2 Chronicles 29

1 Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.

יְחִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ מָלַ֗ךְ בֶּן־עֶשְׂרִ֤ים וְחָמֵשׁ֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֤ים וָתֵ֙שַׁע֙ שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ אֲבִיָּ֖ה בַּת־זְכַרְיָֽהוּ׃

2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done.

וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֖ה דָּוִ֥יד אָבִֽיו׃

3 In the first month of the first year of his reign, Hezekiah opened and repaired the doors of the house of the LORD.

ה֣וּא בַשָּׁנָה֩ הָרִאשׁוֹנָ֨ה לְמָלְכ֜וֹ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֗וֹן פָּתַ֛ח אֶת־דַּלְת֥וֹת בֵּית־יְהוָ֖ה וַֽיְחַזְּקֵֽם׃

4 Then he brought in the priests and Levites and gathered them in the square on the east side.

וַיָּבֵ֥א אֶת־הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְאֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֑ם וַיַּֽאַסְפֵ֖ם לִרְח֥וֹב הַמִּזְרָֽח׃

5 “Listen to me, O Levites,” he said. “Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers. Remove from the Holy Place every impurity.

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לָהֶ֖ם שְׁמָע֣וּנִי הַלְוִיִּ֑ם עַתָּ֣ה הִֽתְקַדְּשׁ֗וּ וְקַדְּשׁוּ֙ אֶת־בֵּ֤ית יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֔ם וְהוֹצִ֥יאוּ אֶת־הַנִּדָּ֖ה מִן־הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃

6 For our fathers were unfaithful and did evil in the sight of the LORD our God. They abandoned Him, turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the LORD, and turned their backs on Him.

כִּֽי־מָעֲל֣וּ אֲבֹתֵ֗ינוּ וְעָשׂ֥וּ הָרַ֛ע בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהוָֽה־אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ וַיַּֽעַזְבֻ֑הוּ וַיַּסֵּ֧בּוּ פְנֵיהֶ֛ם מִמִּשְׁכַּ֥ן יְהוָ֖ה וַיִּתְּנוּ־עֹֽרֶף׃

7 They also shut the doors of the portico and extinguished the lamps. They did not burn incense or present burnt offerings in the Holy Place of the God of Israel.

גַּ֣ם סָֽגְר֞וּ דַּלְת֣וֹת הָאוּלָ֗ם וַיְכַבּוּ֙ אֶת־הַנֵּר֔וֹת וּקְטֹ֖רֶת לֹ֣א הִקְטִ֑ירוּ וְעֹלָה֙ לֹא־הֶעֱל֣וּ בַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ לֵאלֹהֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

8 Therefore, the wrath of the LORD has fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has made them an object of terror, horror, and mockery, as you can see with your own eyes.

וַיְהִי֙ קֶ֣צֶף יְהוָ֔ה עַל־יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וַיִּתְּנֵ֤ם לְזַֽעֲוָה֙ לְשַׁמָּ֣ה וְלִשְׁרֵקָ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר אַתֶּ֥ם רֹאִ֖ים בְּעֵינֵיכֶֽם׃

9 For behold, this is why our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and daughters and wives are in captivity.

וְהִנֵּ֛ה נָפְל֥וּ אֲבוֹתֵ֖ינוּ בֶּחָ֑רֶב וּבָנֵ֨ינוּ וּבְנוֹתֵ֧ינוּ וְנָשֵׁ֛ינוּ בַּשְּׁבִ֖י עַל־זֹֽאת׃

10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, so that His fierce anger will turn away from us.

עַתָּה֙ עִם־לְבָבִ֔י לִכְר֣וֹת בְּרִ֔ית לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְיָשֹׁ֥ב מִמֶּ֖נּוּ חֲר֥וֹן אַפּֽוֹ׃

11 Now, my sons, do not be negligent, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, to minister before Him, and to burn incense.”

בָּנַ֕י עַתָּ֖ה אַל־תִּשָּׁל֑וּ כִּֽי־בָכֶ֞ם בָּחַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה לַעֲמֹ֤ד לְפָנָיו֙ לְשָׁ֣רְת֔וֹ וְלִהְי֥וֹת ל֖וֹ מְשָׁרְתִ֥ים וּמַקְטִרִֽים׃ ס

12 Then the Levites set to work: Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah from the Kohathites; Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel from the Merarites; Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah from the Gershonites;

וַיָּקֻ֣מוּ הַ֠לְוִיִּם מַ֣חַת בֶּן־עֲמָשַׂ֞י וְיוֹאֵ֣ל בֶּן־עֲזַרְיָהוּ֮ מִן־בְּנֵ֣י הַקְּהָתִי֒ וּמִן־בְּנֵ֣י מְרָרִ֔י קִ֚ישׁ בֶּן־עַבְדִּ֔י וַעֲזַרְיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־יְהַלֶּלְאֵ֑ל וּמִן־הַגֵּ֣רְשֻׁנִּ֔י יוֹאָח֙ בֶּן־זִמָּ֔ה וְעֵ֖דֶן בֶּן־יוֹאָֽח׃

13 Shimri and Jeuel from the Elizaphanites; Zechariah and Mattaniah from the Asaphites;

וּמִן־בְּנֵי֙ אֱלִ֣יצָפָ֔ן שִׁמְרִ֖י וִיעִיאֵ֑ל וּמִן־בְּנֵ֣י אָסָ֔ף זְכַרְיָ֖הוּ וּמַתַּנְיָֽהוּ׃ ס

14 Jehiel and Shimei from the Hemanites; and Shemaiah and Uzziel from the Jeduthunites.

וּמִן־בְּנֵ֥י הֵימָ֖ן יְחִיאֵ֣ל וְשִׁמְעִ֑י ס וּמִן־בְּנֵ֣י יְדוּת֔וּן שְׁמַֽעְיָ֖ה וְעֻזִּיאֵֽל׃

15 When they had assembled their brothers and consecrated themselves, they went in to cleanse the house of the LORD, according to the command of the king by the words of the LORD.

וַיַּֽאַסְפ֤וּ אֶת־אֲחֵיהֶם֙ וַיִּֽתְקַדְּשׁ֔וּ וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ כְמִצְוַת־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בְּדִבְרֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה לְטַהֵ֖ר בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃

16 So the priests went inside the house of the LORD to cleanse it, and they brought out to the courtyard all the unclean things that they found in the temple of the LORD. Then the Levites took these things and carried them out to the Kidron Valley.

וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ הַ֠כֹּהֲנִים לִפְנִ֣ימָה בֵית־יְהוָה֮ לְטַהֵר֒ וַיּוֹצִ֗יאוּ אֵ֤ת כָּל־הַטֻּמְאָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר מָֽצְאוּ֙ בְּהֵיכַ֣ל יְהוָ֔ה לַחֲצַ֖ר בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וַֽיְקַבְּלוּ֙ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם לְהוֹצִ֥יא לְנַֽחַל־קִדְר֖וֹן חֽוּצָה׃

17 They began the consecration on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they reached the portico of the LORD. For eight more days they consecrated the house of the LORD itself, finishing on the sixteenth day of the first month.

וַ֠יָּחֵלּוּ בְּאֶחָ֞ד לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן֮ לְקַדֵּשׁ֒ וּבְי֧וֹם שְׁמוֹנָ֣ה לַחֹ֗דֶשׁ בָּ֚אוּ לְאוּלָ֣ם יְהוָ֔ה וַיְקַדְּשׁ֥וּ אֶת־בֵּית־יְהוָ֖ה לְיָמִ֣ים שְׁמוֹנָ֑ה וּבְי֨וֹם שִׁשָּׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֛ר לַחֹ֥דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֖וֹן כִּלּֽוּ׃ ס

18 Then they went in to King Hezekiah and reported, “We have cleansed the entire house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the table of the showbread with all its utensils.

וַיָּב֤וֹאוּ פְנִ֙ימָה֙ אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ טִהַ֖רְנוּ אֶת־כָּל־בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה אֶת־מִזְבַּ֤ח הָעוֹלָה֙ וְאֶת־כָּל־כֵּלָ֔יו וְאֶת־שֻׁלְחַ֥ן הַֽמַּעֲרֶ֖כֶת וְאֶת־כָּל־כֵּלָֽיו׃

19 Moreover, we have prepared and consecrated all the articles that King Ahaz in his unfaithfulness cast aside during his reign. They are now in front of the altar of the LORD.”

וְאֵ֣ת כָּל־הַכֵּלִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִזְנִיחַ֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ אָחָ֧ז בְּמַלְכוּת֛וֹ בְּמַעֲל֖וֹ הֵכַ֣נּוּ וְהִקְדָּ֑שְׁנוּ וְהִנָּ֕ם לִפְנֵ֖י מִזְבַּ֥ח יְהוָֽה׃ ס

20 Early the next morning King Hezekiah gathered the city officials and went up to the house of the LORD.

וַיַּשְׁכֵּם֙ יְחִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֶּאֱסֹ֕ף אֵ֖ת שָׂרֵ֣י הָעִ֑יר וַיַּ֖עַל בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃

21 They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And the king commanded the priests, the descendants of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the LORD.

וַיָּבִ֣יאוּ פָרִים־שִׁבְעָה֩ וְאֵילִ֨ים שִׁבְעָ֜ה וּכְבָשִׂ֣ים שִׁבְעָ֗ה וּצְפִירֵ֨י עִזִּ֤ים שִׁבְעָה֙ לְחַטָּ֔את עַל־הַמַּמְלָכָ֥ה וְעַל־הַמִּקְדָּ֖שׁ וְעַל־יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לִבְנֵ֤י אַהֲרֹן֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים לְהַעֲל֖וֹת עַל־מִזְבַּ֥ח יְהוָֽה׃

22 So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests took the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. They slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar. And they slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar.

וַֽיִּשְׁחֲטוּ֙ הַבָּקָ֔ר וַיְקַבְּל֤וּ הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ אֶת־הַדָּ֔ם וַֽיִּזְרְק֖וּ הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה וַיִּשְׁחֲט֣וּ הָאֵלִ֗ים וַיִּזְרְק֤וּ הַדָּם֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה וַֽיִּשְׁחֲטוּ֙ הַכְּבָשִׂ֔ים וַיִּזְרְק֥וּ הַדָּ֖ם הַמִּזְבֵּֽחָה׃

23 Then they brought the goats for the sin offering before the king and the assembly, who laid their hands on them.

וַיַּגִּ֙ישׁוּ֙ אֶת־שְׂעִירֵ֣י הַֽחַטָּ֔את לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וְהַקָּהָ֑ל וַיִּסְמְכ֥וּ יְדֵיהֶ֖ם עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

24 And the priests slaughtered the goats and put their blood on the altar for a sin offering, to make atonement for all Israel, because the king had ordered the burnt offering and the sin offering for all Israel.

וַיִּשְׁחָטוּם֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וַֽיְחַטְּא֤וּ אֶת־דָּמָם֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה לְכַפֵּ֖ר עַל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּ֤י לְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אָמַ֣ר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ הָעוֹלָ֖ה וְהַחַטָּֽאת׃

25 Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres according to the command of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet. For the command had come from the LORD through His prophets.

וַיַּֽעֲמֵ֨ד אֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֜ם בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֗ה בִּמְצִלְתַּ֙יִם֙ בִּנְבָלִ֣ים וּבְכִנֹּר֔וֹת בְּמִצְוַ֥ת דָּוִ֛יד וְגָ֥ד חֹזֵֽה־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וְנָתָ֣ן הַנָּבִ֑יא כִּ֧י בְיַד־יְהוָ֛ה הַמִּצְוָ֖ה בְּיַד־נְבִיאָֽיו׃ ס

26 The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.

וַיַּֽעַמְד֤וּ הַלְוִיִּם֙ בִּכְלֵ֣י דָוִ֔יד וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים בַּחֲצֹצְרֽוֹת׃ ס

27 And Hezekiah ordered that the burnt offering be sacrificed on the altar. When the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD and the trumpets began as well, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel.

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ לְהַעֲל֥וֹת הָעֹלָ֖ה לְהַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וּבְעֵ֞ת הֵחֵ֣ל הָֽעוֹלָ֗ה הֵחֵ֤ל שִׁיר־יְהוָה֙ וְהַחֲצֹ֣צְר֔וֹת וְעַ֨ל־יְדֵ֔י כְּלֵ֖י דָּוִ֥יד מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

28 The whole assembly was worshiping, the singers were singing, and the trumpeters were playing. All this continued until the burnt offering was completed.

וְכָל־הַקָּהָל֙ מִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִ֔ים וְהַשִּׁ֣יר מְשׁוֹרֵ֔ר וְהַחֲצֹצְר֖וֹת מַחְצְרִ֑ים הַכֹּ֕ל עַ֖ד לִכְל֥וֹת הָעֹלָֽה׃

29 When the offerings were completed, the king and all those present with him bowed down and worshiped.

וּכְכַלּ֖וֹת לְהַעֲל֑וֹת כָּרְע֗וּ הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וְכָֽל־הַנִּמְצְאִ֥ים אִתּ֖וֹ וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֽוּ׃

30 Then King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to the LORD in the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshiped.

וַ֠יֹּאמֶר יְחִזְקִיָּ֨הוּ הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ וְהַשָּׂרִים֙ לַלְוִיִּ֔ם לְהַלֵּל֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה בְּדִבְרֵ֥י דָוִ֖יד וְאָסָ֣ף הַחֹזֶ֑ה וַֽיְהַלְלוּ֙ עַד־לְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וַֽיִּקְּד֖וּ וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֽוּ׃ פ

31 Then Hezekiah said, “Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the LORD.” So the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings.

וַיַּ֨עַן יְחִזְקִיָּ֜הוּ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר עַתָּ֨ה מִלֵּאתֶ֤ם יֶדְכֶם֙ לַיהוָ֔ה גֹּ֧שׁוּ וְהָבִ֛יאוּ זְבָחִ֥ים וְתוֹד֖וֹת לְבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וַיָּבִ֤יאוּ הַקָּהָל֙ זְבָחִ֣ים וְתוֹד֔וֹת וְכָל־נְדִ֥יב לֵ֖ב עֹלֽוֹת׃

32 The number of burnt offerings the assembly brought was seventy bulls, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD.

וַיְהִ֞י מִסְפַּ֣ר הָעֹלָה֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֵבִ֣יאוּ הַקָּהָל֒ בָּקָ֣ר שִׁבְעִ֔ים אֵילִ֥ים מֵאָ֖ה כְּבָשִׂ֣ים מָאתָ֑יִם לְעֹלָ֥ה לַיהוָ֖ה כָּל־אֵֽלֶּה׃

33 And the consecrated offerings were six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep.

וְֽהַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים בָּקָר֙ שֵׁ֣שׁ מֵא֔וֹת וְצֹ֖אן שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִֽים׃

34 However, since there were not enough priests to skin all the burnt offerings, their Levite brothers helped them until the work was finished and until the priests had been consecrated. For the Levites had been more diligent in consecrating themselves than the priests had been.

רַ֤ק הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ הָי֣וּ לִמְעָ֔ט וְלֹ֣א יָֽכְל֔וּ לְהַפְשִׁ֖יט אֶת־כָּל־הָעֹל֑וֹת וַֽיְּחַזְּק֞וּם אֲחֵיהֶ֣ם הַלְוִיִּ֗ם עַד־כְּל֤וֹת הַמְּלָאכָה֙ וְעַ֣ד יִתְקַדְּשׁ֣וּ הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֔ים כִּ֤י הַלְוִיִּם֙ יִשְׁרֵ֣י לֵבָ֔ב לְהִתְקַדֵּ֖שׁ מֵֽהַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃

35 Furthermore, the burnt offerings were abundant, along with the fat of the peace offerings and the drink offerings for the burnt offerings. So the service of the house of the LORD was established.

וְגַם־עֹלָ֨ה לָרֹ֜ב בְּחֶלְבֵ֧י הַשְּׁלָמִ֛ים וּבַנְּסָכִ֖ים לָעֹלָ֑ה וַתִּכּ֖וֹן עֲבוֹדַ֥ת בֵּית־יְהוָֽה׃

36 Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced at what God had prepared for the people, because everything had been accomplished so quickly.

וַיִּשְׂמַ֤ח יְחִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ וְכָל־הָעָ֔ם עַ֛ל הַהֵכִ֥ין הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים לָעָ֑ם כִּ֥י בְּפִתְאֹ֖ם הָיָ֥ה הַדָּבָֽר׃ פ