New International Version
2 Chronicles 29:34
34The priests, however, were too few to skin all the burnt offerings; so their relatives the Levites helped them until the task was finished and until other priests had been consecrated, for the Levites had been more conscientious in consecrating themselves than the priests had been.
2 Chronicles 29:34 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But the priests were too few and could not flay all the burnt offerings, so until other priests had consecrated themselves, their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was finished—for the Levites were more upright in heart than the priests in consecrating themselves.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But the priests were too few, so that they could not skin all the burnt offerings; therefore their brethren the Levites helped them until the work was ended and until the other priests had sanctified themselves, for the Levites were more diligent in sanctifying themselves than the priests.
- New Living Translation (NLT)But there were too few priests to prepare all the burnt offerings. So their relatives the Levites helped them until the work was finished and more priests had been purified, for the Levites had been more conscientious about purifying themselves than the priests had been.
Context of 2 Chronicles 29:34
32The number of burnt offerings the assembly brought was seventy bulls, a hundred rams and two hundred male lambs—all of them for burnt offerings to the Lord. 33The animals consecrated as sacrifices amounted to six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep and goats. The priests, however, were too few to skin all the burnt offerings; so their relatives the Levites helped them until the task was finished and until other priests had been consecrated, for the Levites had been more conscientious in consecrating themselves than the priests had been. 35There were burnt offerings in abundance, together with the fat of the fellowship offerings and the drink offerings that accompanied the burnt offerings. So the service of the temple of the Lord was reestablished. 36Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced at what God had brought about for his people, because it was done so quickly.
Read all of 2 Chronicles 292 Chronicles 29:34 word by word
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׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- But the priestsכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
- were too fewמְעַטme‛aţ me‛âţ · littleH4592
- so that they couldיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
- not flayפָּשַׁטpâshaţ · to stripH6584
- all the burnt offeringsעֹלָה‛ôlâh ‛ôlâh · burnt offeringH5930
- wherefore their brethrenאָח'âch · brother: male-relativeH251
- the Levitesלֵוִיlêvîyîy lêvîy · LeviH3881
- did helpחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: strengthenH2388
- them, till the workמְלָאכָהmelâ'kâh · workH4399
- was endedכָּלָהkâlâh · to end: finishH3615
- had sanctifiedקָדַשׁqâdash · to consecrate: consecateH6942
- more uprightיָשָׁרyâshâr · uprightH3477
- in heartלֵבָבlêbâb · heartH3824
Cross-references for 2 Chronicles 29:34
- 2 Chronicles 20:5Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard
- 2 Chronicles 30:16Then they took up their regular positions as prescribed in the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests splashed against the altar the blood handed to them by the Levites.
- 2 Chronicles 35:11The Passover lambs were slaughtered, and the priests splashed against the altar the blood handed to them, while the Levites skinned the animals.
- Numbers 8:15“After you have purified the Levites and presented them as a wave offering, they are to come to do their work at the tent of meeting.
- Numbers 18:3They are to be responsible to you and are to perform all the duties of the tent, but they must not go near the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar. Otherwise both they and you will die.
- 2 Chronicles 30:3They had not been able to celebrate it at the regular time because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not assembled in Jerusalem.
- 1 Chronicles 29:17I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.
- Psalms 7:10My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart.
- Psalms 26:6I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, Lord,
- Psalms 94:15Judgment will again be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it.
Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 29:34
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 34They could not flay all the burnt-offerings - Peace-offerings, and such like, the Levites might flay and dress; but the whole burnt-offerings, that is, those which were entirely consumed on the altar, could be touched only by the priests, unless in a case of necessity, such as is mentioned here. The Levites were more upright in heart - The priests seem to have been very backward in this good work; the Levites were more ready to help forward this glorious…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 34The Levites were more upright etc - See the marginal reference. Urijah, the high priest, had participated to some extent in the impieties of Ahaz 2 Kings 16:10-16. He and many of the priests may, therefore, have looked coldly on the reforming zeal of Hezekiah.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-36Verses 20-36 As soon as Hezekiah heard that the temple was ready, he lost no time. Atonement must be made for the sins of the last reign. It was not enough to lament and forsake those sins; they brought a sin-offering. Our repentance and reformation will not obtain pardon but in and through Christ, who was made sin, that is, a sin-offering for us. While the offerings were on the altar, the Levites sang. Sorrow for sin must not prevent us from praising…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 34The Chronicler feels surprised and delighted by the people's spontaneous actions and the large number of praise offerings during the thanksgiving festivities. These events show that the Lord prepared the people's hearts for the occasion, exceeding the expectations of the priests and Levites.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 34-3634-36. the priests were too few, ... wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them--The skins of beasts intended as peace offerings might be taken off by the officers, because, in such cases, the carcass was not wholly laid upon the altar; but animals meant for burnt offerings which were wholly consumed by fire could be flayed by the priests alone, not even the Levites being allowed to touch them, except in cases of unavoidable necessity (2Ch 35:11)…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Chronicles 29:34
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 29
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries