2 Chronicles 29:23 – “The goats for the sin offering were brought before the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them.”

Extended Explanation of the Verse

This verse describes an important moment during the sacrificial ritual in which goats were offered as a sin offering. The act of laying hands on the goats symbolizes the transfer of the people’s sins onto the animal. In the Old Testament, this ritual was part of the process by which the people of Israel sought forgiveness for their sins. By laying hands on the animal, the people were identifying with the sacrifice, acknowledging their guilt, and seeking atonement through the shedding of the animal’s blood.

The offering of these goats as a sin offering was meant to cleanse both the nation and the temple, allowing the people to return to a proper relationship with God. The verse emphasizes that this act was done publicly, with the king and the assembly present, showing that this was a communal act of repentance.

Historical Context

King Hezekiah inherited a nation that had fallen into deep spiritual decline under the reign of his father, King Ahaz. Ahaz had led the people of Judah into idol worship, shut the doors of the temple, and abandoned the worship of the one true God (2 Chronicles 28:24). When Hezekiah came to power, one of his first priorities was to restore the temple, reestablish proper worship, and lead the people back to God. This verse takes place during the process of that spiritual restoration.

The sin offering was a crucial part of Old Testament worship. According to the Law of Moses, the people were required to make offerings to atone for their sins, and this process involved laying hands on the sacrificial animal to symbolize the transfer of sin from the people to the animal. Hezekiah, in his desire to lead Judah back to God, reinstituted this practice as part of the nation’s return to faithfulness.

Theological Implications

This verse highlights several important theological principles. First, it teaches us about the seriousness of sin and the need for atonement. In the Old Testament, sin separated people from God, and the only way to restore that relationship was through a sin offering. The laying on of hands symbolized the fact that sin had to be dealt with, and the animal became a substitute, bearing the penalty that the people deserved.

Second, the public nature of this act shows that repentance and atonement are not just private matters. The king and the assembly participated in the sin offering, demonstrating that sin affects the whole community, and restoration involves the entire community as well. This communal aspect of worship and repentance is an important theme in the Bible.

Lastly, this verse points to the idea of substitutionary atonement—the concept that one can take the place of another in bearing the penalty for sin. This idea is central to understanding how God deals with sin, and it foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice that would come through Jesus Christ.

Literary Analysis

The verse is structured around the action of the sin offering, with the laying on of hands being the central focus. The phrase “they laid their hands on them” is significant because it emphasizes the active participation of the people in the sacrificial process. This wasn’t something done passively; it required the people to acknowledge their sin and take responsibility for it by transferring it to the goats.

The public setting, with both the king and the assembly present, adds to the weight of the moment. This was a solemn and communal act, with the entire nation participating in the process of seeking forgiveness. The involvement of the king underscores the importance of leadership in spiritual matters—Hezekiah was leading by example, guiding the people in their return to God.

Relevant Biblical Cross-References

• Leviticus 4:15 – “The elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the Lord, and the bull shall be killed before the Lord.” This passage shows the biblical basis for the laying on of hands in the sin offering.
• Leviticus 16:21 – During the Day of Atonement, the high priest would lay his hands on the head of the scapegoat, confessing the sins of the people and transferring those sins onto the goat.
• Isaiah 53:6 – “We all, like sheep, have gone astray… and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” This prophecy foreshadows the ultimate transfer of sin onto Jesus Christ, the perfect sin-bearer.

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

For Christians today, this verse serves as a reminder of the seriousness of sin and the necessity of atonement. In the Old Testament, the laying on of hands symbolized the transfer of sin and the need for a sacrifice to atone for that sin. While we no longer make animal sacrifices, the principle of atonement still holds true. Our sins separate us from God, but through Jesus Christ, we have been given the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.

Jesus is the perfect fulfillment of the Old Testament sin offering. Just as the people of Judah laid their hands on the goats to transfer their sins, Jesus took on our sins when He went to the cross. This act of substitutionary atonement means that Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, once and for all. This verse challenges us to recognize the weight of our sin and the incredible grace we have received through Christ’s sacrifice.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

God’s love is reflected in His willingness to provide a means of atonement for His people. Even though the people of Judah had turned away from Him under Ahaz, God was willing to forgive them when they repented and sought to restore their relationship with Him. The sin offering described in this verse shows that God doesn’t ignore sin, but He provides a way for it to be forgiven.

God’s love is also seen in the way He requires active participation in the process of repentance and atonement. The people had to lay their hands on the goats, acknowledging their sin and seeking forgiveness. This reflects God’s desire for a relationship with His people, one that involves both repentance and reconciliation.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

This verse points directly to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, animals were used as substitutes to bear the penalty for the people’s sins. But these sacrifices were only temporary and had to be repeated regularly. Jesus, however, became the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice for sin.

In 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul writes, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” This verse captures the idea of substitutionary atonement that is foreshadowed in 2 Chronicles 29:23. Just as the goats bore the sins of the people in the Old Testament, Jesus bore our sins on the cross, making it possible for us to be forgiven and restored to a right relationship with God.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. How does this verse help you understand the seriousness of sin and the need for atonement?
2. In what ways can you see the concept of substitution—one bearing the penalty for another’s sin—at work in your understanding of Jesus’ sacrifice?
3. How does the public nature of this act of repentance challenge you to think about your own need for both personal and communal repentance?
4. What does this verse teach you about God’s love and His desire to forgive and restore His people?
5. How can you live in a way that reflects gratitude for the forgiveness you have received through Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice?

2 Chronicles 29:23 reminds us of the necessity of atonement for sin and the gracious provision that God has made through sacrifice. While the sin offerings in the Old Testament pointed to a temporary covering for sin, they ultimately pointed to Jesus Christ, who made the perfect and final sacrifice for all sin. As we reflect on this verse, we are called to appreciate the depth of God’s love and the sacrifice that was made on our behalf, leading us to live lives of repentance, gratitude, and devotion to God.