2 Chronicles 29:21 - Exposition

There is diversity of opinion, whether the seven bullocks ( פָרִים ), seven rams ( אֵילִים ), seven lambs ( כְבָשִׁים ) were burnt offering ( עוֹלָה ), or, with the seven he-goats ( צְפִירֵי עִזּים ), were sin offering ( חַטָּאת ). Some think (as, for instance, Canon Rawlinson) that they were sin offering, as the account of the offering of them ( 2 Chronicles 29:22 ) takes priority for them over the he-goats; others (as Bertheau, Professor J. G. Murphy, etc.), that they were certainly burnt offering. It scarcely appears as though much stress can be laid upon what is apparently the chief reason of Canon Rawlinson's opinion, in face of the immediate language of the last sentence of our 2 Chronicles 29:24 , "for the king commended the burnt offering and the sin offering for all Israel." The fact of no mention of burnt offering in our present verse, and of the natural construction of the description, "for a sin offering for the kingdom," etc; as applying to all that had preceded, seems the better argument, and all that is necessary, unless something moderately decisive be forthcoming to rebut it. The solution of all, however, is probably to our hand in Ezra 8:35 , which is a very close and significant parallel to our present verse. The first mention of the sacrifice of פָרִים , or "young bullocks" is found in Exodus 24:5 , and afterwards in Exodus 29:1 , Exodus 29:3 ; Le Exodus 4:3 , etc.; Exodus 8:2 , Exodus 8:14 , etc. The first mention of the sacrifice of אֵילִים is Genesis 22:13 ; and, after, Exodus 29:15-18 , Exodus 29:19-21 , etc.; Le Exodus 5:15 ; Exodus 8:2 , Exodus 8:22 , etc. The first mention of the sacrifices of the כְבָשִׁים is Exodus 12:3-7 , and, after, Exodus 29:38 , etc. The first mention of the sacrifice of צְפִירֵי עִזּים is the present passage; and, after, Ezra 8:25 . But the mention of sacrifices of goats is found in Le Ezra 1:10 ; Ezra 3:12 , and often besides. For the kingdom ; i.e. probably for "all that are in authority," viz. the king and rulers, the Hebrew word ( מַמְלָכָה ) designating here those exercising dominion ( 1 Kings 11:11 ; 1 Kings 14:8 ; 1 Samuel 28:17 ) rather than the country under dominion ( Joshua 10:2 ; 1 Samuel 27:5 ). It is, however, possible that allusion to the whole kingdom of Judah and Israel is made here. For the sanctuary; i.e. those who officiated in holy things. For Judah; i.e. for all the people.