1 And Hezekiah H3169 sent H7971 to all Israel H3478 and Judah, H3063 and wrote H3789 letters H107 also to Ephraim H669 and Manasseh, H4519 that they should come H935 to the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 at Jerusalem, H3389 to keep H6213 the passover H6453 unto the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel. H3478
2 For the king H4428 had taken counsel, H3289 and his princes, H8269 and all the congregation H6951 in Jerusalem, H3389 to keep H6213 the passover H6453 in the second H8145 month. H2320
3 For they could H3201 not keep H6213 it at that time, H6256 because the priests H3548 had not sanctified H6942 themselves sufficiently, H4078 H1767 neither had the people H5971 gathered themselves together H622 to Jerusalem. H3389
4 And the thing H1697 pleased H3474 H5869 the king H4428 and all the congregation. H6951
5 So they established H5975 a decree H1697 to make proclamation H5674 H6963 throughout all Israel, H3478 from Beersheba H884 even to Dan, H1835 that they should come H935 to keep H6213 the passover H6453 unto the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 at Jerusalem: H3389 for they had not done H6213 it of a long H7230 time in such sort as it was written. H3789
6 So the posts H7323 went H3212 with the letters H107 from H3027 the king H4428 and his princes H8269 throughout all Israel H3478 and Judah, H3063 and according to the commandment H4687 of the king, H4428 saying, H559 Ye children H1121 of Israel, H3478 turn again H7725 unto the LORD H3068 God H430 of Abraham, H85 Isaac, H3327 and Israel, H3478 and he will return H7725 to the remnant H7604 of you, that are escaped H6413 out of the hand H3709 of the kings H4428 of Assyria. H804
7 And be not ye like your fathers, H1 and like your brethren, H251 which trespassed H4603 against the LORD H3068 God H430 of their fathers, H1 who therefore gave them up H5414 to desolation, H8047 as ye see. H7200
8 Now be ye not stiffnecked, H7185 H6203 as your fathers H1 were, but yield H5414 yourselves H3027 unto the LORD, H3068 and enter H935 into his sanctuary, H4720 which he hath sanctified H6942 for ever: H5769 and serve H5647 the LORD H3068 your God, H430 that the fierceness H2740 of his wrath H639 may turn away H7725 from you.
9 For if ye turn again H7725 unto the LORD, H3068 your brethren H251 and your children H1121 shall find compassion H7356 before H6440 them that lead them captive, H7617 so that they shall come again H7725 into this land: H776 for the LORD H3068 your God H430 is gracious H2587 and merciful, H7349 and will not turn away H5493 his face H6440 from you, if ye return H7725 unto him.
10 So the posts H7323 passed H5674 from city H5892 to city H5892 through the country H776 of Ephraim H669 and Manasseh H4519 even unto Zebulun: H2074 but they laughed them to scorn, H7832 and mocked H3932 them.
11 Nevertheless divers H582 of Asher H836 and Manasseh H4519 and of Zebulun H2074 humbled H3665 themselves, and came H935 to Jerusalem. H3389
12 Also in Judah H3063 the hand H3027 of God H430 was to give H5414 them one H259 heart H3820 to do H6213 the commandment H4687 of the king H4428 and of the princes, H8269 by the word H1697 of the LORD. H3068
13 And there assembled H622 at Jerusalem H3389 much H7227 people H5971 to keep H6213 the feast H2282 of unleavened bread H4682 in the second H8145 month, H2320 a very H3966 great H7230 congregation. H6951
14 And they arose H6965 and took away H5493 the altars H4196 that were in Jerusalem, H3389 and all the altars for incense H6999 took they away, H5493 and cast H7993 them into the brook H5158 Kidron. H6939
15 Then they killed H7819 the passover H6453 on the fourteenth H702 H6240 day of the second H8145 month: H2320 and the priests H3548 and the Levites H3881 were ashamed, H3637 and sanctified H6942 themselves, and brought in H935 the burnt offerings H5930 into the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068
16 And they stood H5975 in their place H5977 after their manner, H4941 according to the law H8451 of Moses H4872 the man H376 of God: H430 the priests H3548 sprinkled H2236 the blood, H1818 which they received of the hand H3027 of the Levites. H3881
17 For there were many H7227 in the congregation H6951 that were not sanctified: H6942 therefore the Levites H3881 had the charge of the killing H7821 of the passovers H6453 for every one that was not clean, H2889 to sanctify H6942 them unto the LORD. H3068
18 For a multitude H4768 of the people, H5971 even many H7227 of Ephraim, H669 and Manasseh, H4519 Issachar, H3485 and Zebulun, H2074 had not H3808 cleansed H2891 themselves, yet did they eat H398 the passover H6453 otherwise than it was written. H3789 But Hezekiah H3169 prayed H6419 for them, saying, H559 The good H2896 LORD H3068 pardon H3722 every one
19 That prepareth H3559 his heart H3824 to seek H1875 God, H430 the LORD H3068 God H430 of his fathers, H1 though he be not cleansed according to the purification H2893 of the sanctuary. H6944
20 And the LORD H3068 hearkened H8085 to Hezekiah, H3169 and healed H7495 the people. H5971
21 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 that were present H4672 at Jerusalem H3389 kept H6213 the feast H2282 of unleavened bread H4682 seven H7651 days H3117 with great H1419 gladness: H8057 and the Levites H3881 and the priests H3548 praised H1984 the LORD H3068 day H3117 by day, H3117 singing with loud H5797 instruments H3627 unto the LORD. H3068
22 And Hezekiah H3169 spake H1696 comfortably H3820 unto all the Levites H3881 that taught H7919 the good H2896 knowledge H7922 of the LORD: H3068 and they did eat H398 throughout the feast H4150 seven H7651 days, H3117 offering H2076 peace H8002 offerings, H2077 and making confession H3034 to the LORD H3068 God H430 of their fathers. H1
23 And the whole assembly H6951 took counsel H3289 to keep H6213 other H312 seven H7651 days: H3117 and they kept H6213 other seven H7651 days H3117 with gladness. H8057
24 For Hezekiah H2396 king H4428 of Judah H3063 did give H7311 to the congregation H6951 a thousand H505 bullocks H6499 and seven H7651 thousand H505 sheep; H6629 and the princes H8269 gave H7311 to the congregation H6951 a thousand H505 bullocks H6499 and ten H6235 thousand H505 sheep: H6629 and a great number H7230 of priests H3548 sanctified H6942 themselves.
25 And all the congregation H6951 of Judah, H3063 with the priests H3548 and the Levites, H3881 and all the congregation H6951 that came out H935 of Israel, H3478 and the strangers H1616 that came out H935 of the land H776 of Israel, H3478 and that dwelt H3427 in Judah, H3063 rejoiced. H8055
26 So there was great H1419 joy H8057 in Jerusalem: H3389 for since the time H3117 of Solomon H8010 the son H1121 of David H1732 king H4428 of Israel H3478 there was not the like in Jerusalem. H3389
27 Then the priests H3548 the Levites H3881 arose H6965 and blessed H1288 the people: H5971 and their voice H6963 was heard, H8085 and their prayer H8605 came H935 up to his holy H6944 dwelling place, H4583 even unto heaven. H8064
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 30
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 30 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 30
2Ch 30:1-12. Hezekiah Proclaims a Passover.
1-5. Hezekiah sent to all … Judah … to come to … Jerusalem, to keep the passover—This great religious festival had not been regularly observed by the Hebrews in their national capacity for a long time because of the division of the kingdom and the many disorders that had followed that unhappy event. Hezekiah longed extremely to see its observance revived; and the expression of his wishes having received a hearty response from the princes and chief men of his own kingdom, the preparatory steps were taken for a renewed celebration of the national solemnity.
letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh—The names of these leading tribes are used for the whole kingdom of Israel. It was judged impossible, however, that the temple, the priests, and people could be all duly sanctified at the usual time appointed for the anniversary, namely, the fourteenth day of the first month (Nisan). Therefore it was resolved, instead of postponing the feast till another year, to observe it on the fourteenth day of the second month; a liberty which, being in certain circumstances (Nu 9:6-13) granted to individuals, might, it was believed, be allowed to all the people. Hezekiah's proclamation was, of course, authoritative in his own kingdom, but it could not have been made and circulated in all the towns and villages of the neighboring kingdom without the concurrence, or at least the permission, of the Israelitish sovereign. Hoshea, the reigning king, is described as, though evil in some respects, yet more favorably disposed to religious liberty than any of his predecessors since the separation of the kingdom. This is thought to be the meaning of the mitigating clause in his character (2Ki 17:2).
6. the posts—that is, runners, or royal messengers, who were taken from the king's bodyguard (2Ch 23:1, 2). Each, well mounted, had a certain number of miles to traverse. Having performed his course, he was relieved by another, who had to scour an equal extent of ground; so that, as the government messengers were despatched in all directions, public edicts were speedily diffused throughout the country. The proclamation of Hezekiah was followed by a verbal address from himself, piously urging the duty, and setting forth the advantages, of a return to the pure faith and institutions which God had delivered to their ancestors through Moses.
the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria—This implies that several expeditions against Israel had already been made by Assyrian invaders—by Pul (2Ki 15:19), but none of the people were then removed; at a later period by Tiglath-pileser, when it appears that numbers among the tribes east of Jordan (1Ch 5:26), and afterwards in the northern parts of Israel (2Ki 15:20), were carried into foreign exile. The invasion of Shalmaneser cannot be alluded to, as it did not take place till the sixth year of Hezekiah's reign (2Ki 17:6; 18:9-12).
10-12. the posts passed from city to city—It is not surprising that after so long a discontinuance of the sacred festival, this attempt to revive it should, in some quarters, have excited ridicule and opposition. Accordingly, among the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Zebulun, Hezekiah's messengers met with open insults and ill usage. Many, however, in these very districts, as well as throughout the kingdom of the ten tribes, generally complied with the invitation; while, in the kingdom of Judah, there was one unanimous feeling of high expectation and pious delight. The concourse that repaired to Jerusalem on the occasion was very great, and the occasion was ever after regarded as one of the greatest passovers that had ever been celebrated.
2Ch 30:13-27. The Assembly Destroys the Altars of Idolatry.
14. they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem—As a necessary preparation for the right observance of the approaching solemnity, the removal of the altars, which Ahaz had erected in the city, was resolved upon (2Ch 28:24); for, as the people of God, the Hebrews were bound to extirpate all traces of idolatry; and it was a happy sign and pledge of the influence of the Spirit pervading the minds of the people when they voluntarily undertook this important preliminary work.
15. the priests and the Levites were ashamed—Though the Levites are associated in this statement, the priests were principally referred to; those of them who had been dilatory or negligent in sanctifying themselves (2Ch 29:34) were put to the blush and stimulated to their duty by the greater alacrity and zeal of the people.
16-18. the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites—This was a deviation from the established rules and practices in presenting the offerings of the temple. The reason was, that many present on the occasion having not sanctified themselves, the Levites slaughtered the paschal victims (see on 2Ch 35:5) for everyone that was unclean. At other times the heads of families killed the lambs themselves, the priests receiving the blood from their hands and presenting it on the altar. Multitudes of the Israelites, especially from certain tribes (2Ch 30:18), were in this unsanctified state, and yet they ate the passover—an exceptional feature and one opposed to the law (Nu 9:6); but this exception was allowed in answer to Hezekiah's prayer (2Ch 30:18-20).
20. the Lord … healed the people—We imagine the whole affair to have been the following: In consequence of their transgressions they had cause to fear disease and even death (Le 15:31). Hezekiah prayed for the nation, which was on the point of being diseased, and might therefore be regarded as sick already [Bertheau].
21-24. the children of Israel … kept the feast—The time appointed by the law for the continuance of the feast was seven days [Ex 12:15; 13:6; Le 23:6]; but in consequence of its having been allowed to fall so long into desuetude, they doubled the period of celebration and kept it fourteen days with unabated satisfaction and joy. Materials for the additional sacrificial meals were supplied by the munificence of the king and the princes.
24. and a great number of priests sanctified themselves—so that there would be a sufficient number of hands for the additional services.