Skip to content
mannafest.faith
Read

2 Chronicles 29:34

in 2 Chronicles 29

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.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

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 priests had sanctified themselves; for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

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.

⋯

This verse in 2 Chronicles 29

Commentary

8 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

They 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 reformation.

This site's exposition

priests were too few, so that

The priests run short handed and the Levites step into work the law reserved for Aaron's sons alone, Clarke calling it a case of necessity rather than a new rule. The verse states the reason without softening it: the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests, an unfavorable comparison Chronicles lets stand rather than explains away. Henry reads it as encouragement to the zealous Levites and a mark against the priests who had been slower to consecrate themselves for the work in front of them.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

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.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

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 L ORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us.

quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:96%@v9-10

But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

This was not according to the law ( Lev. i. 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.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

The duty being assigned by the law to the priests (Le 1:6), was construed by consuetudinary practice as an exclusion of all others not connected with the Aaronic family. for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests--that is, displayed greater alacrity than the priests.
1 more voice on this verse

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

The Levites were more upright etc - See the marginal reference. Urijah, the high priest, had participated to some extent in the impieties of Ahaz 2Ki 16:10-16. He and many of the priests may, therefore, have looked coldly on the reforming zeal of Hezekiah.

The words behind it

25 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • רַ֤קonly

    rakH7535 →109 times

  • הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙the priests

    hakohanimH3548 →750 times

  • הָי֣וּthey were

    hayuH1961 →3559 times

  • לִמְעָ֔טto fewness

    limatH4592 →

  • וְלֹ֣אand not

    velo'H3808 →5168 times

  • יָֽכְל֔וּthey were able

    yakheluH3201 →194 times

  • לְהַפְשִׁ֖יטto skin

    lehafshitH6584 →43 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • כָּל־all

    kol-H3605 →5413 times

  • הָעֹל֑וֹתthe burnt offerings

    haolotH5930 →287 times

  • וַֽיְּחַזְּק֞וּםand they helped them

    vaiyechazekumH2388 →291 times

  • אֲחֵיהֶ֣םrelatives their

    ʾacheihemH251 →630 times

  • הַלְוִיִּ֗םthe Levites

    halviyimH3881 →291 times

  • עַד־until

    ʾad-H5704 →1261 times

  • כְּל֤וֹתwas complete

    kelotH3615 →208 times

  • הַמְּלָאכָה֙the work

    hamelakhahH4399 →167 times

  • וְעַ֣דand until

    veadH5704 →1261 times

  • יִתְקַדְּשׁ֣וּthey had consecrated themselves

    yitkadeshuH6942 →171 times

  • הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֔יםthe priests

    hakohanimH3548 →750 times

  • כִּ֤יfor

    kiH3588 →4482 times

  • הַלְוִיִּם֙the Levites

    halviyimH3881 →291 times

  • יִשְׁרֵ֣י[were] upright of

    yishreiH3477 →119 times

  • לֵבָ֔בheart

    levavH3824 →252 times

  • לְהִתְקַדֵּ֖שׁto consecrate themselves

    lehitkadeshH6942 →171 times

  • מֵֽהַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃more than the priests

    mehakohanimH3548 →750 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

2 Chronicles 30:15And on the fourteenth day of the second month they slaughtered the Passover lamb. The priests and Levites were ashamed, and they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the LORD.7 works2 Chronicles 30:17Since there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves, the Levites were in charge of slaughtering the Passover lambs for every unclean person to consecrate the lambs to the LORD.6 works2 Chronicles 30:3since they had been unable to observe it at the regular time, because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not been gathered in Jerusalem.6 works2 Chronicles 35:11And they slaughtered the Passover lambs, while the priests sprinkled the blood handed to them and the Levites skinned the animals.5 works2 Chronicles 30:24For Hezekiah king of Judah contributed a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep for the assembly, and the officials contributed a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep for the assembly, and a great number of priests consecrated themselves.5 worksEzekiel 44:11Yet they shall be ministers in My sanctuary, having charge of the gates of the temple and ministering there. They shall slaughter the burnt offerings and other sacrifices for the people and stand before them to minister to them.4 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Exodus 19:10Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes3 worksEzra 6:20All the priests and Levites had purified themselves and were ceremonially clean. And the Levites slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their priestly brothers, and for themselves.3 worksPsalms 94:15Surely judgment will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.2 works2 Chronicles 29:5“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.2 worksPsalms 7:10My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.2 works1 Chronicles 29:17I know, my God, that You test the heart and delight in uprightness. All these things I have given willingly and with an upright heart, and now I have seen Your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to You.2 worksNumbers 8:19And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the Israelites, to perform the service for the Israelites at the Tent of Meeting and to make atonement on their behalf, so that no plague will come against the Israelites when they approach the sanctuary.”2 worksPsalms 26:6I wash my hands in innocence that I may go about Your altar, O LORD,2 worksNumbers 8:15After you have cleansed them and presented them as a wave offering, they may come to serve at the Tent of Meeting.2 works2 Chronicles 30:16–17They stood at their prescribed posts, according to the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood, which they received from the hand of the Levites.2 worksNumbers 18:6–7Behold, I Myself have selected your fellow Levites from the Israelites as a gift to you, dedicated to the LORD to perform the service for the Tent of Meeting.2 worksNumbers 18:3And they shall attend to your duties and to all the duties of the Tent; but they must not come near to the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar, or both they and you will die.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Psalms 7:10

    My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.

    it leads to

    • Proverbs 28:18

      He who walks with integrity will be kept safe, but whoever is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.

    • Genesis 15:1

      After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”

    • Psalms 125:4

      Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to the upright in heart.

    • Psalms 84:11

      For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.

    • Proverbs 11:20

      The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.

  • Through

    Psalms 94:15

    Surely judgment will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.

    it leads to

    • Micah 7:9

      Because I have sinned against Him, I must endure the rage of the LORD, until He argues my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me into the light; I will see…

    • Psalms 97:2

      Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are His throne’s foundation.

    • Psalms 37:34

      Wait for the LORD and keep His way, and He will raise you up to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

About 2 Chronicles

Solomon Receives the Queen of Sheba, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Solomon Receives the Queen of Sheba, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
2 Chronicles: the study guide →Read 2 Chronicles 29 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in 2 Chronicles 29 →