The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 345

scarcely appears ae though much stress can the loss of it"), to "bear loss." This last be lo.id upon what is apparently the chief instance, being the very first occurrence of reason of Canon Rawlinson's opinion, in face the word in this conjugation, heautifully of the immediate lo.nguo.ge of the lo.at sen- harmonizes with the simple ancl most ele- tence of our ver. 24, "for the king com- mentary idea. of the doctrine or facts under• mended the burnt offering and the sin lying the word. To me.ke . . . a.tonement; offering for all Isro.el." The fact of no men- Hebrew, 1;!??, piel infinitive. This word, tion of burnt offering in our present verse, W:hich in the one kal occurrence of it (Gen. and of the natural construction of the de- Vl. 14) means "to pitch, or cover with pitch," scription, "for a sin offering for the king- occurs in piel eighty-six times, au<l is dom," etc., as applying to all that lao.d rendered "atone'' or " make atonement" preceded, seems the better argument, and sixty-six times, seven times •reconcile" all that is necessary, unless something or "make reconciliation," the othe1· ren<lel'- moderately decisive be forthcoming to rebut i~gs being such as "pacify,'' '' purge," "for- it. The Rolution of all, however, is pro- give," "clea.nse," "be merciful,'' "put it bably to our hand in Ezra viii. 35, which is off," i.e. "expiate" (margin). We are so a very close and significant parallel to our distinctly twice told that tilese sacrifices present verse. The first mention of the sacri- were for all Israel, that it may be t:iken fice of □•-:,q, or "young bullocks," is found for granted that the desire of Hezekiah was in Exod. xxiv. 5, and afterwards in Exod. to _include the northern kingdom-with xxix. 1, 3; Lev. iv. 3, etc.; viii. 2, 14, etc. wb1ch, under Hoshea, in subjection to the The first mention of the sacrifice of c•~•N Assyrian king, times were now very hard and ominous of the end-in the benefits is Gen. xxii. 13; and, after, Exod. xxix. 15_: of the expiatory offerings now made (so see 18, 19-21, etc.; Lev. v. 15; viii. 2, 22, etc. vers. 5, 6, 10-12 of next chapter). The first mention of the sacrifices of the Ver. 25.-(See 1 Chron. xvi. 4 ; ni. ; c•~:p is Exod. xii. 3-7, and, after, Exod. xxiii. 5; xxv. l, 6; x:s:ix. 29; eh. v. 12.) xxix. 38, eto. The first mention of the Ver. 26.-To references of foregoing versa sacrifice of □'·!V. 'J'E!~ is the present pas- may be added Numb. x. 8; 1 Chron. xv. 2-1. sage; and, after, Ezra viii. 25. But the Ver. 27.-Hezekia.h co=anded to offer mention of sacrifices of goats is found in the burnt offering. This verse a.nd the Lev. i. 10; iii. 12, and often besides. l!'or following, with graphic brevity, purport to the kingdom; i.e. probably for " all that describe the actual consammating of the are in authority," viz. the king and rulers, preparations rehearsed before, and, as seem11 the Hebrew word (n.i7i;l!;l) des'gnating here most probable, in the significance of the last clause of Ezra viii. 35, already referred those exercising dominion (1 Kings xi. 11 ; to. The whole of the burnt offering Wa.il xiv. 8; 1 Sam. xxviii. 17) rather than the burnt on the a.lta.r, but of the sin offering country under dominion (Josh. x. 2; 1 Sam. the" fat" a.lone (Lev. iv. 19). xxvii. 5). It is, however, possible that allu- Ver. 29.-Bowed; Hebrew, rai::,. Of the sion to the whole kingdom of Judah and Israel is made here. l!'or the sanctuary; i.e. force and forcibleness of the' ~erb here those who officiated in holy things. For employed an idea may be obtained from comparison of Gen. xlix. 9; Numb. :s:.xiv. 9; Judah; i.e. for all the people. Judg. v. 27; vii. 6; 1 Kingsxix. 18. Wor- Ver. 22.-Reoeived . , . sprinkled. The shipped; Hebrew, 11'.)nti:, 'fhis verb, on sprinkling of the blood marked the expia- the other hand, proci,iims the force, not tion (Lev. iv. 7, 18, 30; v. 9; viii. 14, 15; of the posture of the body merely, but Heh. ix. 12-14, 19-22). rather of the mind, in the rising degrees of Ver. 23.-The he-goats for the sin oft'ering. respect, revereuce, allegiance, and the wor- No preposition" for" is found in the Hebrew ship or profound adoration paid to him, who text, and the previous noun is in the con- is " God over e.11, blessed for evermore ... struct state, 'J'lll/1- Laid their hands. This The soene imaged in this description ~ signified the supposed laying of sins-the indeed spirit-slliring in a high degree. 348 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [err. xxtx. 1-36,