2 chronicles 29:5 - and said to them, “Listen to me, you Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, and sanctify Yahweh, the God of your fathers’ house, and carry the filthiness out of the holy place.

Generated Verse: 2 chronicles 29:5

What does "2 chronicles 29:5" mean?


This verse, 2 Chronicles 29:5, is part of King Hezekiah's address to the Levites after he became king of Judah. It marks the beginning of a significant religious reform after a period of neglect and idolatry under the previous king, Ahaz. Let's break down the meaning:

"and said to them, 'Listen to me, you Levites!'": Hezekiah is directly addressing the Levites, who were a specific tribe within Israel designated for religious duties, including serving in the temple. He's commanding their attention because he has important instructions for them.

"Now sanctify yourselves...": This is a call to ritual purification. "Sanctify" means to set oneself apart as holy, pure, and dedicated to God. This involved cleansing themselves physically and spiritually, repenting from any sins they may have committed, and recommitting themselves to their sacred role.

"...and sanctify Yahweh, the God of your fathers’ house...": This might seem odd, as how does one sanctify God? Here, "sanctify" means to acknowledge and treat God as holy, reverent, and worthy of worship. They do this by properly performing their religious duties in the temple and leading the people in worship. By performing their duties correctly and re-establishing proper worship, they demonstrate their reverence for God.

"...and carry the filthiness out of the holy place.": This refers to the removal of all the idols, pagan altars, and other objects of idolatrous worship that had been introduced into the temple (the "holy place") during the reign of Ahaz. It signifies the cleansing of the temple from defilement and restoring it to its intended purpose as a place of pure worship for Yahweh. "Filthiness" is a strong term emphasizing the repugnance of idolatry to God.

In summary, the verse means:

King Hezekiah is commanding the Levites to:

1. Prepare Themselves: Purify themselves spiritually and physically.
2. Honor God: Demonstrate their reverence for God through proper worship and adherence to his commands.
3. Cleanse the Temple: Remove all traces of idolatry and restore the temple to its rightful place as a center of pure worship.

The verse is a call to action, a declaration of a return to the worship of Yahweh, and the beginning of Hezekiah's efforts to reform the nation of Judah. It shows Hezekiah's commitment to restoring the temple and the worship of God to its rightful place after a period of neglect and corruption.

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