.... Passed a vote
that heralds should be appointed and sent to
proclaim it throughout the land
that all might know it
and none plead
ignorance:
from Beersheba even to Dan; the one being the
southern and the other the northern boundary of the whole land of Israel:
that they should come to keep the passover unto the Lord God of
Israel at Jerusalem: the only proper place where it was to be kept:
for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was
written; as prescribed in the law those of the ten tribes had not
observed it from the time of the schism of Jeroboam
and many in the kingdom of
Judah had neglected it
at least had not kept it as the law required; for the
phrase which we render "of a long time" rather respects a multitude
of persons than length of time
who had been very deficient in their observance
of this ordinance; the Targum is
that"many had not done it in its time
in Nisan
'and suggests that it was kept twice this year
first in Nisan by a
few
and now again in the second month Ijar
and which is the sense of some
Talmudic writersF16T. Bab. Sanhedrin
fol. 12. 2.
but has no
foundation in the text.
2 Chronicles 30:6 6 Then the runners went
throughout all Israel and Judah with the letters from the king and his leaders
and spoke according to the command of the king: “Children of Israel
return to
the Lord
God of Abraham
Isaac
and Israel; then He will return to the remnant of you
who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria.
YLT
6And the runners go with
letters from the hand of the king and his heads
into all Israel and Judah
even according to the command of the king
saying
`O sons of Israel
turn back
unto Jehovah
God of Abraham
Isaac
and Israel
and He doth turn back unto the
escaped part that is left of you from the hand of the kings of Asshur;
So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes
throughout all Israel and Judah
.... Both through the kingdoms of the ten
tribes of Israel
and the kingdom of the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin:
and according to the commandment of the king
saying; so they were
ordered by the king to say
when they delivered the letters which by the king's
commandment they carried; or this was the purport of them
as follows
especially of those that were sent to the ten tribes:
ye children of Israel
turn again unto the Lord God of Abraham
Isaac
and Israel; from whom they had revolted
and from whose worship they had
departed
by setting up and serving the calves at Dan and Bethel:
and he will return to the remnant of you that are escaped out of
the hand of the king of Assyria; Pul and Tiglathpileser
who had both
invaded their land
and the latter had taken many of their cities
and carried
the inhabitants captive
2 Kings 15:19.
2 Chronicles 30:7 7 And do not be like your
fathers and your brethren
who trespassed against the Lord God of their
fathers
so that He gave them up to desolation
as you see.
YLT
7and do not be like your
fathers
and like your brethren
who trespassed against Jehovah
God of their
fathers
and He giveth them to desolation
as ye do see.
And be not ye like your fathers
and like your brethren
which
trespassed against the Lord God of their fathers
.... By worshipping the
calves
and neglecting the service of God in the temple at Jerusalem; the
Targum is
"which acted deceitfully with the Word of the Lord their
God:"
who therefore gave them up to desolation
as ye see; some part of
the land of Israel being already made desolate by the kings of Assyria
which
was very visible.
2 Chronicles 30:8 8 Now do not be
stiff-necked
as your fathers were
but yield yourselves to the Lord; and enter His
sanctuary
which He has sanctified forever
and serve the Lord your God
that
the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you.
YLT
8`Now
harden not your neck
like your fathers
give a hand to Jehovah
and come in to His sanctuary
that
He hath sanctified to the age
and serve Jehovah your God
and the fierceness
of His anger doth turn back from you;
Now be ye not stiffnecked
as your fathers were
.... Obstinate
and refractory
like heifers unaccustomed to the yoke
which draw back from it
and will not submit to it:
but yield yourselves unto the Lord; be subject unto him
or
"give the hand"F17תנו יד "date manum"
Pagninus
Montanus
&c. to
him
as a token of subjection and homage
or of entering into covenant with
him
promising for the future to serve and obey him:
and enter into his sanctuary
which he hath sanctified for ever; set apart for
worship and service
until the Messiah should come:
and serve the Lord your God; there
in the temple
according to his prescribed will:
that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you; which had
already broke out
in suffering the Assyrians to invade their land
and
distress them.
2 Chronicles 30:9 9 For if you return to the Lord
your brethren
and your children will be treated with compassion by those who lead them
captive
so that they may come back to this land; for the Lord your God is
gracious and merciful
and will not turn His face from you if you return
to Him.”
YLT
9for in your turning back
unto Jehovah
your brethren and your sons have mercies before their captors
even to return to this land
for gracious and merciful [is] Jehovah your God
and He doth not turn aside the face from you
if ye turn back unto Him.'
For if ye turn again unto the Lord
.... To the fear or
worship of the Lord
as the Targum:
your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them
that lead them captive
so that they shall come again into this land; who had been
carried away by Tiglathpileser
see Psalm 106:46
for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful; so he had
proclaimed his name
as they must know
Exodus 34:6
and will not turn away his face from you; in wrath and
anger; or withdraw his Shecaniah from you
as the Targum; his gracious and
glorious presence:
if ye return unto him; his fear and worship
as
the same paraphrase.
2 Chronicles 30:10 10 So the runners passed from
city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh
as far as Zebulun;
but they laughed at them and mocked them.
YLT
10And the runners are passing
over from city to city
in the land of Ephraim and Manasseh
even unto Zebulun:
and they are laughing at them
and mocking at them
So the posts passed from city to city
through the country of
Ephraim and Manasseh
even unto Zebulun
.... Through all the ten
tribes
not being hindered or forbid by Hoshea king of Israel
who was one of
the best of their kings
and was very willing his people should go and worship
at Jerusalem if they thought fit; so that they had no excuse to make
as
before
that they were forbid by their king going thither; and which it is very
probable Hezekiah knew
and therefore took the freedom to send posts throughout
his kingdom:
but they laughed them to scorn
and mocked them; the
messengers that brought the letters
the contents of which they despised
and
paid no regard to; this was the behaviour of many
and probably of the greater
part
but not of all
as follows.
2 Chronicles 30:11 11 Nevertheless some from
Asher
Manasseh
and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.
YLT
11only
certain from Asher
and Manasseh
and from Zebulun
have been humbled
and come in to Jerusalem.
Nevertheless
divers of Asher
and Manasseh
and of Zebulun
humbled
themselves
.... Confessed their idolatries and impieties
and expressed
sorrow and repentance for them
and were willing to obey the commands of God
and attend his worship and ordinances:
and came to Jerusalem; to keep the passover.
2 Chronicles 30:12 12 Also the hand of God was
on Judah to give them singleness of heart to obey the command of the king and
the leaders
at the word of the Lord.
YLT
12Also
in Judah hath the
hand of God been to give to them one heart to do the command of the king and of
the heads
in the matter of Jehovah;
Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart
.... To make
them unanimous in this service
hearty and willing to it
to a man
which was
owing to the power and efficacy of divine grace:
to do the commandment of the king and of the princes
by the word
of the Lord; to keep the passover
which they did not only in obedience to
their superiors
and their orders
but considering these as agreeable to the
word and will of God.
2 Chronicles 30:13 13 Now many people
a very
great assembly
gathered at Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in
the second month.
YLT
13and much people are
gathered to Jerusalem
to make the feast of unleavened things in the second
month -- a mighty assembly for multitude.
And there assembled at Jerusalem much people
.... Out of
the several tribes:
to keep the feast of unleavened bread: the passover
which was eaten with unleavened bread:
in the second month: the month Ijar:
a very great congregation; such as had not been
seen on such an occasion for many years.
2 Chronicles 30:14 14 They arose and took away
the altars that were in Jerusalem
and they took away all the incense
altars and cast them into the Brook Kidron.
YLT
14And they arise and turn
aside the altars that [are] in Jerusalem
and all the perfume altars they have
turned aside
and cast [them] to the brook Kidron;
And they arose
.... Before they slew and ate the passover:
and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem; which Ahaz
had set up in every corner of Jerusalem
to offer sacrifices upon
2 Chronicles 28:24.
and all the altars for incense took they away; for as there
were some to offer sacrifices on
there were others to burn incense upon
not
to the Lord
but to idols
as the Targum adds:
and cast them into the brook Kidron; having reduced them to
dust and ashes
see 2 Chronicles 29:16.
2 Chronicles 30:15 15 Then they slaughtered the
Passover lambs on the fourteenth day of the second month. The
priests and the Levites were ashamed
and sanctified themselves
and brought
the burnt offerings to the house of the Lord.
YLT
15and they slaughter the
passover-offering on the fourteenth of the second month
and the priests and
the Levites have been ashamed
and sanctify themselves
and bring in
burnt-offerings to the house of Jehovah.
Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second
month
.... For though they could not keep it in the month in which it
should have been kept
for the reasons before given
yet they kept it on the
day of the month in which it was observed:
and the priests and the Levites were ashamed; of their
negligence and backwardness to service
and to fit themselves for it
when they
saw the people so forward and ready to attend to it:
and they sanctified themselves; by washing their bodies
and their garments:
and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the Lord; to be offered
up on the altar of burnt offerings
to expiate their own sins
and the sins of
the people; though some take these to be the passover offerings; but they were
not offered until the fifteenth day
and besides were peace offerings
mentioned 2 Chronicles 30:22
rather these were the daily sacrifices.
2 Chronicles 30:16 16 They stood in their place
according to their custom
according to the Law of Moses the man of God; the
priests sprinkled the blood received from the hand of the Levites.
YLT
16And they stand on their
station according to their ordinance; according to the law of Moses the man of
God the priests are sprinkling the blood out of the hand of the Levites
And they stood in their place after their manner
according to the
law of Moses the man of God
.... The priests in their place
and the
Levites in theirs
in which they were ordered to stand when they offered
sacrifice:
the priests sprinkled the blood
which they received of
the hand of the Levites; the blood either of the burnt offerings before
mentioned
or of the passover lambs
which the Levites slew
and received the
blood of them in basins; and which the priests took of them
and sprinkled
not
on the door posts of houses
as in Egypt
but on the altar round about
and
which none but priests might do
Leviticus 1:5.
2 Chronicles 30:17 17 For there were many
in the assembly who had not sanctified themselves; therefore the Levites had
charge of the slaughter of the Passover lambs for everyone who was
not clean
to sanctify them to the Lord.
YLT
17for many [are] in the
assembly who have not sanctified themselves
and the Levites [are] over the
slaughtering of the passover-offerings for every one not clean
to sanctify
[him] to Jehovah:
For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified
.... Or
purified from uncleanness
contracted either by idolatry
or through such
things which
according to the ceremonial law
made them unclean
and from
which they had not now time to cleanse themselves according to the law:
therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the
passovers for everyone that was not clean
to sanctify them unto the Lord; this they did
for the masters of families
who were ceremonially unclean
who otherwise might
have killed their passover lambs themselves
see Exodus 12:6
but
now the Levites did it for them
that their passovers might be sanctified and
consecrated to the Lord; for
as Philo the Jew saysF18De Vita Mosis
l. 3. p. 686. & de Decalogo
p. 766.
one day in a year the whole
sacrificed
everyone acted as a priest
and brought and slew his own sacrifice
meaning at the passover.
2 Chronicles 30:18 18 For a multitude of the
people
many from Ephraim
Manasseh
Issachar
and Zebulun
had not cleansed
themselves
yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written. But
Hezekiah prayed for them
saying
“May the good Lord provide
atonement for everyone
YLT
18for a multitude of the
people
many from Ephraim and Manasseh
Issachar
and Zebulun
have not been
cleansed
but have eaten the passover otherwise than it is written; but
Hezekiah prayed for them
saying
`Jehovah
who [is] good
doth receive
atonement for every one
For a multitude of the people
even many of Ephraim and Manasseh
Issachar and Zebulun
.... All which were of the ten tribes
where idolatry had
prevailed for a long time:
had not cleansed themselves; from impurity contracted
by idolatry and other things:
yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written; because they
ate it in their uncleanness
which was not according to the law
that required
that such should be clean that ate of any holy things
see John 18:28 but
since these people came a great way off
and there was no deferring it to
another month
the king chose rather they should be admitted to eat of it
though in their uncleanness:
but Hezekiah prayed for them
saying
the good Lord pardon
everyone; God
who is gracious and merciful
and of his goodness
grace
and mercy
forgive such who
though ceremonially unclean
ate of the passover
and especially since they were sincere and cordial in their services; and
therefore he hoped that this breach of the ceremonial law would not be laid to
their charge. Goodness is such a well known attribute of God
that the very
Heathens ascribe it to their deities; hence we read of a temple of the
"good god"
the gods being the givers of good things to men; Jupiter
or Jove
the supreme god
is supposed to be meantF19Pausan.
Arcadica
sive
l. 8. p. 513. Vid. Ciceronem de Nat. Deor. l. 3. prope finem. .
2 Chronicles 30:19 19 who
prepares his heart to seek God
the Lord God of his fathers
though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the
sanctuary.”
YLT
19who hath prepared his heart
to seek God -- Jehovah
God of his fathers -- yet not according to the
cleansing of the sanctuary;'
That prepareth his heart to seek God
the Lord God of his fathers
.... Who was
heartily desirous of worshipping God
and observing his ordinances
which had
been enjoined their fathers
and they had kept; though Aben Ezra
as Kimchi
observes
refers this to Hezekiah:
whose whole heart he directed
or prepared to seek the Lord
&c. by
prayer and supplication for everyone of the said persons:
though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the
sanctuary: according to the ceremonial law
which the service of the temple
required; since
though they were attended with a ceremonial impurity
had a
moral purity
and their hearts were right with God.
2 Chronicles 30:20 20 And the Lord listened to
Hezekiah and healed the people.
YLT
20and Jehovah hearkeneth unto
Hezekiah
and healeth the people.
And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah
.... Heard his prayer
and accepted of it
and granted what he desired:
and healed his people; that is
forgave their
sins
as Kimchi interprets it; forgiveness being expressed by healing
for
which he refers to Psalm 41:4 to which
may be added Psalm 103:3 and
which was known either by a prophet sent to declare it
or by not punishing
them for their offence.
2 Chronicles 30:21 21 So the children of Israel
who were present at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days
with great gladness; and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day
singing
to the Lord
accompanied by loud instruments.
YLT
21And the sons of Israel
those found in Jerusalem
make the feast of unleavened things seven days with
great joy; and giving praise to Jehovah day by day are the Levites and the
priests
with instruments of praise before Jehovah.
And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the
feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness
.... Which
according to the law of Moses
were always to follow the passover
Exodus 12:18.
and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day
singing with loud instruments unto the Lord; or instruments of
strengthF20בכלי עז
"cum instrumentis fortitudinis"
Vatablus. ; so called not from the
matter of them
or manner in which they were made
but either from the sound of
them
as our version
or from the strength and power of God
which they set
forth in praise; the Targum is
"with instruments of praise
'and so the
word is sometimes used
see Psalm 8:2 compared
with Matthew 21:16
the
priests blew with trumpets
and the Levites played on harps
psalteries
&c. and this they did every day when the sacrifices were offered
during
the seven days of unleavened bread.
2 Chronicles 30:22 22 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.
YLT
22And Hezekiah speaketh unto
the heart of all the Levites
those giving good understanding concerning
Jehovah
and they eat the appointed thing seven days; sacrificing sacrifices of
peace-offerings
and making confession to Jehovah
God of their fathers.
And Hezekiah spake comfortably to all the Levites
.... Or
"to the heart"F21על לב "ad cor"
Pagninus
Montanus
&c. of them
such things as were very encouraging to them to go on in the work and worship
of God
commending their singing
exhorting them to diligence in instructing
the people
promising them his favour and protection:
even those that taught the good knowledge of the Lord; who
instructed the people well in his word
worship
and ordinances; though some
restrain this to their skill in singing the praises of God
both vocally and
instrumentally
and their abilities and diligence in teaching others:
and they did eat throughout the feast: or did eat
the feast; that is
the sacrifices of it; not the Levites only
but the king
and all the congregation:
offering peace offerings; part of which belonged
to the Lord
another part to the priests
and a third to the offerers
on which
they feasted with their friends; and this they did throughout all the seven
days of the feast:
and making confession to the Lord God of their fathers; confessing
their sins of omission and commission they had been guilty of; owning the
goodness
grace
and mercy of God towards them; blessing and praising his name
for the restoration of his worship and ordinances among them.
2 Chronicles 30:23 23 Then the whole assembly
agreed to keep the feast another seven days
and they kept it another
seven days with gladness.
YLT
23And all the assembly take
counsel to keep other seven days
and they keep seven days [with] joy;
And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days
.... They
consulted among themselves
and with the king and his nobles about it
who all
agreed to it:
and they kept other seven days with gladness; not
altogether in the same manner they had kept the preceding seven days; they did
not slay and eat passover lambs
nor did they eat unleavened bread
but offered
peace offerings
and feasted upon them; and sung the praises of God
and
attended to the instructions of the priests and Levites
being in a very
agreeable frame of mind for religious exercises.
2 Chronicles 30:24 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah
gave to the assembly a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep
and the leaders
gave to the assembly a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep; and a great
number of priests sanctified themselves.
YLT
24for Hezekiah king of Judah
hath presented to the assembly a thousand bullocks
and seven thousand sheep;
and the heads have presented to the assembly bullocks a thousand
and sheep ten
thousand; and priests sanctify themselves in abundance.
For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation one
thousand bullocks
and seven thousand sheep
.... He separated them
as Kimchi interprets it
from his own herds and flocks; or out of his own
substance
at his own expense purchased them; or lifted them up
as the word
signifies
as heave offerings to the Lord; and gave them to the people for
thank offerings to feast upon:
and the princes gave to the congregation one thousand bullocks
and ten thousand sheep: for the same purposes
following the king's example:
and a great number of priests sanctified themselves; besides those
who had before
that they might be fit to offer this great number of
sacrifices.
2 Chronicles 30:25 25 The whole assembly of Judah
rejoiced
also the priests and Levites
all the assembly that came from Israel
the sojourners who came from the land of Israel
and those who dwelt in Judah.
YLT
25And all the assembly of
Judah rejoice
and the priests
and the Levites
and all the assembly
those
coming in from Israel
and the sojourners
those coming in from the land of
Israel
and those dwelling in Judah
And all the congregation of Judah
with the priests and Levites
.... The
people that were gathered together out of the several cities of Judah
which no
doubt was the largest congregation
with whom the priests and Levites are
joined
as being of that kingdom
and dwellers in Jerusalem
where their office
lay:
and all the congregation that came out of Israel; out of the
ten tribes
particularly Ephraim
Manasseh
Issachar
and Zebulun
2 Chronicles 30:18
and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel
and that dwelt in Judah
rejoiced; the proselytes
even such as were circumcised
who ate of the
passover
and kept the feast of unleavened bread
as well as the other days of
rejoicing
the former of which none might partake of but circumcised persons;
and it can hardly be thought that any other would come out of Israel on such an
occasion
see Exodus 12:48.
2 Chronicles 30:26 26 So there was great joy in
Jerusalem
for since the time of Solomon the son of David
king of Israel
there
had been nothing like this in Jerusalem.
YLT
26and there is great joy in
Jerusalem; for from the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel there is
not like this in Jerusalem
So there was great joy in Jerusalem
.... Not merely carnal
expressed in eating and drinking
and making merry with one another
but
spiritual
on account of the restoration of temple service
and the feasts of
the Lord:
for since the time of Solomon the son of David
king of Israel
there was not the like in Jerusalem; not the like joy
so
spiritual
sincere
and hearty; nor such a number of persons rejoicing together
on such an occasion; nor for so many days together
which were as many as at
the dedication of the temple by Solomon.
2 Chronicles 30:27 27 Then the priests
the
Levites
arose and blessed the people
and their voice was heard; and their
prayer came up to His holy dwelling place
to heaven.
YLT
27and the priests
the
Levites
rise and bless the people
and their voice is heard
and their prayer
cometh in to His holy habitation
to the heavens.
Then the priests the Levites arose
.... The priests who were
of the tribe of Levi; for there were some in Israel that were not
but were
made of any of the people
as in the times of Jeroboam; though some supply the
copulative "and"; so the Targum: "and blessed the people";
which was the proper work and business of the priests to do; though
while they
were blessing
the Levites might be singing:
and their voice was heard; meaning not by the
people
though undoubtedly it was
but by the Lord; the Targum is
"their
prayer was heard or received;'for the blessing was delivered in a petitionary
way
Numbers 6:24
and
was no other than a request that God would bless them
which he did:
and their prayer came up to his holy dwellingplace
even unto
heaven; see Psalm 3:4 by what
means it was known their prayer was heard and accepted cannot be said; there
might be some visible token of it
as the people were dismissed
and departed.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)