(8) And his princes . . . Levites.--And his princes for a free-will offering (Leviticus 7:16) to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites had presented heave-offerings. How many victims they gave is not specified. Some words may have fallen out of the text. (Comp. 2Chronicles 30:24.) Hilkiah is introduced quite abruptly in the text as it stands.

Rulers of the house of God.--2Chronicles 31:13; 1Chronicles 9:11. Hilkiah was high priest (2Chronicles 34:9); Zechariah perhaps his deputy, "the second priest" (2Kings 25:18); Jehiel may have been the head of the line of Ithamar, which still existed even after the return (Ezra 8:2).

Oxen, i.e., "bullocks" (2Chronicles 35:7).

Verse 8. - The princes; i.e. the three immediately mentioned by name. Jehiel (see Ezra 8:2).

35:1-19 The destruction Josiah made of idolatry, was more largely related in the book of Kings. His solemnizing the passover is related here. The Lord's supper resembles the passover more than any other of the Jewish festivals; and the due observance of that ordinance, is a proof of growing piety and devotion. God alone can truly make our hearts holy, and prepare them for his holy services; but there are duties belonging to us, in doing which we obtain this blessing from the Lord.And his princes gave willingly to the people, to the priests and the Levites,.... Besides, to some other families, they gave also to poor priests and Levites, which the king's bounty did not extend to; and these princes were not secular, but ecclesiastical princes, as follows:

Hilkiah, and Zechariah, and Jehiel, rulers of the house; of the temple; Hilkiah was high priest, and the other two were chief priests, the one of the line of Eleazar, and the other of the line of Ithamar:

these gave unto the priests for the passover lambs; 2600 small cattle; which were lambs, or kids, or both:

and three hundred oxen; for peace offerings on the seven days of unleavened bread, to feast upon.