Translation commentary on 2 Chronicles 30:24

For Hezekiah … gave the assembly a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep for offerings, and the princes gave the assembly a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep: The Hebrew conjunction rendered For introduces why the people were able to prolong the celebration. They could do so because of the generosity of King Hezekiah and his officials. These leaders provided the necessary animals for the additional sacrifices. For bulls and sheep, see the comments on 2 Chr 29.33.

In addition to the provision of more sacrificial animals, the priests sanctified themselves in great numbers (see verses 3 and 15). That is, there were now more priests who were ritually acceptable to make the necessary sacrifices. A possible model for this clause is “A great number of priests consecrated themselves” (New International Version) or “and many more priests went through the ceremony to make themselves ritually clean” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 2 Chronicles 30:24

30:24a For Hezekiah king of Judah contributed a thousand bulls

Hezekiah king of Judah donated a thousand bulls
-or-
King Hezekiah, king of Judah, gave one thousand (1,000) male oxen

30:24b and seven thousand sheep for the assembly,

and seven thousand sheep and goats ⌊as sacrifices⌋ for the people.
-or-
and seven thousand (7,000) sheep and goats for the people ⌊to sacrifice to Yahweh⌋.

30:24c and the officials contributed a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep for the assembly,

His officials also donated a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep and goats to the people.
-or-
And his officers also gave the people one thousand (1,000) oxen and ten thousand (10,000) sheep and goats ⌊to sacrifice to Yahweh⌋.

30:24d and a great number of priests consecrated themselves.

Many priests purified themselves.
-or-
A great many of the sacrificers prepared themselves for sacred work.

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