2 Chronicles 30:15

Authorized King James Version

Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיִּשְׁחֲט֣וּ
Then they killed
to slaughter (in sacrifice or massacre)
#2
הַפֶּ֔סַח
the passover
a pretermission, i.e., exemption; used only techically of the jewish passover (the festival or the victim)
#3
בְּאַרְבָּעָ֥ה
on the fourteenth
four
#4
עָשָׂ֖ר
ten (only in combination), i.e., -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth
#5
לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ
month
the new moon; by implication, a month
#6
הַשֵּׁנִ֑י
day of the second
properly, double, i.e., second; also adverbially, again
#7
וְהַכֹּֽהֲנִ֨ים
and the priests
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
#8
וְהַלְוִיִּ֤ם
and the Levites
a levite or descendant of levi
#9
נִכְלְמוּ֙
were ashamed
properly, to wound; but only figuratively, to taunt or insult
#10
וַיִּֽתְקַדְּשׁ֔וּ
and sanctified
to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally)
#11
וַיָּבִ֥יאוּ
themselves and brought in
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#12
עֹל֖וֹת
the burnt offerings
a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke)
#13
בֵּ֥ית
into the house
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
#14
יְהוָֽה׃
of the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection