2 Chronicles 30:22

2Ch 30:22 And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers.

Ver. 22. And Hezekiah spake comfortably to all the Levites.] Heb., To the heart of all the Levites: he cheered them up, and encouraged them to do their work lustily, promising them his best assistance. Few such princes. Some {a} sense the words thus: He spake unto them words piercing to the heart, that they should take upon them and continue the care of instructing the people. Others thus: He instructed them in the free grace and rich mercy of God, who accepteth of those that are upright in heart, though there may be some outward failings. A most comfortable doctrine indeed.

That taught the good knowledge of the Lord.] And therefore had the more need of encouragement under so laborious an employment.

{a} Cajetan.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Ch 30:22. Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites — Commended them for their care and diligence, and thereby encouraged them to a cheerful and diligent attendance upon their holy ministrations, and to continue to instruct the people in their duty, promising, it is likely, to reward them for what they had already done. That taught the good knowledge of the Lord — Who by their office were to instruct and build up the people in the knowledge and fear of God; which is mentioned as the cause of his respect and kindness to them. Princes and magistrates, by encouraging faithful and laborious preachers of God’s word, greatly promote the kingdom of God.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Hebrew, spake to the heart.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 22. Spake comfortably unto all the Levites] On such occasions the priests and Levites had great fatigue, and suffered many privations; and therefore had need of that encouragement which this prudent and pious king gave. It is a fine and expressive character given of these men, "They taught the good knowledge of God to the people." This is the great work, or should be so, of every Christian minister. They should convey that knowledge of God to the people by which they may be saved; that is, the good knowledge of the Lord.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(22) Spake comfortably.—See margin, and comp. Isa_40:2.

That taught the good knowledge of the Lord.—Rather, were showing good skill for (in honour of) Jehovah, in their chanting and playing. The king encouraged the musicians with kindly words of praise.

They did eat throughout the feast.—Literally, they ate the feast, like “they ate the passover.” The meaning is that the assembly ate the sacrificial meals, which were supplied from the flesh of the “peace offerings.” The phrase is peculiar to this passage. The LXX. has καὶ συνετέλεσαν, “and they finished:” a difference which implies no great change in the Hebrew writing, but is against the context.

Making confession.—LXX. rightly, ἐξομολογούμενοι. The meaning is “yielding hearty thanks,” “acknowledging “the Divine goodness. Everywhere else the Hebrew word means “to confess guilt” (Neh_9:3; Lev_5:5; Num_5:7).

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

22. that taught the good knowledge of the Lord] R.V. that were well skilled in the service of the LORD.

and they did eat … seven days] R.V. So they did eat … for the seven days, i.e. the usual seven days of unleavened bread.

pace offerings] R.V. sacrifices of peace offerings; cp. 1Ch_16:1.

making confession] Or “giving thanks” R.V. mg. LXX. ἐξομολογούμενοι.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days,.... They consulted among themselves, and with the king and his nobles about it, who all agreed to it:

and they kept other seven days with gladness; not altogether in the same manner they had kept the preceding seven days; they did not slay and eat passover lambs, nor did they eat unleavened bread, but offered peace offerings, and feasted upon them; and sung the praises of God, and attended to the instructions of the priests and Levites, being in a very agreeable frame of mind for religious exercises.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

The “knowledge” intended is perhaps chiefly ritualistic and musical - such knowledge as enabled them to conduct the service of the sanctuary satisfactorily.

They did eat throughout the feast - literally, “they did eat the feast;” i. e. “they kept the feast,” which was essentially kept by the eating of unleavened bread. The Levites kept the feast during the full term appointed for it, never failing in their duties, but taking their part day after day, both in the sacrifice of the victims and in singing praises to God.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Heart; encouraged them to bear the fatigue for other seven days. --- Lord; being of good dispositions, (C.) and able musicians. Sa) M. --- Praising. Prot. "making confession to." But the sense is the same. H. --- During the seven days, unleavened bread and peace-offerings were used, v. 24. C.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Spake comfortably unto all the Levites; encouraged them to a cheerful and diligent attendance upon their holy ministrations by the promise of his favour and utmost care for them, which he faithfully performed, 2Ch 31:4, &c.

That taught the good knowledge of the Lord; who by their office were to instruct and build up the people in the knowledge and fear of God; which is mentioned as the cause of his respect and kindness to them, which was for their work’s sake, as it is said, 1Th 5:13.

Making confession: either,

1. Confessing their sins; which work was to accompany many of their sacrifices; of which see Lev 5:5; 16:21. Or rather,

2. Confessing God’s goodness, or praising of God, which oft goes under this name, as 1Ch 16:8,24, which also seems to be more proper work for this season of joy.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

22. Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites — Hebrew, spoke to the heart. He spoke encouraging and cheering words to them, commending their zeal and wisdom.

That taught the good knowledge of the Lord — Rather, who were proficient in a good understanding of Jehovah; that is, well skilled to perform their part of the sanctuary service.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Spake comfortably; literally, to the heart of, etc. That taught the good knowledge. This rendering is in some error, and is awkward in not indicating the direction of the knowledge. A better rendering (see Revised Version) will be, who were well skilled in rendering such service to Jehovah. And perhaps the simplest rendering, "who served with good service to Jehovah," will be the most correct to the real meaning of the Hebrew text (Psa_111:10; Pro_13:15) Making confession; i.e. the confession or uttering forth of praise (so Psa_75:2 Psa_92:1; 1Ch_16:4, 1Ch_16:7, 1Ch_16:35, 41 23:30 25:3; 2Ch_5:13 2Ch_7:3, 6 31:2)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Spoke comfortably - Encouraged them to a chearful and diligent attendance upon their holy ministrations. Princes and magistrates by encouraging faithful and labourious preachers, greatly promote the kingdom of God. That taught - Who by their office were to instruct and build up the people in the knowledge and fear of God: which is mentioned as the cause of his respect and kindness to them.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

who were experts in the service of the Lord it is appropriate to use the term “expertise” (שֵׂכֶל) in regards to song, as it is written, (above I Chron. 26:14): “And the lot to the east fell to Shelemiah, and Zechariah, his son, a prudent counselor, etc.,” (יוֹעֵץבְּשֵׂכֶל). Hezekiah spoke to their hearts with consolations and pleasant words to encourage them and assist them, in order that they too strengthen the song with expertise for the Lord.

and thanking the Lord over the thanksgiving offerings, and they thanked the Lord for the miracle that He had wrought for them, for the thanksgiving offering comes for a miracle.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.