2 Chronicles 29:6
For our fathers were unfaithful and did evil in the sight of the LORD our God. They abandoned Him, turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the LORD, and turned their backs on Him.
For our fathers were unfaithful
This phrase acknowledges the historical pattern of disobedience among the ancestors of Judah. The unfaithfulness of the fathers refers to their idolatry and neglect of God's commandments, which is a recurring theme in the history of Israel and Judah. This unfaithfulness is documented in various parts of the Old Testament, such as in Judges 2:11-13, where the Israelites repeatedly turned to other gods. The acknowledgment of ancestral sin is significant in biblical narratives, as it often precedes a call to repentance and reform.

and did evil in the sight of the LORD our God.
The phrase "did evil in the sight of the LORD" is a common biblical expression used to describe actions that are contrary to God's will. This evil often involved idolatry, injustice, and neglect of the covenant. The phrase underscores the seriousness of their actions, as they were not just socially or morally wrong, but offensive to God Himself. This concept is echoed in passages like 1 Kings 14:22, where Judah's sins are described in similar terms.

They abandoned Him,
Abandonment of God signifies a deliberate turning away from the covenant relationship established between God and His people. This abandonment often led to the worship of foreign gods and the adoption of pagan practices, as seen in Jeremiah 2:13, where God laments that His people have forsaken Him, the "spring of living water." The act of abandoning God is a central theme in the prophetic literature, which calls the people back to faithfulness.

turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the LORD,
The "dwelling place of the LORD" refers to the temple in Jerusalem, which was the center of worship and the symbol of God's presence among His people. Turning their faces away from the temple indicates a rejection of worship and a neglect of the sacrificial system that was central to maintaining the covenant relationship. This act of turning away is symbolic of a deeper spiritual apostasy, as seen in Ezekiel 8:16, where the people are described as turning their backs on the temple.

and turned their backs on Him.
Turning their backs on God is a vivid metaphor for complete rejection and disobedience. It implies not only a physical turning away but also a spiritual and relational severance. This imagery is used throughout the prophets to describe Israel's unfaithfulness, such as in Jeremiah 32:33, where God accuses the people of turning their backs to Him, not their faces. This act of turning away is contrasted with the call to repentance, which involves turning back to God with a renewed commitment to His ways.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Hezekiah
The king of Judah who initiated religious reforms to restore proper worship in the temple. He is a central figure in this chapter, leading the nation back to faithfulness.

2. Fathers/Ancestors
Refers to the previous generations of Israelites who had turned away from God, leading to spiritual and moral decline.

3. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, whose presence was symbolized by the temple in Jerusalem.

4. The Temple
The dwelling place of the LORD in Jerusalem, which had been neglected and defiled by previous generations.

5. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, where Hezekiah reigned and sought to bring about spiritual renewal.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Unfaithfulness
Unfaithfulness to God leads to spiritual decay and separation from His blessings. The neglect of the temple symbolizes a broader neglect of God's presence and commands.

The Importance of Repentance and Reform
Hezekiah's actions demonstrate the need for genuine repentance and reform. Turning back to God requires intentional actions to restore what has been neglected.

Generational Responsibility
Each generation is responsible for its relationship with God. While past generations may have failed, current believers have the opportunity to seek renewal and faithfulness.

The Centrality of Worship
Worship is central to a faithful relationship with God. The temple's restoration signifies the importance of worship in aligning with God's will.

Turning Back to God
Turning one's face toward God involves a conscious decision to seek Him and His ways, reversing the neglect and rebellion of the past.
Bible Study Questions
1. What specific actions did Hezekiah take to address the unfaithfulness of the previous generations, and how can we apply similar principles in our lives today?

2. How does the neglect of the temple in 2 Chronicles 29:6 reflect our own potential neglect of spiritual disciplines, and what steps can we take to restore them?

3. In what ways can we ensure that we do not repeat the mistakes of past generations in our spiritual walk?

4. How does the concept of repentance and reform in Hezekiah's time relate to the New Testament teachings on repentance?

5. What role does worship play in maintaining a faithful relationship with God, and how can we prioritize it in our daily lives?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Kings 18:1-6
This passage parallels the account of Hezekiah's reforms, emphasizing his faithfulness and trust in the LORD, contrasting with the unfaithfulness of his predecessors.

Deuteronomy 31:16-18
God warns Moses that the Israelites will forsake Him and break the covenant, which is echoed in the unfaithfulness mentioned in 2 Chronicles 29:6.

Jeremiah 2:13
The prophet Jeremiah speaks of Israel forsaking God, the "spring of living water," similar to the forsaking described in 2 Chronicles 29:6.
Co-Operation NeededH. Clay Trumbull.2 Chronicles 29:1-11
Hezekiah, the Good KingSunday School Times2 Chronicles 29:1-11
Hezekiah's Action, the Result of Previous BroodingA. Maclaren, D.D.2 Chronicles 29:1-11
Hezekiah's ReformationT. S. Barbour.2 Chronicles 29:1-11
Hezekiah's ReformationT. Manton, D.D.2 Chronicles 29:1-11
Starting Well2 Chronicles 29:1-11
Taking the Right Stand At FirstA. Maclaren, D. D.2 Chronicles 29:1-11
The Height of OpportunityW. Clarkson 2 Chronicles 29:1-11
The Purification of the TempleT. Whitelaw 2 Chronicles 29:3-19
People
Aaron, Abdi, Abijah, Ahaz, Amasai, Asaph, Azariah, David, Elizaphan, Esther, Gad, Gershonites, Heman, Hezekiah, Jeduthun, Jehalelel, Jehiel, Jeiel, Jeuel, Joah, Joel, Kish, Kohathites, Levites, Mahath, Mattaniah, Merari, Merarites, Nathan, Shemaiah, Shimei, Shimri, Uzziel, Zechariah, Zimmah
Places
Holy Place, Jerusalem, Kidron
Topics
Acted, Backs, Dwelling, Evil, Faces, Fathers, Forsake, Forsaken, Forsook, Habitation, Lord's, Neck, Round, Sight, Sinning, Tabernacle, Transgressed, Treacherously, Trespassed, Turn, Turning, Unfaithful
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Chronicles 29:6

     5127   back
     5770   abandonment

2 Chronicles 29:3-7

     8466   reformation

2 Chronicles 29:3-36

     7390   Levites

2 Chronicles 29:6-9

     6195   impenitence, results
     8705   apostasy, in OT
     8783   neglect

2 Chronicles 29:6-10

     6628   conversion, God's demand

Library
A Godly Reformation
'Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. 2. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. 3. He in the first year of his reign, in the first mouth, opened the doors of the house of the Lord, and repaired them. 4. And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Sacrifice Renewed
'Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the Lord, and the altar of burnt-offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the shew-bread table, with all the vessels thereof. 19. Moreover, all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they are before the altar of the Lord. 20. Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Twenty-Fourth Day. Holiness and Cleansing.
Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.'--2 Cor. vii. 1. That holiness is more than cleansing, and must be preceded by it, is taught us in more than one passage of the New Testament. 'Christ loved the Church, and gave Himself up for it, that He might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word.' 'If a man cleanse himself from these, he shall be a vessel
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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