(22) Spake comfortably.--See margin, and comp. Isaiah 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 ??? ???????????, "and they finished:" a difference which implies no great change in the Hebrew writing, but is against the context.
Making confession.--LXX. rightly, ???????????????. The meaning is "yielding hearty thanks," "acknowledging "the Divine goodness. Everywhere else the Hebrew word means "to confess guilt" (Nehemiah 9:3; Leviticus 5:5; Numbers 5:7).
Verse 22. - 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 (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 13:15). Making confession; i.e. the confession or uttering forth of praise (so Psalm 75:2; Psalm 92:1; 1 Chronicles 16:4, 7, 35, 41; 1 Chronicles 23:30; 1 Chronicles 25:3; 2 Chronicles 5:13; 2 Chronicles 7:3, 6; 2 Chronicles 31:2).
30:21-27 Many prayers were put up to God with the peace-offerings. In these Israel looked to God as the God of their fathers, a God in covenant with them. There was also abundance of good preaching. The Levites read and explained the Scriptures. Faith cometh by hearing, and true religion preaching has abounded. They sang psalms every day: praising God should be much of our work in religious assemblies. Having kept the seven days of the feast in this religious manner, they had so much comfort in it, that they kept other seven days also. This they did with gladness. Holy duties should be done with holy gladness. And when sinners humble themselves before the Lord, they may expect gladness in his ordinances. Those who taste this happiness will not soon grow weary of it, but will be glad to prolong their enjoyment.
And Hezekiah spake comfortably to all the Levites,.... Or "to the heart" (u) of them, such things as were very encouraging to them to go on in the work and worship of God, commending their singing, exhorting them to diligence in instructing the people, promising them his favour and protection:
even those that taught the good knowledge of the Lord; who instructed the people well in his word, worship, and ordinances; though some restrain this to their skill in singing the praises of God, both vocally and instrumentally, and their abilities and diligence in teaching others:
and they did eat throughout the feast: or did eat the feast; that is, the sacrifices of it; not the Levites only, but the king, and all the congregation:
offering peace offerings; part of which belonged to the Lord, another part to the priests, and a third to the offerers, on which they feasted with their friends; and this they did throughout all the seven days of the feast:
and making confession to the Lord God of their fathers; confessing their sins of omission and commission they had been guilty of; owning the goodness, grace, and mercy of God towards them; blessing and praising his name for the restoration of his worship and ordinances among them.
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 ??? ???????????, "and they finished:" a difference which implies no great change in the Hebrew writing, but is against the context.
Making confession.--LXX. rightly, ???????????????. The meaning is "yielding hearty thanks," "acknowledging "the Divine goodness. Everywhere else the Hebrew word means "to confess guilt" (Nehemiah 9:3; Leviticus 5:5; Numbers 5:7).
even those that taught the good knowledge of the Lord; who instructed the people well in his word, worship, and ordinances; though some restrain this to their skill in singing the praises of God, both vocally and instrumentally, and their abilities and diligence in teaching others:
and they did eat throughout the feast: or did eat the feast; that is, the sacrifices of it; not the Levites only, but the king, and all the congregation:
offering peace offerings; part of which belonged to the Lord, another part to the priests, and a third to the offerers, on which they feasted with their friends; and this they did throughout all the seven days of the feast:
and making confession to the Lord God of their fathers; confessing their sins of omission and commission they had been guilty of; owning the goodness, grace, and mercy of God towards them; blessing and praising his name for the restoration of his worship and ordinances among them.
(u) "ad cor", Pagninus, Montanus, &c.