2 Chronicles 29:21 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And seven he-goats— The word צפיר zapir, which here signifies a he-goat, Bishop Patrick observes, was never used by the Hebrews till after the Babylonish captivity; it is, therefore, an argument that this book was written by Ezra after the return of the Jews from that captivity, during which he had learned the Chaldee language. The offering which the law prescribed for the transgression of the people was a young bullock, and for the offences of the prince a goat, Leviticus 4:23; Leviticus 4:35. But Hezekiah, we find, was willing to do more than the law commanded. He was sensible that both prince and people had been guilty, not only of sins of ignorance, for which these sacrifices were instituted, but of wilful and presumptuous crimes, of gross idolatry, a profanation of the temple, and an utter extinction of the worship of God; and therefore he appointed seven bullocks for a burnt-offering, and as many goats for a sin-offering; upon the presumption that these numerous sacrifices were, if not necessary, at least highly fit and becoming, on account of the great and long neglect of divine service, and the multitude and long continuance of their other offences against God.