Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Chronicles 29:36

"And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, because of that which God had prepared for the people: for the thing was done suddenly." — 2 Chronicles 29:36 (ASV)

And Hezekiah rejoiced. —This was also true of David and his people (1 Chronicles 29:9; 1 Chronicles 29:22). (Compare also 2 Chronicles 7:10.)

That God had prepared. —In Hebrew, the article is used instead of the relative pronoun; this is a construction characteristic of the Chronicler (1 Chronicles 26:28). It may be rendered: “And Hezekiah rejoiced ... over that which God had set in order for the people,” namely, the long-suspended ordinances of the Temple worship (1 Chronicles 12:39; 1 Chronicles 15:1).

Perhaps, however, lâ‘âm, meaning “for the people,” is simply the accusative case following the verb. In this interpretation, the sense is that Hezekiah “rejoiced because God had prepared the people” (2 Samuel 3:30).

For the thing ... suddenly. —Literally, for on a sudden happened the matter. The phrase “On a sudden,” using the Hebrew word be-pith’om, appears only here; elsewhere, the word is simply pith’om. Compare the synonymous terms règa‘ and be-règa‘ (Psalms 6:10; Job 21:13).

The hand of God was evident in the speed with which this change was accomplished, and in the sudden turn of the princes and people from indifference to joyful eagerness. (Compare 2 Chronicles 30:12.)