1Khizki-Yahu began to reign when he was twenty-five years old; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Yerushalayim; and his mother’s name was Avi-Yah the daughter of Zekhar-Yahu. 2And he did that which was right in the eyes of יהוה , according to all that David his father had done. 3He, in the first year of his reign, in the first khodesh, opened the doors of Beit יהוה and repaired them. 4And he brought in the Kohanim and the Levi’im, and gathered them together into the broad place on the east; 5and said unto them, “Hear me, you Levi’im: now consecrate yourselves, and consecrate Beit יהוה the Elohim of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the Kodesh. 6For our fathers have acted treacherously, and done that which was evil in the sight of יהוה our Elohim, and have forsaken Him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of יהוה , and turned their backs. 7Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered Olot in the Kodesh unto the Elohim of Yisra’el. 8Therefore the wrath of יהוה was upon Yehudah and Yerushalayim, and He has delivered them to be a horror, an astonishment, and a hissing, as you see with your eyes. 9For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. 10Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with יהוה Elohei Yisra’el, that His fierce anger may turn away from us. 11My sons, be not now negligent; for יהוה has chosen you to stand before Him, to minister unto Him, and that you should be His ministers, and offer unto Him.”
12Then the Levi’im arose, Makhat Ben Amasai, and Yo’el Ben Azar-Yah, of the sons of the Kehati; and of the sons of Merari, Kish Ben Avdi, and Azar-Yah Ben Yehalelel; and of the Gershuni, Yo’akh Ben Zimah, and Eden Ben Yo’akh; 13and of the sons of Elitzafan, Shimri and Ye’iyel; and of the sons of Asaf, Zekhar-Yahu and Matan-Yahu; 14and of the sons of Heiman, Yekhi’el and Shimei; and of the sons of Yedutun, Shema-Yah and Uzi’el. 15And they gathered their brethren, and hallowed themselves, and went in, according to the commandment of HaMelekh by the words of יהוה , to cleanse Beit יהוה . And16 the Kohanim
went in unto the inner part of Beit יהוה , to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the Heikhal יהוה into the court of Beit יהוה . And the Levi’im took it, to carry it out abroad to the brook Kidron. 17Now they began on the first day of the first khodesh to consecrate, and on the eighth day of the khodesh they came to the porch of יהוה ; and they consecrated Beit יהוה in eight days; and on the sixteenth day of the first khodesh they made an end. 18Then they went in to Khizki-Yahu HaMelekh within [the palace], and said, “We have cleansed all Beit יהוה , even the Mizbe’akh of Olah, with all the vessels thereof, and the Shulkhan HaMa’arekhet, with all the vessels thereof. 19Moreover, all the vessels which Melekh Akhaz in his reign did cast away when he acted treacherously have we prepared and consecrated; and, behold, they are before the Mizbe’akh of יהוה .” Then20 Khizki-Yahu HaMelekh arose early, and gathered the princes of the city, and went up to Beit יהוה . And21 they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he-goats, for a Khatat for the kingdom and for the Mikdash and for Yehudah. And he commanded the Kohanim B’nei Aharon to offer them on the Mizbe’akh of יהוה . So22 they killed the bullocks, and the Kohanim received the blood, and dashed it against the Mizbe’akh; and they killed the rams, and dashed the blood against the Mizbe’akh; they killed also the lambs, and dashed the blood against the Mizbe’akh. 23And they brought near the he-goats for the Khatat before HaMelekh and the congregation, and they laid their hands upon them; 24and the Kohanim killed them, and they made a Khatat with their blood upon the Mizbe’akh, to make atonement for all Yisra’el; for HaMelekh commanded that the Olah and the Khatat should be made for all Yisra’el. 25And he set the Levi’im in Beit יהוה with cymbals, with nevalim, and with kinorot, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the Ro’eh of HaMelekh, and Natan HaNavi; for the Mitzvah was of יהוה by His Nevi’im. 26And the Levi’im stood with the instruments of David, and the Kohanim with the trumpets.
27And Khizki-Yahu commanded to offer the Olah upon the Mizbe’akh. And when the Olah began, the song of יהוה began also, and the trumpets, together with the instruments of David Melekh Yisra’el. 28And all the congregation prostrated themselves, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; all this continued until the Olah was finished. 29And when they had made an end of offering, HaMelekh and all that were present with him bowed themselves and prostrated themselves. 30Moreover Khizki-Yahu HaMelekh and the princes commanded the Levi’im to sing praises unto יהוה with the words of David, and of Asaf HaKhozeh. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves.
31Then Khizki-Yahu answered and said, “Now you have set yourselves apart unto יהוה , come near and bring sacrifices and Todot into Beit יהוה .” And the congregation brought in sacrifices and Todot; and as many as were of a willing heart brought Olot. 32And the number of the Olot which the congregation brought was seventy bullocks, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs; all these were for an Olah to יהוה . And33 the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep. 34But the Kohanim were too few, so that they could not flay all the Olot; therefore their brethren the Levi’im did help them, till the work was ended, and until the Kohanim had hallowed themselves; for the Levi’im were more upright in heart to hallowed themselves than the Kohanim. 35And also the Olot were in abundance, with the fat of the Sh’lamim, and the Nesakhim for every Olah. So the service of Beit יהוה was firmly established. 36And Khizki-Yahu rejoiced, and all the people, because of that which Elohim had prepared for the people; for the thing was done suddenly.
איְחִזְקִיָּהוּ מָלַךְ בֶּן עֶשְׂרִים וְחָמֵשׁ שָׁנָה וְעֶשְׂרִים וָתֵשַׁע שָׁנָה מָלַךְ בִּירוּשָׁלִָם; וְשֵׁם אִמּוֹ אֲבִיָּה בַּת זְכַרְיָהוּ. בוַיַּעַשׂ הַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינֵי יהוה : כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה דָּוִיד אָבִיו. גהוּא בַשָּׁנָה הָרִאשׁוֹנָה לְמָלְכוֹ בַּחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן פָּתַח אֶת דַּלְתוֹת בֵּית יהוה וַיְחַזְּקֵם. דוַיָּבֵא אֶת הַכֹּהֲנִים וְאֶת הַלְוִיִּם; וַיַּאַסְפֵם לִרְחוֹב הַמִּזְרָח. הוַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם שְׁמָעוּנִי הַלְוִיִּם: עַתָּה הִתְקַדְּשׁוּ וְקַדְּשׁוּ אֶת בֵּית יהוה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֵיכֶם וְהוֹצִיאוּ אֶת הַנִּדָּה מִן הַקֹּדֶשׁ. וכִּי מָעֲלוּ אֲבֹתֵינוּ וְעָשׂוּ הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ וַיַּעַזְבֻהוּ; וַיַּסֵּבּוּ פְנֵיהֶם מִמִּשְׁכַּן יהוה וַיִּתְּנוּ עֹרֶף. זגַּם סָגְרוּ דַּלְתוֹת הָאוּלָם וַיְכַבּוּ אֶת הַנֵּרוֹת וּקְטֹרֶת לֹא הִקְטִירוּ; וְעֹלָה לֹא הֶעֱלוּ בַקֹּדֶשׁ לֵאלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. חוַיְהִי קֶצֶף יהוה עַל יְהוּדָה וִירוּשָׁלִָם; וַיִּתְּנֵם לזועה (לְזַעֲוָה) לְשַׁמָּה וְלִשְׁרֵקָה כַּאֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם רֹאִים בְּעֵינֵיכֶם. טוְהִנֵּה נָפְלוּ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ בֶּחָרֶב; וּבָנֵינוּ וּבְנוֹתֵינוּ וְנָשֵׁינוּ בַּשְּׁבִי עַל זֹאת. יעַתָּה עִם לְבָבִי לִכְרוֹת בְּרִית לַיהוה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל; וְיָשֹׁב מִמֶּנּוּ חֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ. יאבָּנַי עַתָּה אַל תִּשָּׁלוּ: כִּי בָכֶם בָּחַר יהוה לַעֲמֹד לְפָנָיו לְשָׁרְתוֹ וְלִהְיוֹת לוֹ מְשָׁרְתִים וּמַקְטִרִים.
יבוַיָּקֻמוּ הַלְוִיִּם מַחַת בֶּן עֲמָשַׂי וְיוֹאֵל בֶּן עֲזַרְיָהוּ מִן בְּנֵי הַקְּהָתִי וּמִן בְּנֵי מְרָרִי קִישׁ בֶּן עַבְדִּי וַעֲזַרְיָהוּ בֶּן יְהַלֶּלְאֵל; וּמִן הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּי יוֹאָח בֶּן זִמָּה וְעֵדֶן בֶּן יוֹאָח. יגוּמִן בְּנֵי אֱלִיצָפָן שִׁמְרִי ויעואל (וִיעִיאֵל); וּמִן בְּנֵי אָסָף זְכַרְיָהוּ וּמַתַּנְיָהוּ. ידוּמִן בְּנֵי הֵימָן יחואל (יְחִיאֵל) וְשִׁמְעִי; וּמִן בְּנֵי יְדוּתוּן שְׁמַעְיָה וְעֻזִּיאֵל. טווַיַּאַסְפוּ אֶת אֲחֵיהֶם וַיִּתְקַדְּשׁוּ וַיָּבֹאוּ כְמִצְוַת הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּדִבְרֵי יהוה לְטַהֵר בֵּית יהוה . טזוַיָּבֹאוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים לִפְנִימָה בֵית יהוה לְטַהֵר וַיּוֹצִיאוּ אֵת כָּל הַטֻּמְאָה אֲשֶׁר מָצְאוּ בְּהֵיכַל יהוה לַחֲצַר בֵּית יהוה ; וַיְקַבְּלוּ הַלְוִיִּם לְהוֹצִיא לְנַחַל קִדְרוֹן חוּצָה. יזוַיָּחֵלּוּ בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן לְקַדֵּשׁ וּבְיוֹם שְׁמוֹנָה לַחֹדֶשׁ בָּאוּ לְאוּלָם יהוה וַיְקַדְּשׁוּ אֶת בֵּית יהוה לְיָמִים שְׁמוֹנָה; וּבְיוֹם שִׁשָּׁה עָשָׂר לַחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן כִּלּוּ. יחוַיָּבוֹאוּ פְנִימָה אֶל חִזְקִיָּהוּ הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֹּאמְרוּ טִהַרְנוּ אֶת כָּל בֵּית יהוה : אֶת מִזְבַּח הָעוֹלָה וְאֶת כָּל כֵּלָיו וְאֶת שֻׁלְחַן הַמַּעֲרֶכֶת וְאֶת כָּל כֵּלָיו. יטוְאֵת כָּל הַכֵּלִים אֲשֶׁר הִזְנִיחַ הַמֶּלֶךְ אָחָז בְּמַלְכוּתוֹ בְּמַעֲלוֹ הֵכַנּוּ וְהִקְדָּשְׁנוּ; וְהִנָּם לִפְנֵי מִזְבַּח יהוה . כוַיַּשְׁכֵּם יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֶּאֱסֹף אֵת שָׂרֵי הָעִיר; וַיַּעַל בֵּית יהוה . כאוַיָּבִיאוּ פָרִים שִׁבְעָה וְאֵילִים שִׁבְעָה וּכְבָשִׂים שִׁבְעָה וּצְפִירֵי עִזִּים שִׁבְעָה לְחַטָּאת עַל הַמַּמְלָכָה וְעַל הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וְעַל יְהוּדָה; וַיֹּאמֶר לִבְנֵי אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֲנִים לְהַעֲלוֹת עַל מִזְבַּח יהוה . כבוַיִּשְׁחֲטוּ הַבָּקָר וַיְקַבְּלוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים אֶת הַדָּם וַיִּזְרְקוּ הַמִּזְבֵּחָה; וַיִּשְׁחֲטוּ הָאֵלִים וַיִּזְרְקוּ הַדָּם הַמִּזְבֵּחָה וַיִּשְׁחֲטוּ הַכְּבָשִׂים וַיִּזְרְקוּ הַדָּם הַמִּזְבֵּחָה. כגוַיַּגִּישׁוּ אֶת שְׂעִירֵי הַחַטָּאת לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וְהַקָּהָל; וַיִּסְמְכוּ יְדֵיהֶם עֲלֵיהֶם. כדוַיִּשְׁחָטוּם הַכֹּהֲנִים וַיְחַטְּאוּ אֶת דָּמָם הַמִּזְבֵּחָה לְכַפֵּר עַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל: כִּי לְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ הָעוֹלָה וְהַחַטָּאת. כהוַיַּעֲמֵד אֶת הַלְוִיִּם בֵּית יהוה בִּמְצִלְתַּיִם בִּנְבָלִים וּבְכִנֹּרוֹת בְּמִצְוַת דָּוִיד וְגָד חֹזֵה הַמֶּלֶךְ וְנָתָן הַנָּבִיא: כִּי בְיַד יהוה הַמִּצְוָה בְּיַד נְבִיאָיו. כווַיַּעַמְדוּ הַלְוִיִּם בִּכְלֵי דָוִיד וְהַכֹּהֲנִים בַּחֲצֹצְרוֹת.
כזוַיֹּאמֶר חִזְקִיָּהוּ לְהַעֲלוֹת הָעֹלָה לְהַמִּזְבֵּחַ; וּבְעֵת הֵחֵל הָעוֹלָה הֵחֵל שִׁיר יהוה וְהַחֲצֹצְרוֹת וְעַל יְדֵי כְּלֵי דָּוִיד מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל. כחוְכָל הַקָּהָל מִשְׁתַּחֲוִים וְהַשִּׁיר מְשׁוֹרֵר וְהַחֲצֹצְרוֹת מחצצרים (מַחְצְרִים): הַכֹּל עַד לִכְלוֹת הָעֹלָה. כטוּכְכַלּוֹת לְהַעֲלוֹת: כָּרְעוּ הַמֶּלֶךְ וְכָל הַנִּמְצְאִים אִתּוֹ וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ. לוַיֹּאמֶר יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ הַמֶּלֶךְ וְהַשָּׂרִים לַלְוִיִּם לְהַלֵּל לַיהוה בְּדִבְרֵי דָוִיד וְאָסָף הַחֹזֶה; וַיְהַלְלוּ עַד לְשִׂמְחָה וַיִּקְּדוּ וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ.
לאוַיַּעַן יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ וַיֹּאמֶר עַתָּה מִלֵּאתֶם יֶדְכֶם לַיהוה גֹּשׁוּ וְהָבִיאוּ זְבָחִים וְתוֹדוֹת לְבֵית יהוה ; וַיָּבִיאוּ הַקָּהָל זְבָחִים וְתוֹדוֹת וְכָל נְדִיב לֵב עֹלוֹת. לבוַיְהִי מִסְפַּר הָעֹלָה אֲשֶׁר הֵבִיאוּ הַקָּהָל בָּקָר שִׁבְעִים אֵילִים מֵאָה כְּבָשִׂים מָאתָיִם: לְעֹלָה לַיהוה כָּל אֵלֶּה. לגוְהַקֳּדָשִׁים בָּקָר שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת וְצֹאן שְׁלֹשֶׁת אֲלָפִים. לדרַק הַכֹּהֲנִים הָיוּ לִמְעָט וְלֹא יָכְלוּ לְהַפְשִׁיט אֶת כָּל הָעֹלוֹת; וַיְחַזְּקוּם אֲחֵיהֶם הַלְוִיִּם עַד כְּלוֹת הַמְּלָאכָה וְעַד יִתְקַדְּשׁוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים כִּי הַלְוִיִּם יִשְׁרֵי לֵבָב לְהִתְקַדֵּשׁ מֵהַכֹּהֲנִים. להוְגַם עֹלָה לָרֹב בְּחֶלְבֵי הַשְּׁלָמִים וּבַנְּסָכִים לָעֹלָה; וַתִּכּוֹן עֲבוֹדַת בֵּית יהוה . לווַיִּשְׂמַח יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ וְכָל הָעָם עַל הַהֵכִין הָאֱלֹהִים לָעָם: כִּי בְּפִתְאֹם הָיָה הַדָּבָר.
D'var יהוה , The Word of יהוה 