And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, an hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD.
2 CHRONICLES 29:32KJVWhat does 2 Chronicles 29:32 mean?
2 Chronicles 29:32 reports the total number of burnt offerings that the people brought to the temple: seventy bulls, one hundred rams, and two hundred lambs, all given as burnt offerings to the LORD. This verse highlights the scale and seriousness of the congregation’s response in bringing sacrifices during a time of religious renewal.
King Hezekiah is leading a major restoration of worship in Jerusalem after a period of neglect. The people, responding to his call, gather and present these animals as burnt offerings, which were entirely consumed by fire as a sign of dedication to God. The verse gives a concrete record of their collective participation and the importance placed on restoring proper worship.
The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 29:32
- קָהָל (qāhāl, H6951): This word means "assembly" or "congregation." Its use here emphasizes that the offerings were not just from priests or leaders, but from the gathered people as a whole.
- עֹלָה (ʿōlāh, H5930): This is the word for "burnt offering," a sacrifice completely burned on the altar. The repetition of this term in the verse underlines that all these animals were dedicated entirely to God, not shared as food.
- יָבִיא (yāḇî, H935): Translated as "brought," this verb stresses the active participation of the people in bringing their offerings, not just passively observing the ritual.
- יְהוָה (YHWH, H3068): The name for the LORD, showing these offerings were specifically directed to Israel’s God, not just generic religious acts.
Why 2 Chronicles 29:32 matters
- The verse clears up any idea that worship in Hezekiah’s time was a small or private affair; it shows a large, public, and communal act of devotion.
- By listing the specific numbers and types of animals, the verse highlights both the generosity of the people and the seriousness of their renewed commitment to God.
- This record connects to the wider chapter, which describes a turning point in Judah’s history, marking a move from neglect of the temple to a revival of proper worship practices.