Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 30:15
And on the fourteenth day of the second month they slaughtered the Passover lamb. The priests and Levites were ashamed, and they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The chronicler records the actions of Hezekiah’s reformers as they resume temple worship immediately after purging Jerusalem’s altars and idols. The priests and Levites act in response to the delayed Passover observance.
The words — The Hebrew וַ/יִּשֲׁחֲט֣וּ (va/i.yish.cha.Tu) translates literally as "and they slaughtered," marking the commencement of the sacrificial rite. The term הַ/פֶּ֔סַח (ha./Pe.sach) identifies the specific Passover lamb required for the ceremony.
The thread — The requirement for priestly consecration before service echoes Exodus 19:10 and Exodus 19:22, where God commands the people and priests to sanctify themselves. The logistical shortage of priests is later addressed in 2 Chronicles 29:34 when Levites assist with the burnt offerings.
Why it lands — The text demands immediate compliance with ritual purity before resuming worship, showing that ceremonial readiness precedes communal sacrifice. A reader must recognize that spiritual renewal requires deliberate preparation rather than rushed action.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the Lord.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 29:34 However, since there were not enough priests to skin all the burnt offerings, their Levite brothers helped them until the work was finished and until the priests had consecrated themselves. For the Levites had been more diligent in consecrating themselves than the priests had been.
- Exodus 19:10 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes
- Exodus 19:22 Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.”
- 2 Chronicles 5:11 Now all the priests who were present had consecrated themselves regardless of their divisions. And when the priests came out of the Holy Place,
- 2 Chronicles 29:15 When they had assembled their brothers and consecrated themselves, they went in to cleanse the house of the LORD, according to the command of the king by the words of the LORD.
- 2 Chronicles 30:24 For Hezekiah king of Judah contributed a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep for the assembly, and the officials contributed a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep for the assembly, and a great number of priests consecrated themselves.
- 2 Chronicles 31:18 The genealogy included all the little ones, wives, sons, and daughters of the whole assembly. For they had faithfully consecrated themselves as holy.
- Ezekiel 16:61 Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your older and younger sisters. I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of My covenant with you.
- Ezekiel 43:10 As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the people of Israel, so that they may be ashamed of their iniquities. Let them measure the plan,