2 Chronicles 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

[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.