2 Chronicles 30:24

For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(24) Did give . . . gave.—Had presented (Exodus 35:24)—scil., for sacrifice as a tĕrûmāh, or “heave offering.” The gifts of king and princes for the Mazzôth festival were so abundant that they sufficed not only for the feast itself, but also for an additional week of rejoicing.

And a great number of priests.—Literally, and priests had sanctified themselves in multitude, or to abundance. The priests no longer hung back as they had done previously (2Chronicles 30:3; 2Chronicles 30:15; 2Chronicles 29:34). There was now no lack of persons duly purified for the sacrifice of so many victims.

Benson Commentary

2 Chronicles 30:24. Hezekiah did give a thousand bullocks, and seven thousand sheep — First to God, to whom the parts appointed were offered in a way of thanksgiving; and then to the people, who feasted upon the relics, as the offerer used to do in peace-offerings: and Hezekiah, who was the offerer, gave away his right in the remains of the sacrifices to the people. Which generosity is the more considerable, because it was in the beginning of his reign, when he found the exchequer empty; and when he had been at great expense about cleansing and refitting the temple, and making preparations for this great feast. By this great liberality of the king and princes, God was honoured, the joy of the festival was kept up, and the strangers were encouraged to come again to Jerusalem.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

30:21-27 Many prayers were put up to God with the peace-offerings. In these Israel looked to God as the God of their fathers, a God in covenant with them. There was also abundance of good preaching. The Levites read and explained the Scriptures. Faith cometh by hearing, and true religion preaching has abounded. They sang psalms every day: praising God should be much of our work in religious assemblies. Having kept the seven days of the feast in this religious manner, they had so much comfort in it, that they kept other seven days also. This they did with gladness. Holy duties should be done with holy gladness. And when sinners humble themselves before the Lord, they may expect gladness in his ordinances. Those who taste this happiness will not soon grow weary of it, but will be glad to prolong their enjoyment.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

To keep other seven days - This was a voluntary addition to the requirements of the Law - the fruit and sign of the abounding zeal which characterized the time. Hezekiah and the princes probably proposed it to the people, and presented them with sacrificial animals.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

24. and a great number of priests sanctified themselves—so that there would be a sufficient number of hands for the additional services.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Hezekiah did give to the congregation; first to God, to whom the parts appointed were offered in way of thanksgiving; and then to the people, who feasted upon the relics, as the offerer used to do in peace-offerings; and Hezekiah, who was the offerer, gave away his right in the remains of the sacrifices to the people.

A thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; which generosity is the more considerable, because it was in the beginning of his reign, when he found the royal exchequer exhausted and empty; and when he had been at great expense about the cleansing and refitting of the temple, and making preparations for this great feast.

A great number of priests sanctified themselves; having now both more time and further need of sanctifying themselves to offer these numerous sacrifices.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation one thousand bullocks, and seven thousand sheep,.... He separated them, as Kimchi interprets it, from his own herds and flocks; or out of his own substance, at his own expense purchased them; or lifted them up, as the word signifies, as heave offerings to the Lord; and gave them to the people for thank offerings to feast upon:

and the princes gave to the congregation one thousand bullocks, and ten thousand sheep: for the same purposes, following the king's example:

and a great number of priests sanctified themselves; besides those who had before, that they might be fit to offer this great number of sacrifices.

Geneva Study Bible

For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a {p} thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.

(p) This great liberality declares how kings, princes and all they to whom God has given, should be ready to bestow it in the setting forth of God's glory.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

24. did give to the congregation] R.V. did give to the congregation for offerings.

sanctified themselves] Cp. 2 Chronicles 29:34.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 24. - Did give. This is an inadequate rendering. Revised Version reads, did give for offerings; others read, "gave as an heave offering." In the light of our 2 Chronicles 35:7-9, the Revised Version rendering seems sufficient. 2 Chronicles 30:24

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Prolongation of the festival for seven days more, and the conclusion of it. - 2 Chronicles 30:23. Since the king and the princes had given a very large number of beasts for sacrifice as thank-offerings, it was resolved to keep joy for other seven days, i.e., to keep them festally, with sacrificial meals. The expression ימים עשׂה, to hold or celebrate days, is similar to פסח עשׂה, to hold the passover. שׂמהה is an adverbial accusative: in joy. For this resolution two reasons are given in 2 Chronicles 30:24 : 1. Hezekiah had given to the assembly 1000 bullocks and 7000 head of small cattle, and the princes had given 1000 bullocks and 10,000 head of small cattle besides; so that there was more than they could use during the seven days of the Mazzoth feast. Bertheau incorrectly supposes that these were "rich gifts for further sacrificial feasts." The gifts were bestowed for the Mazzoth festival, but were so plentiful that they sufficed for another festival of seven days. הרים, like תּרוּמה, denotes to bestow, i.e., to present beasts, etc., with the design that they should be used as sacrifices; cf. 2 Chronicles 35:7. 2. The second reason: "priests also had sanctified themselves in multitude," so as to be able to carry on the service at the altar, even with such numerous sacrifices, refers back to 2 Chronicles 30:15 and 2 Chronicles 30:3.