2 Chronicles 29:6

For our fathers have trespassed, and done [that which was] evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned [their] backs.

For our fathers {H1} have trespassed {H4603}, and done {H6213} that which was evil {H7451} in the eyes {H5869} of the LORD {H3068} our God {H430}, and have forsaken {H5800} him, and have turned away {H5437} their faces {H6440} from the habitation {H4908} of the LORD {H3068}, and turned {H5414} their backs {H6203}.

For our ancestors acted treacherously, they did what is evil from the perspective of ADONAI our God, they abandoned him, they turned their faces away from where ADONAI lives and turned their backs on him.

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 have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of Jehovah, and turned their backs.

Commentary

Commentary on 2 Chronicles 29:6

Second Chronicles 29:6 captures the stark reality of Judah's spiritual decline before King Hezekiah's reign. This verse is part of Hezekiah's powerful address to the Levites and priests, urging them to cleanse the defiled Temple and restore proper worship. It serves as the foundational justification for his extensive religious reforms, highlighting the severe apostasy of previous generations.

Context: Hezekiah's Call to Revival

King Hezekiah, who began his reign at the age of twenty-five (2 Chronicles 29:1), is presented as a righteous king who "did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done." Unlike his idolatrous father Ahaz, Hezekiah immediately embarked on a mission to reverse decades of spiritual decay. In the very first month of his reign, he opened and repaired the doors of the Lord's house (2 Chronicles 29:3) and summoned the priests and Levites.

Verse 6 is a direct accusation, a confession of national guilt, and a plea for immediate action. Hezekiah doesn't mince words; he squarely blames "our fathers" for the nation's spiritual plight, setting the stage for a much-needed spiritual cleansing and renewal. This acknowledgment of past sin is crucial for genuine repentance and restoration.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Apostasy and Unfaithfulness: The phrase "our fathers have trespassed" (Hebrew: ma'al) implies a serious act of unfaithfulness or betrayal, often in the context of covenant breaking or sacrilege against God. It signifies a profound breach of trust and duty towards the Lord.
  • Deliberate Rejection of God: "Done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him" points to a conscious and sustained turning away from the one true God. This was not merely accidental neglect but an intentional choice to abandon the covenant and pursue other gods, as seen in the persistent pattern of Israel forsaking God throughout their history.
  • Disrespect for God's Presence: The vivid imagery of "turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their backs to him" illustrates a profound disrespect and contempt for God's dwelling place, the Temple in Jerusalem. This was not just a symbolic act but a physical manifestation of their spiritual rebellion. To turn one's back on the Temple was to turn one's back on God Himself, rejecting His presence and authority among them. This stands in stark contrast to the reverence expected towards the "habitation of the LORD" (the Temple), which was designed as a place for His presence.
  • The Need for Repentance and Restoration: Hezekiah's blunt assessment of past sins underscores the necessity of national repentance and a return to faithful worship. His actions following this speech demonstrate that acknowledging sin is the first step toward spiritual revival.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "trespassed" is ma'al (מָגַל), which carries the connotation of acting unfaithfully or treacherously, often in relation to breaking a sacred trust or covenant. It is a strong term indicating a grave offense against God. The phrase "habitation of the LORD" (mishkan Yahweh) specifically refers to the Temple, God's earthly dwelling place among His people, emphasizing the deliberate nature of their disrespect.

Practical Application

Hezekiah's words in 2 Chronicles 29:6 serve as a powerful reminder for us today:

  1. Acknowledge Past Failures: True spiritual renewal often begins with an honest recognition of personal, familial, or communal sins and shortcomings. We must not ignore the mistakes of the past but learn from them.
  2. Turn Back to God: The call to "turn away their faces" and "turn their backs" from God's presence highlights the danger of spiritual apathy and deliberate rejection. We are called to actively seek God's face and draw near to Him (James 4:8).
  3. Prioritize God's Presence: Just as the Temple was central to Israel's worship, our lives should center on God's presence, whether through personal devotion, corporate worship, or obedience to His Word.
  4. Initiate Spiritual Cleansing: Hezekiah didn't just lament; he acted. This verse provides the motivation for the subsequent cleansing and consecration of the Temple, symbolizing the need for continuous spiritual purification in our lives and communities.
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Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 8:16

    And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, [were] about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.

  • Jeremiah 2:27

    Saying to a stock, Thou [art] my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned [their] back unto me, and not [their] face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

  • 2 Chronicles 28:2

    For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.

  • 2 Chronicles 28:4

    He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

  • Jeremiah 2:13

    For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, [and] hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

  • Jeremiah 2:17

    Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?

  • Jeremiah 44:21

    The incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them, and came it [not] into his mind?