What role did the priests play in the sacrifices described in 2 Chronicles 29:22? Setting the Scene in Hezekiah’s Revival • Judah’s temple had been neglected, so King Hezekiah reopened and purified it (2 Chron 29:3–19). • He gathered seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats for a sin offering on behalf of the kingdom, sanctuary, and Judah (29:21). • Priests—the sons of Aaron—were commanded to handle the sacrificial rites in strict accord with the Law of Moses. The Key Verse “So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests received the blood and sprinkled it on the altar; next they slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar; and then they slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar.” (2 Chron 29:22) The Priests’ Fourfold Role in 2 Chronicles 29:22 1. Receiving the blood • They caught the lifeblood in basins as each animal was slain. • Leviticus 17:11 explains why: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood… it is the blood that makes atonement.” 2. Sprinkling the blood on the altar • They applied it to the altar of burnt offering—likely by splashing it on the sides (cf. Leviticus 1:5). • This act symbolized transferring the sinner’s guilt to the substitute and presenting atonement before God. 3. Overseeing the slaughter sequence • Bulls, then rams, then lambs—order mattered for ceremonial completeness (Numbers 28:11). • The priests ensured each step matched Mosaic prescription, guarding Israel from profane worship (Leviticus 10:1–3). 4. Acting as mediators • They stood between the people and God, performing duties the laity could not (Hebrews 5:1). • Their faithful service kept covenant worship flowing and God’s wrath averted (2 Chron 29:24). Why These Tasks Were Priest-Only • God decreed that only Aaron’s descendants could handle sacrificial blood and altar service (Exodus 29:38–44). • Mishandling blood could bring death (Leviticus 16:2; Numbers 4:15), underscoring the seriousness of holiness. • By centralizing the ritual in consecrated hands, the Lord highlighted humanity’s need for an ordained mediator. How This Fits the Larger Biblical Pattern • Mirrors the daily burnt offering routine (Exodus 29:38–42). • Points forward to the Day of Atonement, when the high priest alone brought blood into the Most Holy Place (Leviticus 16). • Foreshadows the ultimate Priest—Jesus—who entered “the greater and more perfect tabernacle… by means of His own blood” (Hebrews 9:11–12). Takeaway for Today • God values ordered, obedient worship. • Sin’s cost is life-blood; only a divinely appointed mediator can deal with it. • The priests of 2 Chron 29:22 remind us to trust the perfect mediation of Christ, our once-for-all sacrifice and eternal High Priest (Hebrews 10:11–14). |
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