Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 30:16

And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, [which they received] of the hand of the Levites.

16. after their manner ] R.V. after their order.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

After their manner – According to the Mishna, the custom was for the priests to stand in two rows extending from the altar to the outer court, where the people were assembled. As each offerer killed his lamb the blood was caught in a basin, which was handed to the nearest priest, who passed it on to his neighbor, and he to the next; the blood was thus conveyed to the altar, at the base of which it was thrown by the last priest in the row. While basins full of blood were thus passed up, empty basins were passed down in a constant succession, so that there was no pause or delay.

Which they received of the hand of the Levites – Ordinarily, the blood was received at the hand of the offerer. But the greater number of the Israelites 2Ch 30:17 who had come to keep the feast were involved in some ceremonial or moral defilement, from which there had not been time for them to purify themselves. On account of this uncleanness, they did not slay their own lambs, but delegated the office to the Levites.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

The priests sprinkled the blood of the sacrifices upon the altar, Lev 1:5. Which they received of the hand of the Levites, who flayed and killed the sacrifices which the priests, if they had been sanctified, should have done, as it was observed before, 2Ch 29:34.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

16-18. the priests sprinkled theblood, which they received of the hand of the LevitesThis wasa deviation from the established rules and practices in presentingthe offerings of the temple. The reason was, that many present on theoccasion having not sanctified themselves, the Levites slaughteredthe paschal victims (see on 2Ch35:5) for everyone that was unclean. At other times the heads offamilies killed the lambs themselves, the priests receiving the bloodfrom their hands and presenting it on the altar. Multitudes of theIsraelites, especially from certain tribes (2Ch30:18), were in this unsanctified state, and yet they ate thepassoveran exceptional feature and one opposed to the law (Nu9:6); but this exception was allowed in answer to Hezekiah’sprayer (2Ch 30:18-20).

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God,…. The priests in their place, and the Levites in theirs, in which they were ordered to stand when they offered sacrifice:

the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites; the blood either of the burnt offerings before mentioned, or of the passover lambs, which the Levites slew, and received the blood of them in basins; and which the priests took of them, and sprinkled, not on the door posts of houses, as in Egypt, but on the altar round about, and which none but priests might do, Le 1:5.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(16) In their place.Omdm. This word is used in this sense only in Daniel, Chronicles, Nehemiah. (Comp. 2Ch. 34:31; 2Ch. 35:10.)

After their manneri.e., according to their order (1Ch. 6:31).

According to the law . . . of God.Another reference to the Pentateuchal legislation. (See 2Ch. 23:18; 2Ch. 24:6; 2Ch. 14:4; 2Ch. 17:9.)

Sprinkled . . . Levites.Rather, sprinkling the blood from the hand of the Levites. On this occasion the Levites, and not the laymen who presented the victims, slew the lambs and handed the blood to the priests to be dashed against the altar. The reason of this breach of the ordinary rule is given in next verse.

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

16. They stood in their place after their manner Priest and Levite occupied each his prescribed place, and performed each his prescribed work according to the law the priests to sprinkle the blood, (see Lev 1:5; Lev 3:2,) the Levites to assist in any work that might be required. In the present instance the Levites killed the paschal victims. 2Ch 30:17. “According to the Mishna, the custom was for the priests to stand in two rows extending from the altar to the outer court, where the people were assembled. As each offerer slew his lamb the blood was caught in a basin, which was handed to the nearest priest, who passed it on to his neighbour, and he to the next; the blood was thus conveyed to the altar, at the base of which it was thrown by the last priest in the row. While basins full of blood were thus passed up, empty basins were passed down in a constant succession, so that there was no pause or delay.” Rawlinson.

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