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영문 원문
We are here entering upon a pleasant scene, the good and glorious reign of Hezekiah, in which we shall find more of God and religion than perhaps in any of the good reigns we have yet met with; for he was a very zealous, devout, good man, none like him. In this chapter we have an account of the work of reformation which he set about with vigour immediately after his accession to the crown. Here is, I. His exhortation to the priests and Levites, when he put them in possession of the house of God again, 2Ch 29:1-11. II. The care and pains which the Levites took to cleanse the temple, and put things in order there, 2Ch 29:12-19. III. A solemn revival of God's ordinances that had been neglected, in which atonement was made for the sins of the last reign, and the wheels were set a-going again, to the great satisfaction of king and people, 2Ch 29:20-36.
1-11
Hezekiah's Good Reign (726 BC)
繁體中文
希西家的善政（主前 726 年）
¹ 希西家登基的時候年二十五歲，在耶路撒冷作王二十九年。他母親名叫亞比雅，是撒迦利亞的女兒。 ² 希西家行耶和華眼中看為正的事，效法他祖大衛一切所行的。 ³ 他在位第一年正月，開了耶和華殿的門，重新修理。 ⁴ 又招聚祭司和利未人，把他們聚集在東邊的寬闊處， ⁵ 對他們說：「利未人哪，你們當聽我言：你們現在要自潔，又潔淨耶和華你們列祖的 神的殿，將聖所中的污穢之物搬出去。 ⁶ 因為我們列祖犯了罪，行耶和華我們 神眼中看為惡的事，離棄了他，轉臉不顧耶和華的居所，背向他。 ⁷ 他們又鎖上廊子的門，熄了燈，不在聖所中向以色列的 神燒香、獻燔祭。 ⁸ 因此，耶和華的怒氣向猶大和耶路撒冷發作，將他們交在驚惶、驚駭、被人嗤笑之中，正如你們親眼所見的。 ⁹ 我們的列祖倒在刀下，我們的兒女、妻子都被擄去，都是因這緣故。 ¹⁰ 現在我心中有意，與耶和華以色列的 神立約，好使他的烈怒轉離我們。 ¹¹ 我的眾子啊，現在不要懈怠，因為耶和華揀選你們站在他面前事奉他，給他燒香。」
此處有：一、希西家登基時的年齡。他「年二十五歲」。接續兩個惡政之後登基的約阿施，登基時只有七歲；接續兩個惡政之後的約西亞，只有八歲，這也造成改革的延遲；但希西家已成年，便立即著手於此。我們不難想像，他以何等憂傷的心看見他父親的偶像崇拜與褻瀆之事；看見聖殿的門關閉，他心裡何等難過——然而只要他父親在世，他不敢開啟那些門。他的心無疑在暗中為此流淚，並許願說，當他得著會眾之時，他必糾正這些弊病，這使他作這事時格外迅速而堅決。
二、他的一般評價。他「效法大衛，行耶和華眼中看為正的事」（代下 29:2）。他的幾位前任中，論到他們也曾被稱為行耶和華眼中看為正的事，「只是不像大衛」，沒有大衛那樣的正直與熱心。但這裡有一位，對 神的約櫃和律法懷有與大衛同樣熱切的愛慕。
三、他迅速著手於復興宗教的大工。他所作的第一件事，就是「開了耶和華殿的門」（代下 29:3）。我們情願相信他父親並未完全廢止聖殿的事奉；否則祭壇上的聖火必已熄滅，而我們未讀到重新點燃之事；但他曾禁止百姓前來參與，也禁止祭司——除了他自己一黨的（王下 16:5）。希西家卻立即敞開聖殿的門，「把祭司和利未人帶進來」。他看見猶大卑微赤貧，卻沒有把復興本國的民政當作首務，而是把宗教恢復到原有的良好地位。凡以 神為首的，是從正確的一端開始他的工作，也必照樣亨通。
四、他對祭司利未人的講論。他對宗教確有真誠的善意、並厭惡上一個王朝的腐敗，這是眾所周知的；然而我們並未看見祭司利未人來求他恢復聖殿的事奉，反而是他召喚他們——我恐怕這既表明他的熱心，也表明他們的冷淡；倘若他們也曾盡力各盡其職，情形便不致敗壞到希西家所見的那般地步。希西家對利未人的勸勉極其動人。
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他向他們陳明宗教的荒涼，以及其在他們中間所陷的淒慘光景（代下 29:6–7）：「我們列祖犯了罪。」他不說「我的父」，因為作為兒子，他當盡量體恤父親的名聲；也因為他父親若不是他們的列祖疏忽了本分，也不會作出這一切。祭司烏利亞曾與亞哈斯同謀設立偶像的祭壇。他控訴：（1） 神的殿被離棄：「他們離棄了 神，背向他的居所。」請注意：凡背棄 神典章的，可說是真正離棄了 神自己。（2）其中所設立的敬拜被廢止。燈沒有點燃，香也沒有燒。今日仍有這類的疏忽，且並不更少定罪之處——當 神的話沒有按正意誦讀和解明時（因為那是由「點燈」所預表的），當禱告和讚美沒有按當獻的獻上時（因為那是由「燒香」所預表的）。
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他向他們指出宗教在他們中間被忽略與衰敗的慘痛後果（代下 29:8–9）。這正是他們所受諸般災難的緣由。 神在怒中把他們交給患難、刀劍和被擄。當我們在 神護理的責罰之下，當查問自己是否忽略了 神的典章，他與我們之間的爭論，或可追溯到這項忽略。
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他聲明自己復興宗教、並以此為業的充分心意與決心（代下 29:10）：「我心中有意（即我已堅決定意）與耶和華以色列的 神立約（即單單敬拜他，並按他所設立的方式敬拜）；因為我確知，若不如此，他的烈怒必不轉離我們。」這約他不僅自己要立，更要把百姓帶入這約的約束之中。
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他勸勉並激發利未人和祭司在這機會盡他們的本分。他以此開始（代下 29:5），也以此結束（代下 29:11）。他稱他們為「利未人」，是要提醒他們對 神所負的責任；稱他們為「我的眾子」，是要提醒他們與他自己的關係——他期望他們「如同兒子與父親」，與他一同在這地的改革中服事。（1）他告訴他們的本分是甚麼：先要「自潔」（為他們的疏忽悔改，改革自己的心與生活，重新與 神立約，以求日後更忠心地盡責），然後要「潔淨 神的殿」，作為他的僕人，使它免去一切因久未使用或因被褻瀆而生的不當之物，並將其重新設立，歸於其建造的目的。（2）他激發他們去行（代下 29:11）：「現在你們不要懈怠」，或疏忽職守。「不要讓這善工因你們的疏懶而受阻。」「不要自欺」（如旁註所言）。請注意：凡在事奉 神的事上疏懶，想要欺哄 神、哄騙他的，不過是欺哄自己，把自己靈魂陷於定罪的欺哄中。「不要安於現狀」（如另譯所言），以為並無迫切的需要去行，或不行也無危險。請注意：人在宗教上的疏懶，乃是由於屬肉體的安於現狀。他用來激發他們的考慮，是出於他們的職分。 神在此事上已賜他們尊榮：「他揀選你們站在他面前。」 神因此期望他們作工。他們蒙選召並非為閒懶，並非只享受尊嚴而把職責推給別人去作，而是要事奉他、伺候他。所以他們當為自己近來的疏懶感到羞愧，並在聖殿的門重新開啟之時，以加倍勤奮開始他們的工作。
영문 원문
Hezekiah's Good Reign (726 BC)
¹ Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.
² And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.
³ He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them.
⁴ And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street,
⁵ And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.
⁶ For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their backs.
⁷ Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel.
⁸ Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes.
⁹ For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.
¹⁰ Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us.
¹¹ My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn incense.
Here is, I. Hezekiah's age when he came to the crown. He was twenty-five years old. Joash, who came to the crown after two bad reigns, was but seven years old; Josiah, who came after two bad reigns, was but eight, which occasioned the delay of the reformation; but Hezekiah had come to years, and so applied himself immediately to it. We may well think with what a sorrowful heart he beheld his father's idolatry and profaneness, how it troubled him to see the doors of the temple shut, though, while his father lived, he durst not open them. His soul no doubt wept in secret for it, and he vowed that when he should receive the congregation he would redress these grievances, which made him do it with more readiness and resolution.
II. His general character. He did that which was right like David, 2Ch 29:2. Of several of his predecessors it had been said that they did that which was right, but not like David, not with David's integrity and zeal. But here was one that had as hearty an affection for the ark and law of God as ever David had.
III. His speedy application to the great work of restoring religion. The first thing he did was to open the doors of the house of the Lord, 2Ch 29:3. We are willing to hope his father had not quite suppressed the temple service; for then the holy fire on the altar must have gone out, and we do not read of the re-kindling of it; but he had hindered the people from attending it, and the priests, except such of them as were of his own party, 2Ki 16:5. But Hezekiah immediately threw the church doors open, and brought in the priests and Levites. He found Judah low and naked, yet did not make it his first business to revive the civil interests of his kingdom, but to restore religion to its good posture again. Those that begin with God begin at the right end of their work, and it will prosper accordingly.
IV. His speech to the priests and Levites. It was well known, no doubt, that he had a real kindness for religion and was disaffected to the corruptions of the last reign; yet we do not find the priests and Levites making application to him for the restoration of the temple service but he calls upon them, which, I doubt, bespeaks their coldness as much as his zeal; and perhaps, if they had done their part with vigour, things would not have been brought into so very bad a posture as Hezekiah found them in. Hezekiah's exhortation to the Levites is very pathetic.
1. He laid before them the desolations of religion and the deplorable state to which it was brought among them (2Ch 29:6,7): Our fathers have trespassed. He said not "My father," because it became him, as a son, to be as tender as might be of his father's name, and because his father would not have done all this if their fathers had not neglected their duty. Urijah the priest had joined with Ahaz in setting up an idolatrous altar. He complained, (1.) That the house of God had been deserted: They have forsaken God, and turned their backs upon his habitation. Note, Those that turn their backs upon God's ordinances may truly be said to forsake God himself. (2.) That the instituted worship of God there had been let fall. The lamps were not lighted, and incense was not burnt. There are still such neglects as these, and they are no less culpable, when the word is not duly read and opened (for that was signified by the lighting of the lamps) and when prayers and praises are not duly offered up, for that was signified by the burning of incense.
2. He showed the sad consequences of the neglect and decay of religion among them, 2Ch 29:8,9. This was the cause of all the calamities they had lain under. God had in anger delivered them to trouble, to the sword, and to captivity. When we are under the rebukes of God's providence it is good for us to enquire whether we have not neglected God's ordinances and whether the controversy he has with us may not be traced to this neglect.
3. He declared his own full purpose and resolution to revive religion and make it his business to promote it (2Ch 29:10): "It is in my heart (that is, I am fully resolved) to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel (that is, to worship him only, and in that way which he has appointed); for I am sure that, otherwise, his fierce anger will not turn away from us." This covenant he would not only make himself, but bring his people into the bond of.
4. He engaged and excited the Levites and priests to do their duty on this occasion. This he begins with (2Ch 29:5); this he ends with, 2Ch 29:11. He called them Levites to remind them of their obligation to God, called them his sons to remind them of the relation to himself, that he expected that, as a son with the father, they should serve with him in the reformation of the land. (1.) he told them what was their duty, to sanctify themselves first (by repenting of their neglects, reforming their own hearts and lives, and renewing their covenants with God to do their duty better for the time to come), and then to sanctify the house of God, as his servants, to make it clean from every thing that was disagreeable, either through the disuse or the profanation of it, and to set it up for the purposes for which it was made. (2.) He stirred them up to do it (2Ch 29:11): "Be not now negligent, or remiss, in your duty. Let not this good work be retarded through your carelessness." Be not deceived, so the margin. Note, Those that by their negligence in the service of God think to mock God, and put a cheat upon him, do but deceive themselves, and put a damning cheat upon their own souls. Be not secure (so some), as if there were no urgent call to do it or no danger in not doing it. Note, Men's negligence in religion is owing to their carnal security. The consideration he quickens them with is derived from their office. God had herein put honour upon them: He has chosen you to stand before him. God therefore expected work from them. They were not chosen to be idle, to enjoy the dignity and leave the duty to be done by others, but to serve him and to minister to him. They must therefore be ashamed of their late remissness, and, now that the doors of the temple were opened again, must set about their work with double diligence.
12-19
The Temple Cleansed (726 BC)
繁體中文
潔淨聖殿（主前 726 年）
¹² 於是利未人都起來：哥轄族中有亞瑪賽的兒子瑪哈、和亞撒利雅的兒子約珥；米拉利族中有押尼的兒子基士、和耶哈勒勒的兒子亞撒利雅； ¹³ 革順族中有薪瑪的兒子約亞、和約亞的兒子伊甸； ¹⁴ 以利撒反族中有申利和耶利；亞薩族中有撒迦利雅和瑪探雅； ¹⁵ 希幔族中有耶歇和示每；耶杜頓族中有示瑪雅和烏薛。 他們招聚弟兄，自己分別為聖，照著王的命令，按耶和華的話，進去潔淨耶和華的殿。 ¹⁶ 祭司進入耶和華殿的內部潔淨它，把在耶和華殿裡所找到的一切污穢之物，搬到耶和華殿的院中。利未人接過去，搬到外面汲淪溪那裡。 ¹⁷ 他們從正月初一日起分別為聖；初八日到了耶和華的廊子；他們用八日潔淨耶和華的殿；到正月十六日才完了。 ¹⁸ 於是他們進去見希西家王，說：「我們已將耶和華的全殿，和燔祭壇，並壇的一切器皿，以及陳設餅的桌子，和桌子的一切器皿，都潔淨了； ¹⁹ 並且亞哈王在位犯罪時所丟棄的一切器皿，我們也都預備齊全，分別為聖；現今都放在耶和華的壇前。」
此處我們看見忙碌的工、善工、必需的工——潔淨耶和華的殿。
一、作這工的人是祭司和利未人——他們本當保持聖殿潔淨，卻未曾如此行，便理當去潔淨它。此處記了幾位利未人，三個主要家族——哥轄、革順、米拉利——每家兩位（代下 29:12），歌唱的三個家族——亞薩、希幔、耶杜頓——每家兩位（代下 29:13–14）。我們不能以為這些人被提名，僅僅因為他們職位高（因為若是那樣，大祭司，或祭司班次中某些首領，就必被提及），而是因為他們比別人更熱心、更勤奮。 神有工要作之時，必興起帶頭的人來主持。職位和等級最高的人，不一定最適合服事，或最樂意服事。這些利未人不但自己奮勇，更「招聚弟兄」，激發他們照「王所命令、按耶和華的話」而行。請注意，他們照王的命令而行，卻以 神的話為念。王所命令的，本是他們憑 神的話已有的本分；他們在行這事時，把 神的話當作規則，把王的命令當作激勵。
二、所作的工是「潔淨 神的殿」：1. 除掉它在關閉期間所積的平常污垢——灰塵、蛛網、以及器皿的鏽。2. 除掉設立其中的偶像和偶像的壇——這些東西無論保持得多麼整潔，對它的污穢比全城的污物排入其中還要大。祭司中沒有一位被提名為這工程的帶頭人，然而除了他們無人敢「進入殿的內部」，連為潔淨也不可——他們作了，或許大祭司也進入至聖所去潔淨它。利未人雖在這工程上得享帶頭的尊榮，卻不輕看按自己的職任作祭司的僕役；因為祭司搬到院裡的一切污穢，利未人都搬到汲淪溪那裡。人的用處無論何等卓越，不要因此忘了自己的位置。
三、他們作這工的迅速實在可觀。他們從正月初一日開始——新年美好的開端，也預示一個好年。每年也當如此開始——改革所失當之處，並藉真悔改除去前一年所染的一切污穢。他們用八天清除並潔淨了聖殿，又用八天潔淨了聖殿的「院」（代下 29:17）。凡作善工的，當學習完工並完成它。所失當之處，當迅速修正。
四、他們向希西家所作的報告十分令人喜悅（代下 29:18–19）。他們向他報告所作的事，因為是他差他們作工；他們不誇自己的用心和勞苦，也不是來要酬報，而是讓他知道一切曾被褻瀆之物如今都已按律法分別為聖，可隨時再用。他們知道好王的心在 神的壇上，久已渴望事奉那壇，所以最強調他們已把那壇的器皿整理就緒——壇的器皿已洗擦明亮。那些器皿是亞哈「在位犯罪時所丟棄」的——他以為其中無樂趣——他們卻招聚起來，分別為聖，放在原處「在壇前」。聖所的器皿雖然可能一時被褻瀆， 神必找出時間和方法使之成聖。他的典章和他的百姓，都不會被容許永遠廢棄。
영문 원문
The Temple Cleansed (726 BC)
¹² Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites: and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel: and of the Gershonites; Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah:
¹³ And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah:
¹⁴ And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei: and of the sons of Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel.
¹⁵ And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD.
¹⁶ And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron.
¹⁷ Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of the LORD: so they sanctified the house of the LORD in eight days; and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.
¹⁸ Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the showbread table, with all the vessels thereof.
¹⁹ Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they are before the altar of the LORD.
We have here busy work, good work, and needful work, the cleansing of the house of the Lord.
I. The persons employed in this work were the priests and Levites, who should have kept the temple clean, but, not having done that, were concerned to make it clean. Several of the Levites are here named, two of each of the three principal houses, Kohath, Gershon, and Merari (2Ch 29:12), and two of each of the three families of singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, 2Ch 29:13,14. We cannot think these are named merely because they were chief in place (for then surely the high priest, or some of the heads of the courses of the priests, would have been mentioned), but because they were more zealous and active than the rest. When God has work to do he will raise up leading men to preside in it. And it is not always that the first in place and rank are most fit for service or most forward to it. These Levites not only bestirred themselves, but gathered their brethren, and quickened them to do according to the commandment of the king by the word of the Lord. Observe, They did according to the king's command, but with an eye to God's word. The king commanded them what was already their duty by the word of God, and, in doing it, they regarded God's word as a rule to them and the king's commandment as a spur to them.
II. The work was cleansing the house of God, 1. From the common dirt it had contracted while it was shut up-dust, and cobwebs, and the rust of the vessels. 2. From the idols and idolatrous altars that were set up in it, which, though kept ever so neat, were a greater pollution to it than if it had been made the common sewer of the city. The priests were none of them mentioned as leading men in this work, yet none but they durst go into the inner part of the house, no, not to cleanse it, which they did, and perhaps the high priest into the holy of holies, to cleanse that. And, though the Levites had the honour to be the leaders in the work, they did not disdain to be servitors to the priests according to their office; for what filth the priests brought into the court the Levites carried to the brook Kidron. Let not men's usefulness, be it ever so eminent, make them forget their place.
III. The expedition with which they did this work was very remarkable. They began on the first day of the first month, a happy beginning of the new-year, and one that promised a good year. Thus should every year begin with the reformation of what is amiss, and the purging away, by true repentance, of all the defilements contracted the foregoing year. In eight days they cleared and cleansed the temple, and in eight days more the courts of the temple, 2Ch 29:17. Let those that do good work learn to rid work and get it done. Let what is amiss be amended quickly.
IV. The report they made of it to Hezekiah was very agreeable, 2Ch 29:18,19. They gave him an account of what they had done, because it was he that set them on work, boasted not of their own care and pains, nor did they come to him to be paid, but to let him know that all things that had been profaned were now sanctified according to law, and were ready to be used again whenever he pleased. They knew the good king had set his heart upon God's altar, and longed to be attending that, and therefore they insisted most upon the readiness they had put that into—that the vessels for the altar were scoured and brightened. Those vessels which Ahaz, in his transgression, had cast away as vessels in which there was no pleasure, they gathered together, sanctified them, and laid them in their place before the altar. Though the vessels of the sanctuary may be profaned for a while, God will find a time and a way to sanctify them. Neither his ordinances nor his people shall be suffered to fail for ever.
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Hezekiah's Sacrifice (726 BC)
繁體中文
希西家的獻祭（主前726年）
²⁰ 希西家王清早起來，聚集城裡的首領，上耶和華的殿去。 ²¹ 他們帶了公牛七隻、公羊七隻、羊羔七隻、公山羊七隻，為國、為聖所、為猶大人作贖罪祭。王吩咐亞倫子孫的眾祭司，獻在耶和華的壇上。 ²² 他們就宰了公牛，祭司接血，灑在壇上；宰了公羊，把血灑在壇上；又宰了羊羔，把血灑在壇上。 ²³ 他們把作贖罪祭的公山羊牽到王和會眾面前，他們就按手在其上。 ²⁴ 祭司宰了羊，將血獻在壇上作贖罪祭，為全以色列人贖罪；因為王吩咐要為全以色列人獻燔祭和贖罪祭。 ²⁵ 王又派利未人在耶和華殿中拿鈸、鼓瑟、彈琴，是照著大衛和王的先見迦得，並先知拿單所吩咐的；因為這命令是藉耶和華的先知而來的。 ²⁶ 利未人拿大衛的樂器，祭司拿號，站在一處。 ²⁷ 希西家吩咐在壇上獻燔祭。燔祭一獻，就開始唱耶和華的歌，用號和以色列王大衛所定的樂器相和。 ²⁸ 全會眾敬拜，歌唱的歌唱，吹號的吹號，如此直到燔祭獻完了。 ²⁹ 獻完了祭，王和一切在場的人都屈身敬拜。 ³⁰ 希西家王與眾首領又吩咐利未人用大衛和先見亞薩的詩詞讚美耶和華。他們就歡歡喜喜地歌唱，俯伏敬拜。 ³¹ 希西家說：「你們既已歸耶和華為聖，現在可以近前來，把祭物和感謝祭奉到耶和華殿裡。」會眾就把祭物和感謝祭奉來；凡甘心獻的，也把燔祭奉來。 ³² 會眾所奉的燔祭，數目如下：公牛七十隻，公羊一百隻，羊羔二百隻；這些都是獻給耶和華的燔祭。 ³³ 分別為聖之物有公牛六百隻、羊三千隻。 ³⁴ 祭司太少，不能剝盡一切燔祭牲的皮，所以他們的弟兄利未人幫助他們，直到工作完畢，直到別的祭司自潔了；因為利未人誠心自潔，勝過祭司。 ³⁵ 燔祭和平安祭的脂油並燔祭同獻的奠祭，數量甚多。這樣，耶和華殿中的事奉就理當齊備了。 ³⁶ 希西家和眾民都喜樂，因為神為百姓預備了這事；因為這事忽然成就。
聖殿既已潔淨，此處便記載他們立即善用了它。次日便召集了莊嚴的聚會，在聖殿與王相見（代下二十九20）；耶路撒冷所有敬虔的人，聽見「我們到耶和華的殿去」（詩一二二1）的時候，無疑都十分歡喜。希西家一聽見聖殿已經為他預備好了，便不再耽延，反要表明自己也早已預備好了。他清早起來上耶和華的殿，比平常的日子更早，為要顯明他的心全在殿中的事上。當日的工作乃是朝著兩個方向看的：
一、必須為前一個王朝的罪孽贖罪。他們認為單是哀嘆和離棄那些罪還不夠，還要獻上贖罪祭。連我們的悔改和改革，若不藉著基督——他「替我們成為罪」（即作我們的贖罪祭）——也不能蒙赦免。除了靠他的寶血，再無和睦之道，連悔改的人也不例外。請注意，1. 贖罪祭是「為國、為聖所、為猶大」而獻的（代下二十九21），即是為君王、祭司和百姓的罪贖罪，因為他們都敗壞了自己的行為。摩西的律法指定要獻祭為全會眾的罪贖罪（利四13-14，民十五24-25），好使國家的罪所當受的國家審判得以轉消。為此，我們如今也當仰望那偉大的挽回祭基督，不僅為個人的赦免和得救，也為整體。2. 律法只指定獻一隻山羊為贖罪祭，如在贖罪日（利十六15），以及在此類特殊場合（民十五24）。但他們在此獻了七隻（代下二十九21），因為會眾的罪極大且長久持續。七是完全的數目。我們偉大的贖罪祭只有一個，但那一位卻能「永遠完全那些得以成聖的人」。3. 王和「會眾」（即會眾的代表）「按手在作贖罪祭的山羊頭上」（代下二十九23），承認自己在神面前有罪，並表明他們渴望罪人的罪愆轉移到祭牲身上。我們憑信心按手在主耶穌身上，便「靠著他的血稱義」，「藉著他得與神和好」（羅五11）。4. 贖罪祭之外又獻了燔祭，「公牛七隻、公羊七隻、羊羔七隻」。燔祭的用意是將榮耀歸給以色列的神，承認他是唯一的真神——在獻贖罪祭為自己的罪愆贖罪的同時，理當如此行。這些祭牲的血和贖罪祭的血一樣，都「灑在壇上」（代下二十九22），「為全以色列人」贖罪（代下二十九24），不僅為猶大。基督是挽回祭，不僅為以色列人的罪，也「為全天下人的罪」（約壹二1-2）。5. 祭物在壇上焚燒之時，「利未人」唱「耶和華的歌」（代下二十九27），就是大衛和亞薩所作的詩篇（代下二十九30），並以神藉先知所吩咐使用、卻被長久忽略的樂器伴奏（代下二十九25）。即使是為罪憂傷，也不當使我們失去讚美神的音調。我們要憑信心在基督耶穌裡歡喜，以他為我們的義；我們的禱告和讚美必須與他的獻祭一同上升，惟獨靠著那獻祭的功勞才蒙悅納。6. 王和全會眾以「屈身」和「敬拜」表明他們對所作的一切表示同意和參與，以敬拜的姿態表達對神威嚴的敬畏。這事被特別記下（代下二十九28-30）。我們若不在其中親自敬拜他，只是身在敬拜神的地方並不夠；而且不僅要用那「益處不大」的身體操練，更要用「心靈」。
二、當日的典禮也向前展望。聖殿的事奉既已恢復，就要使之持續不斷；希西家在此召他們前去（代下二十九31）：「你們既已歸耶和華為聖——既已贖了罪，又以獻祭立了約，莊嚴地與他和好並受了他的約束——現在可以近前來，把祭物奉上。」請注意，我們與神所立的約，必須在與他的相交中繼續追求並增進。我們既將自己首先獻給主，就當把禱告、讚美和賙濟的祭物奉到他的殿中。如今在這事工上，情形如下：
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百姓是慷慨的。他們既蒙王呼召，便帶來供物，雖然不及所羅門榮耀時代那樣豐盛（因為猶大如今已縮小、貧困、卑微），卻照著他們所有的，並考慮到他們的貧窮和敬虔在其中的大衰敗，已是人所可期待的那樣多了。（一）有些人慷慨到帶來燔祭——完全焚燒歸榮耀與神、獻祭者無分的祭物；這一類共有公牛七十隻、公羊一百隻、羊羔二百隻（代下二十九32）。（二）別人帶來平安祭和感謝祭，其脂油燒在壇上，其肉則分給祭司和獻祭者（代下二十九35）；這一類共有公牛六百隻、羊三千隻（代下二十九33）。或許他們記起自己從前在邱壇獻祭的罪，如今便更樂意把祭物帶到神的壇前。
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「祭司太少」，不足以應付事奉的需要（代下二十九34）。他們中間許多人，因在前一王朝曾向偶像獻祭，可能已被停職、視為不潔而不合律法；其餘的人在這樣的場合也缺乏本可期待的熱心。他們以為王未免操之過急，沒有這樣急忙開殿門的必要，於是便不謹慎自潔；既不自潔，也就不合格，便以此作為缺席事奉的藉口——好像他們的過失可作為他們的辯護似的。聖經在此記下這事，作為祭司永遠的羞辱：他們雖然從獻與耶和華為火祭之物中得著豐足的供養，卻不盡自己的職責。這裡有當作的工，卻缺乏合適的人手去作。
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利未人卻很踴躍。他們「誠心自潔，勝過祭司」（代下二十九34），對事奉更有負擔，也更有準備和資格。這是他們的稱讚；為報答這一點，他們得著了榮耀，被任用去作本屬祭司的工作——「幫助祭司剝祭牲的皮」。這並不合乎律法（利一5-6），但在緊急情形下可以例外通融；如此便鼓勵了忠心熱心的利未人，也使輕忽的祭司蒙了應得的羞辱。利未人在出生和受職的禮儀優勢上雖有不足，卻在技能和甘心作工的傑出資質上大大補足了。
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眾人都喜樂。王和全百姓都為這可稱頌的事態轉變，以及國度在宗教上的煥然一新而歡喜（代下二十九36）。這事中有兩點令他們喜樂：（一）這事很快成就：「這事忽然成就」，在短時間內、十分輕易地、毫無阻礙地作成了。憑信心和決心去作神工作的人，必發覺其中並不如他們有時所想像的那樣困難，反而會驚喜地看見事情何等快地作成。（二）神的手明顯在其中：「神為百姓預備了」——藉著他恩典隱密的運行，使許多在前一王朝迷戀偶像祭壇的人，如今也照樣愛慕神的壇。神在他們心中所行的這改變，大大促進並便利了這事工。願官長和傳道人各盡本分改革一地，並將所作的歸榮耀與他，尤其是當事情忽然成就、成為可喜的驚奇之時。「這是耶和華所行的，在我們眼中看為希奇。」
영문 원문
Hezekiah's Sacrifice (726 BC)
²⁰ Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD.
²¹ And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the LORD.
²² So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar.
²³ And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them:
²⁴ And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.
²⁵ And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets.
²⁶ And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.
²⁷ And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel.
²⁸ And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.
²⁹ And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped.
³⁰ Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.
³¹ Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings.
³² And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD.
³³ And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.
³⁴ 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.
³⁵ 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.
³⁶ And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.
The temple being cleansed, we have here an account of the good use that was immediately made of it. A solemn assembly was called to meet the king at the temple, the very next day (2Ch 29:20); and very glad, no doubt, all the good people in Jerusalem were, when it was said, Let us go up to the house of the Lord, Ps 122:1. As soon as Hezekiah heard that the temple was ready for him he lost no time, but made it appear that he was ready for it. He rose early to go up to the house of the Lord, earlier on that day than on other days, to show that his heart was upon his work there. Now this day's work was to look two ways:—
I. Atonement must be made for the sins of the last reign. They thought it not enough to lament and forsake those sins, but they brought a sin-offering. Even our repentance and reformation will not obtain pardon but in and through Christ, who was made sin (that is, a sin-offering) for us. No peace but through his blood, no, not for penitents. Observe, 1. The sin-offering was for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah (2Ch 29:21), that is, to make atonement for the sins of princes, priests, and people, for they had all corrupted their way. The law of Moses appointed sacrifices to make atonement for the sins of the whole congregation (Le 4:13,14, Nu 15:24,25), that the national judgments which their national sins deserved might be turned away. For this purpose we must now have an eye to Christ the great propitiation, as well as for the remission and salvation of particular persons. 2. The law appointed only one goat for a sin-offering, as on the day of atonement (Le 16:15) and on such extraordinary occasions as this, Nu 15:24. But they here offered seven (2Ch 29:21), because the sins of the congregation had been very great and long continued in. Seven is a number of perfection. Our great sin-offering is but one, yet that one perfects for ever those that are sanctified. 3. The king and the congregation (that is, the representatives of the congregation) laid their hands on the heads of the goats that were for the sin-offering (2Ch 29:23), thereby owning themselves guilty before God and expressing their desire that the guilt of the sinner might be transferred to the sacrifice. By faith we lay our hands on the Lord Jesus, and so receive the atonement, Ro 5:11. 4. Burnt-offerings were offered with the sin-offerings, seven bullocks, seven rams, and seven lambs. The intention of the burnt-offerings was to give glory to the God of Israel, whom they owned as the only true God, which it was proper to do at the same time that they were by the sin-offering making atonement for their offences. The blood of those, as well as of the sin-offering, was sprinkled upon the altar (2Ch 29:22), to make reconciliation for all Israel (2Ch 29:24), and not for Judah only. Christ is a propitiation, not for the sins of Israel only, but of the whole world, 1Jo 2:1,22. 5. While the offerings were burning upon the altar the Levites sang the song of the Lord (2Ch 29:27), the Psalms composed by David and Asaph (2Ch 29:30), accompanied by the musical instruments which God by his prophets had commanded the use of (2Ch 29:25), and which had been long neglected. Even sorrow for sin must not put us out of tune for praising God. By faith we must rejoice in Christ Jesus as our righteousness; and our prayers and praises must ascend with his offering, to be accepted only in virtue of it. 6. The king and all the congregation testified their consent to and concurrence in all that was done, by bowing their heads and worshipping, expressing an awful veneration of the divine Majesty, by postures of adoration. This is taken notice of, 2Ch 29:28-30. It is not enough for us to be where God is worshipped, if we do not ourselves worship him, and that not with bodily exercise only, which profits little, but with the heart.
II. The solemnities of this day did likewise look forward. The temple service was to be set up again, that it might be continually kept up; and this Hezekiah calls them to, 2Ch 29:31. "Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the Lord—have both made an atonement and made a covenant by sacrifice, are solemnly reconciled and engaged to him—now come near, and bring sacrifices." Note, Our covenant with God must be pursued and improved in communion with him. Having consecrated ourselves, in the first place, to the Lord, we must bring the sacrifices of prayer, and praise, and alms, to his house. Now, in this work, it was found.
1. That the people were free. Being called to it by the king, they brought in their offerings, though not in such abundance as in the glorious days of Solomon (for Judah was now diminished, impoverished, and brought low), but according to what they had, and as much as one could expect considering their poverty and the great decay of piety among them. (1.) Some were so generous as to bring burnt-offerings, which were wholly consumed to the honour of God, and of which the offerer had no part. Of this sort there were seventy bullocks, 100 rams, and 200 lambs, 2Ch 29:32. (2.) Others brought peace-offerings and thank-offerings, the fat of which was burnt upon the altar, and the flesh divided between the priests and the offerers, 2Ch 29:35. Of this sort there were 600 oxen and 3000 sheep, 2Ch 29:33. Perhaps the remembrance of their sin in sacrificing on the high places made them more willing to bring their sacrifices now to God's altar.
2. That the priests were few, too few for the service, 2Ch 29:34. Many of them, it is likely, were suspended and laid aside as polluted and uncanonical, for having sacrificed to idols in the last reign, and the rest had not the zeal that one might have expected upon such an occasion. They thought that the king needed not to be so forward, that there was no necessity for such haste in opening the doors of the temple, and therefore they took no care to sanctify themselves, and being unsanctified, and so unqualified, they made that their excuse for being absent from the service; as if their offence would be their defence. It is recorded here, to the perpetual shame of the priests, that, though they were so well provided for out of the offerings of the Lord made by fire, yet they did not mind their business. Here was work to do, and there wanted proper hands to do it.
3. That the Levites were forward. They had been more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests (2Ch 29:34), were better affected to the work and better prepared and qualified for it. This was their praise, and, in recompence for it, they had the honour to be employed in that which was the priests' work: they helped them to flay the offerings. This was not according to the law (Le 1:5,6), but the irregularity was dispensed with in cases of necessity, and thus encouragement was given to the faithful zealous Levites and a just disgrace put upon the careless priests. What the Levites wanted in the ceremonial advantages of their birth and consecration was abundantly made up in their eminent qualifications of skill and will to do the work.
4. That all were pleased. The king and all the people rejoiced in this blessed turn of affairs and the new face of religion which the kingdom had put on, 2Ch 29:36. Two things in this matter pleased them:—(1.) That it was soon brought about: The thing was done suddenly, in a little time, with a great deal of ease, and without any opposition. Those that go about the work of God in faith and with resolution will find that there is not that difficulty in it which they sometimes imagine, but it will be a pleasing surprise to them to see how soon it is done. (2.) That the hand of God was plainly in it: God had prepared the people by the secret influences of his grace, so that many of those who had in the last reign doted on the idolatrous altars were now as much in love with God's altar. This change, which God wrought on their minds, did very much expedite and facilitate the work. Let magistrates and ministers do their part towards the reforming of a land, and ascribe to him the glory of what is done, especially when it is done suddenly and is a pleasing surprise. This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous.
我們在此進入一段令人愉悅的篇章，就是希西家美好而榮耀的王朝。在其中我們所看見關乎神與信仰的內容，恐怕比我們迄今所遇見的任何賢明王朝都更多；因為他是一個極為火熱、敬虔的善人，無人能及。本章記述他登基之後，立即以魄力展開的改革之工。本章內容：一、他把神的殿重新交還給祭司和利未人時，對他們的勸勉（代下 29:1-11）。二、利未人為潔淨聖殿、並把其中的事物安排妥當所付出的辛勞（代下 29:12-19）。三、莊嚴地恢復了被忽略已久的神的典章：在其中為上一任王朝的罪獻上了贖罪祭，使那停滯的輪子又重新轉動起來，令王和百姓都大得滿足（代下 29:20-36）。