Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 29:5

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].

5. sanctify now yourselves ] Cp. Exo 19:10-15.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Sanctify now yourselves – Compare the marginal reference. Hezekiah follows Davids example, knowing, probably, that the priests had in the preceding time of idolatry contracted many defilements.

The filthiness, or uncleanness 2Ch 29:16, might consist, in part, of mere dust and dirt, in part, of idolatrous objects introduced by Ahaz before he finally shut up the temple 2Ki 16:10-16.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

2Ch 29:5

Sanctify now yourselves and sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers.

Personal consecration

I. What is involved in this personal dedication? Thomas Aquinas made three kinds of baptism: Sanguinis, fluminis, fiaminis–the blood, the flood, the fire! By repentance and faith in Christs atonement the sinner is saved, and by water-baptism received into the visible Church. But, to be wholly prepared for the Masters work, there must be the baptism of the Holy Ghost and of fire. The aim of Christianity is to lead us from the material to the spiritual; from the instrumental and accidental to the absolute and eternal. This house is an instrument in the service of God. Its best consecration is the consecration of its occupants, and this is accomplished by the radical work of the Holy Spirit. The tongue of the preacher, the pen of the author, the lips of the singer, the fingers of the musician, and the brush of the painter, are servants of a governing purpose–channels through which thought and feeling, genius and culture, express themselves. If the soul that controls these instruments be consecrated, then they are hallowed. As the wondrous river we read of in ancient fable turned to gold the very sand its currents washed, so does the fountain of a holy heart, pouring forth its enriching flood in speech and effort, dignify the humblest employment or surroundings. With this spirit of consecration enter and occupy this sanctuary, and you will make the place, indeed, holy.

II. What are the fruits of this radical, hearty, and permanent consecration? The people by this spirit of high consecration, are set free from the bondage of low and false views, prevalent in worldly circles. And, finally, if the pure and holy spirit of self-dedication, thus outlined, prevails, genuine revivals of religion will surely follow, healthful growth in activity, love, and liberality will be seen, and true Christian unity will be fostered among all who really love our Lord Jesus Christ. (Prof. E. P. Thwing.)

Reformation must be thorough

A reformation to be worth much must be thorough. Half-way work in this line is of little value. Again and again the kings of Judah, when they swept away all idol worship, left untouched the high places where Jehovah was sacrificed to irregularly; and, because of their failure at completeness, their people went quickly back to gross idolatry. So in all partial attempts at reform. The man who proposes to give up drinking, or gambling, or profanity, or dishonest courses, without surrendering himself wholly to the Lord, is not likely to succeed even to the extent of his attempts. And it is with the house of the Lord as it is with persons. Unless it is wholly the Lords, it does little honour to Him. H it is in use for religious purposes on Sunday, and for concerts and fairs and lectures and shows during the week; or if part of it is for a house of worship, and part for shops of trade–it is at the best a much abused sanctuary. Carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place. (H. Clay Trumbull.)

Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell

That filthy altar, which Ahaz had put in the place of Gods altar, 2Ki 16:11, &c., and the idols or other abominable or polluting things which were there.

Out of the holy place; the temple, or the priests court, which also is called a holy place, Lev 6:16; 10:13; Num 28:7.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

And said unto them, hear me, ye Levites; sanctify yourselves,…. By washing their bodies and their garments, that no pollution might attend them in their service, see Isa 52:11

and sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers; by carrying out of it all manner of uncleanness, as they did, 2Ch 29:16,

and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place; or the abomination; the altar, like that at Damascus, which Ahaz, removing the altar of the Lord, had placed in the court of the priests; or, as Kimchi thinks, an idol, which he had set upon that altar.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(5) Hear me.2Ch. 15:2; 2Ch. 20:15.

Sanctify now yourselves.See Note on 1Ch. 15:12; 1Ch. 15:14.

Sanctify the house.By removing all symbols of idolatry.

Carry forth the filthiness.Niddah denotes personal impurity (Lev. 12:2; Eze. 18:6); and so anything loathsome (Eze. 7:19); here probably idols, and things connected with their worship.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

5. Sanctify now yourselves That is, ceremonially, by purifying yourselves from all legal defilement. This was necessary in order that they might properly sanctify the house of the Lord by removing from it all its defilements. Comp. 1Ch 15:12-14.

Carry forth the filthiness The abominations of idolatry which Ahaz had introduced, and also the dust and dirt that had accumulated there. Comp. 2Ch 29:16, note.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2Ch 29:5 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].

Ver. 5. And he said unto them, Hear me. ] He makes a speech to them, full of faith and piety in every passage.

Ye Levites. ] He beginneth his reformation at the ministry. Incipiendum a Minoritis, said one of the council of Basil; Imo vero a Maioritis, said another. The priests are here comprised under the name of Levites.

Sanctify now yourselves. ] By legal rites, but especially by repentance, faith, and new obedience, fit yourselves for your respective employments.

And carry forth the filthiness. ] The idols, and all their trinkets and trash. Nothing must be left behind that might make idolaters hope for a desired day.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

ye Levites. Reformation must begin with the ministry. All priests were Levites, but not all Levites were priests.

holy. See note on Exo 3:5.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

sanctify now: 2Ch 35:6, Exo 19:10, Exo 19:15, 1Ch 15:12

sanctify the house: 2Ch 29:16, 2Ch 34:3-8, Eze 36:25, Mat 21:12, Mat 21:13, 1Co 3:16, 1Co 3:17, 2Co 6:16, 2Co 7:1, Eph 5:26, Eph 5:27

carry forth: Eze 8:3, Eze 8:9-18

Reciprocal: Lev 14:42 – General 1Ch 23:28 – purifying 2Ch 5:11 – sanctified 2Ch 29:15 – sanctified themselves 2Ch 29:34 – the priests 2Ch 35:2 – encouraged Neh 12:30 – themselves Neh 13:9 – they cleansed Neh 13:22 – I commanded Eze 44:10 – the Levites Joe 2:16 – sanctify

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2Ch 29:5. Hear me, ye Levites; carry forth the filthiness That filthy altar which Ahaz had put in the place of Gods altar, (2Ki 16:11,) and the idols, or other abominable things, which were there; out of the holy place The temple, or the priests court, which also is often called a holy place.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

29:5 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 {c} the filthiness out of the holy [place].

(c) Meaning, all the idols, altar groves and whatever was occupied in their service and with which the temple was polluted.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes