II Chronicles 29

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

Hezekiah became king at the age of twenty-five, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem; his mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah.

וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֖ה דָּוִ֥יד אָבִֽיו׃

He did what was pleasing to G OD , just as his forefather David had done.

ה֣וּא בַשָּׁנָה֩ הָרִאשׁוֹנָ֨ה לְמׇלְכ֜וֹ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֗וֹן פָּתַ֛ח אֶת־דַּלְת֥וֹת בֵּית־יְהֹוָ֖ה וַֽיְחַזְּקֵֽם׃

He, in the first month of the first year of his reign, opened the doors of the House of G OD and repaired them.

וַיָּבֵ֥א אֶת־הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְאֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֑ם וַיַּאַסְפֵ֖ם לִרְח֥וֹב הַמִּזְרָֽח׃

He summoned the priests and the Levites and assembled them in the east square.

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

He said to them, “Listen to me, Levites! Sanctify yourselves and sanctify the House of the E TERNAL God of your ancestors, and take the abhorrent things out of the holy place.

כִּֽי־מָעֲל֣וּ אֲבֹתֵ֗ינוּ וְעָשׂ֥וּ הָרַ֛ע בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה־אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ וַיַּעַזְבֻ֑הוּ וַיַּסֵּ֧בּוּ פְנֵיהֶ֛ם מִמִּשְׁכַּ֥ן יְהֹוָ֖ה וַיִּתְּנוּ־עֹֽרֶף׃

For our ancestors trespassed and did what displeased the E TERNAL our God—whom they forsook as they turned their faces away from the dwelling-place of G OD , turning their backs on it.

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

They also shut the doors of the porch and put out the lights; they did not offer incense and did not make burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel.

וַֽיְהִי֙ קֶ֣צֶף יְהֹוָ֔ה עַל־יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וַיִּתְּנֵ֤ם (לזועה) [לְזַעֲוָה֙] לְשַׁמָּ֣ה וְלִשְׁרֵקָ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר אַתֶּ֥ם רֹאִ֖ים בְּעֵינֵיכֶֽם׃

G OD ’s wrath was upon Judah and Jerusalem; they were made to be an object of horror, amazement, and hissing—as you see with your own eyes.

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

Our ancestors died by the sword, and our sons and daughters and wives are in captivity on account of this.

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

Now I wish to make a covenant with the E TERNAL God of Israel, whose rage may hopefully be withdrawn from us.

בָּנַ֕י עַתָּ֖ה אַל־תִּשָּׁל֑וּ כִּֽי־בָכֶ֞ם בָּחַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה לַעֲמֹ֤ד לְפָנָיו֙ לְשָׁ֣רְת֔וֹ וְלִהְי֥וֹת ל֖וֹ מְשָׁרְתִ֥ים וּמַקְטִרִֽים׃ {פ}

Now, my sons, do not be slack, for G OD chose you to be in attendance, to render service, to minister, and to make offerings.”

וַיָּקֻ֣מוּ הַ֠לְוִיִּ֠ם מַ֣חַת בֶּן־עֲמָשַׂ֞י וְיוֹאֵ֣ל בֶּן־עֲזַרְיָ֘הוּ֮ מִן־בְּנֵ֣י הַקְּהָתִי֒ וּמִן־בְּנֵ֣י מְרָרִ֔י קִ֚ישׁ בֶּן־עַבְדִּ֔י וַעֲזַרְיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־יְהַלֶּלְאֵ֑ל {ס} וּמִן־הַגֵּ֣רְשֻׁנִּ֔י יוֹאָח֙ בֶּן־זִמָּ֔ה וְעֵ֖דֶן בֶּן־יוֹאָֽח׃

So the Levites set to—Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah of the sons of Kohath; and of the sons of Merari, Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah;

וּמִן־בְּנֵי֙ אֱלִ֣יצָפָ֔ן שִׁמְרִ֖י (ויעואל) [וִיעִיאֵ֑ל] וּמִן־בְּנֵ֣י אָסָ֔ף זְכַרְיָ֖הוּ וּמַתַּנְיָֽהוּ׃ {ס}

and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeiel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah;

וּמִן־בְּנֵ֥י הֵימָ֖ן (יחואל) [יְחִיאֵ֣ל] וְשִׁמְעִ֑י {ס} וּמִן־בְּנֵ֣י יְדוּת֔וּן שְׁמַֽעְיָ֖ה וְעֻזִּיאֵֽל׃

and of the sons of Heman, Jehiel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel—

וַיַּאַסְפ֤וּ אֶת־אֲחֵיהֶם֙ וַיִּֽתְקַדְּשׁ֔וּ וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ כְמִצְוַת־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בְּדִבְרֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה לְטַהֵ֖ר בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃

and, gathering their brothers, they sanctified themselves and came, by a command of the king concerning G OD ’s ordinances, to purify the House of G OD .

וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ הַ֠כֹּהֲנִ֠ים לִפְנִ֣ימָה בֵית־יְהֹוָה֮ לְטַהֵר֒ וַיּוֹצִ֗יאוּ אֵ֤ת כׇּל־הַטֻּמְאָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר מָֽצְאוּ֙ בְּהֵיכַ֣ל יְהֹוָ֔ה לַחֲצַ֖ר בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה וַֽיְקַבְּלוּ֙ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם לְהוֹצִ֥יא לְנַחַל־קִדְר֖וֹן חֽוּצָה׃

The priests went into the House of G OD to purify it, and brought all the impure things they found in the Temple of G OD out into the court of the House of G OD ; [there] the Levites received them, to take them outside to Wadi Kidron.

וַ֠יָּחֵ֠לּוּ בְּאֶחָ֞ד לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן֮ לְקַדֵּשׁ֒ וּבְי֧וֹם שְׁמוֹנָ֣ה לַחֹ֗דֶשׁ בָּ֚אוּ לְאוּלָ֣ם יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיְקַדְּשׁ֥וּ אֶת־בֵּית־יְהֹוָ֖ה לְיָמִ֣ים שְׁמוֹנָ֑ה וּבְי֨וֹם שִׁשָּׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֛ר לַחֹ֥דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֖וֹן כִּלּֽוּ׃ {ס}

They began the sanctification on the first day of the first month; on the eighth day of the month they reached the porch of G OD . They sanctified the House of G OD for eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished.

וַיָּב֤וֹאֽוּ פְנִ֙ימָה֙ אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ טִהַ֖רְנוּ אֶת־כׇּל־בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה אֶת־מִזְבַּ֤ח הָעוֹלָה֙ וְאֶת־כׇּל־כֵּלָ֔יו וְאֶת־שֻׁלְחַ֥ן הַֽמַּעֲרֶ֖כֶת וְאֶת־כׇּל־כֵּלָֽיו׃

Then they went into the palace of King Hezekiah and said, “We have purified the whole House of G OD and the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table of the bread of display and all its utensils;

וְאֵ֣ת כׇּל־הַכֵּלִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִזְנִ֩יחַ֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ אָחָ֧ז בְּמַלְכוּת֛וֹ בְּמַעֲל֖וֹ הֵכַ֣נּוּ וְהִקְדָּ֑שְׁנוּ וְהִנָּ֕ם לִפְנֵ֖י מִזְבַּ֥ח יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}

and all the utensils that King Ahaz had befouled during his reign, when he trespassed, we have made ready and sanctified. They are standing in front of the altar of G OD .”

וַיַּשְׁכֵּם֙ יְחִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֶּאֱסֹ֕ף אֵ֖ת שָׂרֵ֣י הָעִ֑יר וַיַּ֖עַל בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃

King Hezekiah rose early, gathered the officers of the city, and went up to the House of G OD .

וַיָּבִ֣יאוּ פָֽרִים־שִׁבְעָה֩ וְאֵילִ֨ים שִׁבְעָ֜ה וּכְבָשִׂ֣ים שִׁבְעָ֗ה וּצְפִירֵ֨י עִזִּ֤ים שִׁבְעָה֙ לְחַטָּ֔את עַל־הַמַּמְלָכָ֥ה וְעַל־הַמִּקְדָּ֖שׁ וְעַל־יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לִבְנֵ֤י אַֽהֲרֹן֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים לְהַעֲל֖וֹת עַל־מִזְבַּ֥ח יְהֹוָֽה׃

They brought seven bulls and seven rams and seven lambs and seven he-goats as a purgation offering for the kingdom and for the Sanctuary and for Judah. He ordered the Aaronite priests to offer them on the altar of G OD .

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

The cattle were slaughtered, and the priests received the blood and dashed it against the altar; the rams were slaughtered and the blood was dashed against the altar; the lambs were slaughtered and the blood was dashed against the altar.

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

The he-goats for the purgation offering were presented to the king and the congregation, who laid their hands upon them.

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

The priests slaughtered them and performed the purgation rite with the blood against the altar, to expiate for all Israel, for the king had designated the burnt offering and the purgation offering to be for all Israel.

וַיַּעֲמֵ֨ד אֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֜ם בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֗ה בִּמְצִלְתַּ֙יִם֙ בִּנְבָלִ֣ים וּבְכִנֹּר֔וֹת בְּמִצְוַ֥ת דָּוִ֛יד וְגָ֥ד חֹזֵֽה־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וְנָתָ֣ן הַנָּבִ֑יא כִּ֧י בְיַד־יְהֹוָ֛ה הַמִּצְוָ֖ה בְּיַד־נְבִיאָֽיו׃

He stationed the Levites in the House of G OD with cymbals and harps and lyres, as David and Gad the king’s seer and Nathan the prophet had ordained, for the ordinance was by G OD through those prophets.

וַיַּעַמְד֤וּ הַלְוִיִּם֙ בִּכְלֵ֣י דָוִ֔יד וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים בַּחֲצֹצְרֽוֹת׃ {פ}

When the Levites were in place with the instruments of David, and the priests with their trumpets,

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ לְהַעֲל֥וֹת הָעֹלָ֖ה לְהַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וּבְעֵ֞ת הֵחֵ֣ל הָעוֹלָ֗ה הֵחֵ֤ל שִׁיר־יְהֹוָה֙ וְהַחֲצֹ֣צְר֔וֹת וְעַ֨ל־יְדֵ֔י כְּלֵ֖י דָּוִ֥יד מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Hezekiah gave the order to offer the burnt offering on the altar. When the burnt offering began, the song of G OD and the trumpets began also, together with the instruments of King David of Israel.

וְכׇל־הַקָּהָל֙ מִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִ֔ים וְהַשִּׁ֣יר מְשׁוֹרֵ֔ר וְהַחֲצֹצְר֖וֹת (מחצצרים) [מַחְצְרִ֑ים] הַכֹּ֕ל עַ֖ד לִכְל֥וֹת הָעֹלָֽה׃

All the congregation prostrated themselves, the song was sung and the trumpets were blown—all this until the end of the burnt offering.

וּכְכַלּ֖וֹת לְהַעֲל֑וֹת כָּֽרְע֗וּ הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וְכׇֽל־הַנִּמְצְאִ֥ים אִתּ֖וֹ וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֽוּ׃

When the offering was finished, the king and all who were there with him knelt and prostrated themselves.

וַ֠יֹּ֠אמֶר יְחִזְקִיָּ֨הוּ הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ וְהַשָּׂרִים֙ לַלְוִיִּ֔ם לְהַלֵּל֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה בְּדִבְרֵ֥י דָוִ֖יד וְאָסָ֣ף הַחֹזֶ֑ה וַֽיְהַלְלוּ֙ עַד־לְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וַֽיִּקְּד֖וּ וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֽוּ׃ {פ}

King Hezekiah and the officers ordered the Levites to praise G OD in the words of David and Asaph the seer; so they praised rapturously, and they bowed and prostrated themselves.

וַיַּ֨עַן יְחִזְקִיָּ֜הוּ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר עַתָּה֙ מִלֵּאתֶ֤ם יֶדְכֶם֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה גֹּ֧שׁוּ וְהָבִ֛יאוּ זְבָחִ֥ים וְתוֹד֖וֹת לְבֵ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיָּבִ֤יאוּ הַקָּהָל֙ זְבָחִ֣ים וְתוֹד֔וֹת וְכׇל־נְדִ֥יב לֵ֖ב עֹלֽוֹת׃

Then Hezekiah said, “Now you have consecrated yourselves to G OD ; come, bring sacrifices of well-being and thanksgiving to the House of G OD .” The congregation brought sacrifices of well-being and thanksgiving, and all who felt so moved brought burnt offerings.

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

The number of burnt offerings that the congregation brought was 70 cattle, 100 rams, 200 lambs—all these for burnt offerings to G OD .

וְֽהַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים בָּקָר֙ שֵׁ֣שׁ מֵא֔וֹת וְצֹ֖אן שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִֽים׃

The sacred offerings were 600 large cattle and 3,000 small cattle.

רַ֤ק הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ הָי֣וּ לִמְעָ֔ט וְלֹ֣א יָכְל֔וּ לְהַפְשִׁ֖יט אֶת־כׇּל־הָעֹל֑וֹת וַֽיְחַזְּק֞וּם אֲחֵיהֶ֣ם הַלְוִיִּ֗ם עַד־כְּל֤וֹת הַמְּלָאכָה֙ וְעַ֣ד יִתְקַדְּשׁ֣וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים כִּ֤י הַלְוִיִּם֙ יִשְׁרֵ֣י לֵבָ֔ב לְהִתְקַדֵּ֖שׁ מֵהַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃

The priests were too few to be able to flay all the burnt offerings, so their kindred, the Levites, reinforced them till the end of the work, and till the [rest of the] priests sanctified themselves. (The Levites were more conscientious about sanctifying themselves than the priests.)

וְגַם־עֹלָ֨ה לָרֹ֜ב בְּחֶלְבֵ֧י הַשְּׁלָמִ֛ים וּבַנְּסָכִ֖ים לָֽעֹלָ֑ה וַתִּכּ֖וֹן עֲבוֹדַ֥ת בֵּית־יְהֹוָֽה׃

For beside the large number of burnt offerings, there were the fat parts of the sacrifices of well-being and the libations for the burnt offerings; so the service of the House of G OD was properly accomplished.

וַיִּשְׂמַ֤ח יְחִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ וְכׇל־הָעָ֔ם עַ֛ל הַהֵכִ֥ין הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים לָעָ֑ם כִּ֥י בְּפִתְאֹ֖ם הָיָ֥ה הַדָּבָֽר׃ {פ}

Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced over what God had enabled the people to accomplish, because it had happened so suddenly.