Chú giải Kinh Thánh

The treatment of Hezekiah's reign by the author of Chronicles is in marked contrast with that followed in the Book of Kings. The writer of Kings describes mainly civil affairs; the author of Chronicles gives a full account of Hezekiah's religious reformation. 2 Chronicles 29-31 contain matter, therefore, which is almost wholly new.

By "the first month" is meant (compare 2 Chronicles 30:2-3) the month of Nisan, the first of the Jewish sacred year, not necessarily the first month of Hezekiah's reign.

The east street - Rather, some open space before the eastern gate of the outer temple court is intended.

Sanctify now yourselves - Compare the marginal reference. Hezekiah follows David's example, knowing, probably, that the priests had in the preceding time of idolatry contracted many defilements.

The "filthiness," or "uncleanness" 2 Chronicles 29:16, might consist, in part, of mere dust and dirt, in part, of idolatrous objects introduced by Ahaz before he finally shut up the temple 2 Kings 16:10-16.

He hath delivered them to ... hissing - See 1 Kings 9:8 note. It was an expression which Hezekiah might naturally use, for it had occurred in a prophecy of Micah M1 Corinthians 6:16, his contemporary and monitor Jeremiah 26:18-19, which was probably uttered toward the close of the reign of Ahaz. In Jeremiah the phrase becomes common (marginal references).

On the triple division of the Levites, see 1 Chronicles 23:6; and on the musical Levites, see 1 Chronicles 25:1-6.

The descendants of Elizaphan - a grandson of Kohath Exodus 6:22, and chief of the Kohathites at the time of the census in the wilderness Numbers 3:30 - appear at all times to have formed a distinct branch of the Kohathites with special privileges 1 Chronicles 15:8.

By the words of the Lord - Rather, as suggested in the margin, "According to the commandment of the king in the business (or matters) of the Lord."