Changes

== Reforms ==

== Reforms ==

=== Reopening of the Temple ===

=== Reopening of the Temple ===

[[Jehoahaz I|Ahaz]] had closed up the [[Temple of Jerusalem]] in the course of his reign, among all the other evils that he did. Hezekiah, in the first month during the first year of his reign (that is, the month that came first in the religious order of months),<ref name=Ussher/> reopened the Temple and had the doors repaired.<ref name=Orr/><ref name=GeoCities/><ref name=BethelCOG/><ref name=Kachelman/><ref name=Konig/><ref name=HebrewU1>Authors unknown. "[http://jeru.huji.ac.il/eb34s.htm King Hezekiah]." Hebrew University, [[Israel]], 2002. Retrieved May 28, 2007.</ref><ref name=HebrewU2>Authors unknown. "[http://jeru.huji.ac.il/eb34l.htm King Hezekiah (further information)]." Hebrew University, [[Israel]], 2002. Retrieved May 28, 2007.</ref><ref name=Klein>Klein, Ralph W., [http://fontes.lstc.edu/~rklein/Documents/hezekiah.htm Hezekiah in Chronicles and Kings (Isaiah)], a synopsis, ed. 2000, 2003</ref><ref name=BibleProfiles>Authors unknown. "[http://home.insightbb.com/~cathiadenham/Biblical%20Profiles/Hezekiah%20--%20(75).htm Hezekiah's Profile]." Biblical Profiles. Retrieved May 30, 2007.</ref><ref name=Aust>Aust, Jerold, [http://www.gnmagazine.org/issues/gn19/profilesfaithhezekiah.htm Profiles in Faith: Hezekiah], United Church of God, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007.</ref> He then called an assembly of the priests and the [[Levi (tribe)|Levites]] and delivered a stern speech, in which he spared no criticism of his ancestors and of the policies of his father. He ended with an order that the assembled men begin at once the process of ritual sanctification, so that they would be fit to carry out Temple rites according to Levitical law.

[[Jehoahaz I|Ahaz]] had closed up the [[Temple of Jerusalem]] in the course of his reign, among all the other evils that he did. Hezekiah, in the first month during the first year of his reign (that is, the month that came first in the religious order of months),<ref name=Ussher/> reopened the Temple and had the doors repaired.<ref name=Orr/><ref name=GeoCities/><ref name=BethelCOG/><ref name=Kachelman/><ref name=Konig/><ref name=HebrewU1>Authors unknown. "[http://jeru.huji.ac.il/eb34s.htm King Hezekiah]." Hebrew University, [[Israel]], 2002. Retrieved May 28, 2007.</ref><ref name=HebrewU2>Authors unknown. "[http://jeru.huji.ac.il/eb34l.htm King Hezekiah (further information)]." Hebrew University, [[Israel]], 2002. Retrieved May 28, 2007.</ref><ref name=Klein>Klein, Ralph W., [http://fontes.lstc.edu/~rklein/Documents/hezekiah.htm Hezekiah in Chronicles and Kings (Isaiah)], a synopsis, ed. 2000, 2003</ref><ref name=BibleProfiles>Authors unknown. "[http://home.insightbb.com/~cathiadenham/Biblical%20Profiles/Hezekiah%20--%20(75).htm Hezekiah's Profile]." Biblical Profiles. Retrieved May 30, 2007.</ref><ref name=Aust>Aust, Jerold, [http://www.gnmagazine.org/issues/gn19/profilesfaithhezekiah.htm Profiles in Faith: Hezekiah], United Church of God, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007.</ref> He then called an assembly of the priests and the [[Levi (tribe)|Levites]] and delivered a stern speech, in which he spared no criticism of his ancestors and of the policies of his father. He ended with an order that the assembled men begin at once the process of ritual [[Holy|sanctification]], so that they would be fit to carry out Temple rites according to Levitical law.

In accordance with Hezekiah's further orders, the priests and Levites cleaned out all the idolatrous and other improper elements from one end of the Temple to the other—a process that took eight days. They then took another eight days to sanctify the Temple itself.

In accordance with Hezekiah's further orders, the priests and Levites cleaned out all the idolatrous and other improper elements from one end of the Temple to the other—a process that took eight days. They then took another eight days to [[Holy|sanctify]] the Temple itself.

=== The first offerings ===

=== The first offerings ===