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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.
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Hezekiah's Good Reign (726 BC)
简体中文
希西家的善政（公元前726年）
¹ 希西家登基的时候年二十五岁，在耶路撒冷作王二十九年。他母亲名叫亚比雅，是撒迦利雅的女儿。 ² 希西家行耶和华眼中看为正的事，效法他祖大卫所行的。 ³ 他作王元年正月，开了耶和华殿的门，重新修理。 ⁴ 他召众祭司和利未人来，聚集在东边的宽阔处， ⁵ 对他们说：利未人哪，当听我说：现在你们要洁净自己，又洁净耶和华你们列祖神的殿，从圣所中除掉污秽之物。 ⁶ 因为我们列祖犯了罪，行耶和华我们神眼中看为恶的事，离弃耶和华，转脸背向他的居所。 ⁷ 封锁廊子的门，吹灭灯火，不在圣所中向以色列的神烧香，也不献燔祭。 ⁸ 因此，耶和华的怒气向犹大和耶路撒冷发作，将他们交在扰乱、惊骇、嗤笑之中，正如你们亲眼所见的。 ⁹ 所以，看哪，我们的列祖倒在刀下，我们的儿子、女儿、妻子都因这事被掳去了。 ¹⁰ 现在我心中有意与耶和华以色列的神立约，好使他的烈怒转离我们。 ¹¹ 我的众子啊，现在不要懈怠，因为耶和华拣选你们站在他面前事奉他，与他烧香。
这里有，I. 希西家登基时的年龄。他"二十五岁"。约阿施在两个恶政之后登基，年方七岁；约西亚在两个恶政之后登基，年方八岁，这就造成了改革的拖延；但希西家已届成年，便立即着手改革。我们可以想象，他用何等忧伤的心看着父亲的偶像崇拜和亵渎，看见圣殿的门被关闭，又是何等痛心——但在父亲活着的时候，他不敢开那些门。他的心必在暗中为之流泪，并立志一旦承受会众，就要纠正这些弊端；这使他以更大的敏捷和决心去行。
II. 他的总体评价。"他效法大卫，行耶和华眼中看为正的事"（代下29:2）。他前面的几位君王中，有的也曾被称为行耶和华眼中看为正的事，"只是不像大卫"，没有大卫的正直和热心。但这里有一位，他对约柜和神律法的热爱之心，与大卫毫无二致。
III. 他迅速着手恢复信仰这一重大事工。他所做的头一件事，就是"开耶和华殿的门"（代下29:3）。我们愿意相信，他的父亲并未完全废止圣殿的事奉；因为那样圣坛上的圣火就必熄灭，而我们没有读到重新点燃的记载；但他曾阻止百姓参加，也阻止祭司——除了他自己一党的那些（王下16:5）。希西家却立即把教会的门敞开，"召众祭司和利未人来"。他发现犹大低微赤贫，却没有把复兴国度的民政作为头等大事，而是先把信仰恢复到它当有的好状态。以神起头的人，是从正确的一端开始他的工作，工作也必相应地兴旺。
IV. 他对祭司和利未人所说的训勉。无疑，他对信仰有一份真正的善意，并对前一朝的腐败心怀不满，已是人所共知；然而我们看不见祭司和利未人主动来求他恢复圣殿的事奉，反倒是他呼召他们。我担心，这既表明了他的热心，也同样道出了他们的冷淡；也许他们当初若是积极地尽了自己的本分，事情也不至于败坏到希西家所发现的那种地步。希西家对利未人的劝勉十分恳切。
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他向他们陈明信仰的荒凉，以及在他们中间所处的可悲光景（代下29:6-7）："我们的列祖犯了罪。"他没有说"我的父"，因为作为儿子，他当尽量顾惜父亲的名声；也因为没有他们的列祖失职，他的父亲也不会作出这一切。祭司乌利亚曾伙同亚哈斯设立了一座拜偶像的坛。他抱怨：(1) 神的殿被弃置不顾："他们离弃了神，背向他的居所。"当注意，凡背向神典章的人，都算为真正离弃了神自己。(2) 那里所设立对神的敬拜被废弃了。灯没有点着，香也没有焚。今天仍有这样的疏忽，并不稍轻，也是同样可责——就是不按所当行的读经解经（那是以"点灯"为象征的），也不按所当行的献上祷告和赞美（那是以"焚香"为象征的）。
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他向他们指出信仰在他们中间被忽略和衰败所带来的悲惨后果（代下29:8-9）。这是他们素来所受一切灾祸的因由。神在怒中把他们交给人扰乱、刀剑和被掳。当我们受神护理的责打时，应当省察自己是否忽略了神的典章，神与我们之间的争端是否能追溯到这疏忽。
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他宣告自己要复兴信仰、并以推广信仰为己任的充分决心和定意（代下29:10）："我心里有意（即我已充分定意）与耶和华以色列的神立约（即单单敬拜他，并按他所设立的方式敬拜他）；因为我确知，若不如此，他的烈怒必不转离我们。"这约他不但要自己立，更要使他的百姓一同进入这约的约束之中。
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他劝勉并激发利未人和祭司在此时尽上自己的本分。他以此开始（代下29:5），也以此结束（代下29:11）。他称他们为"利未人"，要他们记起自己对神的责任；又称他们为"众子"，要他们记起与自己的关系，期望他们"如儿子待父亲那样，与他在地的改革中一同服事"。(1) 他告诉他们当尽的本分是什么：先要洁净"自己"（藉着悔改疏忽之处，更新自己的心和生活方式，重新与神立约，好在今后更好地尽上本分），然后作为他的仆人"洁净神的殿"，使其因废弃不用或被亵渎而带来的一切不洁之物都被清除，并恢复它被设立的目的。(2) 他激励他们去行（代下29:11）："现在不要懈怠。"不要因你们的疏忽而拦阻了这善工。旁注作"不要自欺"。当注意，那些在事奉神的事上疏忽懈怠、以为可以戏弄神、欺骗他的人，不过是在欺骗自己，把自己的灵魂陷入沉沦的欺骗之中。或作"不要安逸"，仿佛没有迫切的呼召去行这事，或不行也无危险。当注意，人在信仰上疏忽懈怠，乃是因着属肉体的安逸。他用以来激发他们的，是出自他们职分的考虑。神在此把尊荣赐给他们：他"拣选你们站在他面前"。所以神期望他们作工。他们被拣选，不是要无所事事、享受尊荣而把本分留给别人去作，而是要事奉他、服事他。所以他们当为自己近来的懈怠羞愧，如今圣殿的门既已重新敞开，就当加倍殷勤地开始自己的工作。
英文原文
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.
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The Temple Cleansed (726 BC)
简体中文
圣殿得洁净（主前726年）
¹² 于是利未人都起来，就是哥辖族中亚玛赛的儿子玛哈、亚撒利雅的儿子约珥；米拉利族中亚比底的儿子基士、耶哈勒列的儿子亚撒利雅；革顺族中细玛的儿子约亚、约亚的儿子伊甸；
¹³ 以利撒反族中申利和耶利；亚萨族中撒迦利雅和玛探雅；
¹⁴ 希幔族中耶歇和示每；耶杜顿族中示玛雅和乌薛——起来。
¹⁵ 他们招聚自己的弟兄，自洁起来，按着王的命令，又遵耶和华的言语，进去洁净耶和华的殿。
¹⁶ 祭司进入耶和华殿的内部，洁净耶和华殿，把耶和华殿中所见的一切污秽之物搬到耶和华殿的院子里。利未人接过去，搬到城外汲沦溪。
¹⁷ 他们从正月初一日起洁净，初八日到了耶和华的廊子；他们用了八日洁净耶和华的殿，到正月十六日才完工。
¹⁸ 于是他们进去见希西家王说：我们已经洁净耶和华的全殿、燔祭坛和坛的一切器皿，并陈设饼的桌子与桌子的一切器皿。
¹⁹ 亚哈王在位犯罪时所撇弃的一切器皿，我们也都收拾洁净，分别为圣；现今都放在耶和华的坛前。
我们在此看见繁忙的工、善工，也是必要的工——洁净耶和华的殿。
一、做这工的人是祭司和利未人——他们本应保持圣殿洁净，既未做到，便理当把它洁净。这里记下几位利未人的名字，三个主要家族——哥辖、革顺、米拉利——每个家族两人（代下29:12），又有歌唱的三个家族——亚萨、希幔、耶杜顿——每个家族两人（代下29:13,14）。我们不可认为这些人被提名只是因为他们位居要职（若然，必是大祭司或祭司班次的首领被提及），而是因为他们比众人更加热心、积极。神有事工要做时，必兴起为首的人来主持。位居首位的人，并非总是最适合作工或最乐于作工的人。这些利未人不仅自己奋发，还「招聚自己的弟兄」，激励他们「按着王的命令，又遵耶和华的言语」去做。请观察：他们遵王的命令而行，但眼目却注视神的话。王所吩咐的，原是神的话所已经定为他们本分的；他们如此行时，便以神的话为准则，以王的命令为激励。
二、这工是「洁净神的殿」——
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圣殿关闭时所积的尘垢——灰尘、蛛网、器皿上的锈。
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圣殿中所设立的偶像和拜偶像的祭坛——这些虽再干净不过，对圣殿的污秽却甚于圣殿被当作全城的公共沟渠。祭司中没有人被提名为这工的带领者；然而除了他们，无人敢「进入殿的内部」——连洁净也不可。他们作了这事，或许大祭司也进入至圣所去洁净那里。利未人虽有幸作这工的带领者，却并不轻看按本分服事祭司；因为祭司搬到院里的污秽，利未人要搬到汲沦溪去。无论人的用处何等显赫，都不可因此忘记自己的本位。
三、他们做这工的快捷十分可注意。他们从正月初一日起动手——这是新年的好开始，预示一年顺利。每年都当以改正错失、借着真诚悔改洗除前一年所染的污秽为始。他们用了八天清理洁净圣殿，又用八天洁净圣殿的「院子」（代下29:17）。凡作善工的人当学会速速完工。错处当速速改正。
四、他们向希西家所作的报告，十分令人欣慰（代下29:18,19）。他们把所作的告诉他，因为是王差他们作这工；他们并不夸耀自己的细心与劳苦，也不是来讨工价，而是要让王知道：凡曾受亵渎之物，如今都已照律法分别为圣，随时可以使用。他们知道这位善王的心系于神的坛，渴望在那里事奉，所以他们特别强调他们已使坛准备妥当——为坛所用的器皿都已洗擦光亮。亚哈「在位犯罪时」所撇弃的器皿——他看为无喜悦的器皿——他们却收拾起来，分别为圣，放在原来的位置，「在耶和华的坛前」。圣所的器皿虽可一时被亵渎，神必找着时候和法子使它们分别为圣。祂的典章和祂的子民，都不得永远失败。
英文原文
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.
20-36
Hezekiah's Sacrifice (726 BC)
简体中文
希西家的献祭（公元前726年）
²⁰ 希西家王清早起来，招聚城里的首领，上到耶和华的殿。 ²¹ 他们牵了七只公牛、七只公绵羊、七只羊羔、七只公山羊，要为国、为圣所、为犹大人作赎罪祭。王吩咐亚伦子孙作祭司的，把它们献在耶和华的坛上。 ²² 他们宰了公牛，祭司收了血，洒在坛上；照样宰了公绵羊，把血洒在坛上；又宰了羊羔，把血洒在坛上。 ²³ 他们把作赎罪祭的公山羊牵到王和会众面前，他们就按手在其上。 ²⁴ 祭司宰了它们，把血献在坛上为赎罪，为以色列众人赎罪；因为王吩咐要为以色列众人献燔祭和赎罪祭。 ²⁵ 他又照大卫王和王的先见迦得，并先知拿单所吩咐的，设立利未人在耶和华殿中，拿铜钹、琴瑟；因为所吩咐的是藉耶和华的先知而来的。 ²⁶ 利未人拿大卫的乐器，祭司拿号，都站着。 ²⁷ 希西家吩咐在坛上献燔祭。燔祭一献，就开始唱耶和华的歌，用号和以色列王大卫所定的乐器伴奏。 ²⁸ 全会众敬拜，歌唱的歌唱，吹号的吹号，这样一直继续，直到燔祭献完。 ²⁹ 献完了祭，王和一切在场的人都屈身敬拜。 ³⁰ 希西家王与众首领又吩咐利未人用大卫和先见亚萨的词颂赞耶和华。他们就欢欢喜喜地颂赞，低头敬拜。 ³¹ 希西家回答说：你们既已自洁归耶和华为圣，可以前来，把祭物和感谢祭送到耶和华殿里。会众就把祭物和感谢祭送来；凡甘心乐意的，也献燔祭。 ³² 会众所献的燔祭如下：公牛七十只、公绵羊一百只、羊羔二百只；这些都是献给耶和华为燔祭的。 ³³ 分别为圣的祭物有牛六百只、羊三千只。 ³⁴ 但祭司太少，不能剥尽一切燔祭的皮；所以他们的弟兄利未人帮助他们，直到工作完毕，又等别的祭司自洁；因为利未人在自洁这事上，心比祭司更正直。 ³⁵ 燔祭的数目丰盛，又有平安祭的脂油和每次燔祭当奠的酒。这样，耶和华殿里的事奉就安排妥当了。 ³⁶ 希西家和众民都喜乐，因为神为百姓预备了安排；因为这事办得甚是迅速。
圣殿既已洁净，我们在此看到他们立即对它的善用。次日就召集了庄严的聚会，王在圣殿与众人相会（代下29:20）；无疑耶路撒冷中一切敬虔人，听见"我们上耶和华的殿去"（诗122:1）这话时，都甚喜乐。希西家一听见圣殿已为他预备好，就不再迟延，并显明他自己早已预备好了。他在那日比平日更早起来上耶和华的殿，表明他的心在那里的工作上。这一日的工作有两个方向：
I. 必须为前一朝的罪献上赎罪。他们以为仅仅哀恸并离弃那些罪还不够，便献上了赎罪祭。连我们的悔改和改革，若不靠赖基督——他就是为我们"成了罪"（即赎罪祭）——也不能得着赦免。除了藉他的血，没有平安，连悔改的人也是如此。请观察：1. 赎罪祭是"为国、为圣所、为犹大"献的（代下29:21），即为君王、祭司和百姓赎罪，因为他们都败坏了自己的道。摩西律法规定要为全会众的罪献祭赎罪（利4:13-14，民15:24-25），好叫他们因国罪而当受的国刑得以转离。为此目的，我们如今当仰望那伟大的挽回祭基督，不仅为个别罪人的赦免和拯救，也为全民的缘故。2. 律法在赎罪日（利16:15）以及像这等非常的场合（民15:24），只规定献一只山羊为赎罪祭。但他们在此献了七只（代下29:21），因为会众的罪极大、且延续已久。七是完全的数目。我们伟大的赎罪祭只有一位，但那一位却"永远完全了那些被分别为圣的人"。3. 王和"会众"（即会众的代表）"按手在作赎罪祭的山羊头上"（代下29:23），承认自己在神面前有罪，并表达他们的愿望：愿罪人的罪罚转移到祭物上。我们藉着信心按手在主耶稣身上，便"得着了挽回"（罗5:11）。4. 赎罪祭之外，又献了燔祭——"七只公牛、七只公绵羊、七只羊羔"。燔祭的用意是将荣耀归给以色列的神，承认他是独一的真神；这在藉赎罪祭为他们得罪之事赎罪的同时去作，是合宜的。这些祭物的血，与赎罪祭的血一样，都"洒在坛上"（代下29:22），为"以色列众人"赎罪（代下29:24），不仅为犹大。基督是挽回祭，不仅为以色列的罪，也为"普天下"的罪（约壹2:1-2）。5. 当祭物在坛上焚烧之时，利未人唱"耶和华的歌"（代下29:27），就是大卫和亚萨所作的诗篇（代下29:30），并有神藉先知所吩咐使用、却久被疏忽的乐器伴奏。即便为罪忧伤，也不可使我们失去赞美神的音调。我们当凭信心以基督耶稣为我们的义而喜乐；我们的祷告和赞美当随他的献祭一同上升，惟独靠赖那祭物的功效才得蒙悦纳。6. 王和全会众藉着"低头敬拜"，表明他们赞同并参与所行的一切，以敬拜的姿态表达对神圣威严的可畏敬仰。这在代下29:28-30被特别记下。我们若只是置身于敬拜神的地方，自己却不敬拜他，并且不是单用那"益处不大"的身体操练，而是用心去敬拜，是不够的。
II. 这日的庄严之事也有朝前看的一面。圣殿的事奉既被重新设立，就要不断维持下去；希西家就此呼召他们（代下29:31）。"你们既已'自洁归耶和华为圣'——既已献祭赎罪，又以祭物立了约，与他郑重和好、彼此订立盟约——如今'可以前来，把祭物送来'。"当注意：我们与神所立的约，必须在与他交通中追求并加以善用。我们既将自己首先献给主，就当把祷告、赞美、周济的祭物带到他的殿中。在这工作上，他们显出：
- 百姓甘心乐意。既蒙王呼召，他们便献上供物，虽然不如所罗门荣耀之时那样丰盛（因为犹大如今衰微、贫穷、卑下），却照他们所有的献上，考虑到他们的贫困和敬虔在他们中间的严重衰退，所能期望的也是如此。(1) 有人慷慨到献燔祭的地步——这些完全烧尽归荣耀给神，献祭者无分的祭物。这类有七十只公牛、一百只公绵羊、二百只羊羔（代下29:32）。(2) 另有人献平安祭和感谢祭，其脂油在坛上焚烧，肉则由祭司和献祭者均分（代下29:35）。这类有六百头牛、三千只羊（代下29:33）。也许他们记起自己在邱坛上献祭的罪，便更愿意如今把祭物带到神的坛来。
2."祭司太少"，不敷事奉之用（代下29:34）。他们中许多人大概因在前一朝曾向偶像献祭而被停职，视为不洁、不合例；其余的人在这样场合下又没有所当有的热心。他们以为王不必这样急进，没有这样迫切开殿门的必要，所以也不留意自洁；既未自洁，便不具资格，他们便以这作为缺席事奉的借口；仿佛他们的过犯能成为他们的辩护。这里记下这事，作为祭司永远的羞辱：他们从耶和华火祭中得那样丰盛的供应，却不顾念自己的本分。这里有工作要作，却缺少适当的人手。
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利未人却踊跃向前。他们"在自洁这事上，心比祭司更正直"（代下29:34），对这工作更有好感，也更预备妥当、合乎使用。这是他们的称赞；作为报答，他们得了那原属祭司的工作的尊荣：帮助他们剥祭物的皮。这并不合乎律法（利1:5-6），但在急需的情况下，这越规之处被特许了；这样，忠心热心的利未人得了鼓励，疏忽的祭司也受了当有的羞辱。利未人在出身和分别为圣的仪式之优势上所缺少的，在他们技能与意志这两种显著的资格上得到了丰厚的补偿。
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众人都欢喜。王和众民为这祝福的转变、为国度所披上的信仰新面貌而喜乐（代下29:36）。这事上有两件使他们欢喜：(1) 事情成就得甚快："这事办得甚是迅速"——在很短时间内，轻省地、毫无阻挡地成就。凭信心和决心去作神工作的人，必发觉其中并没有他们有时所想象的困难，反倒要惊喜地看见事情成就得何等迅速。(2) 神的手显然在其中："神为百姓预备了安排"——藉他恩典隐密的运行，使许多在前一朝迷恋偶像祭坛的人，如今同样热爱神的祭坛。神在他们心中所成就的这改变，大大加速并便利了这工作。愿官长和传道人尽他们的本分改革这地，并将所成就的荣耀归给他，尤其当事情成就得迅速、成为令人惊喜之时。"这是耶和华所作的，在我们眼中看为希奇。"（诗118:23）
英文原文
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.
我们在此进入了一段令人愉悦的场景——希西家美好而光辉的作王历史；在其中我们要看见，也许比我们迄今所见任何好王的朝代都更多关乎神和信仰的事；因为他是个极其热心、敬虔、善良的人，无人能比。本章所记的，是他登基之后立即奋力展开的改革之工。本章所记的有：一、他重新使祭司和利未人接管神殿之时，对他们所发出的劝勉（代下29:1-11）。二、利未人为洁净圣殿、整理其中事物所尽的用心与辛劳（代下29:12-19）。三、严肃地复兴前朝所忽略的神之律例；在此中为前朝的罪孽献上赎罪祭，又叫停摆已久的轮子重新运转起来，使王和百姓都大得满足（代下29:20-36）。