2 Chronicles30
New American Standard
1Now Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover to the Lord God of Israel.
2For the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month,
3since they could not celebrate it at that time, because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient numbers, nor had the people been gathered to Jerusalem.
4So the decision was right in the sight of the king and all the assembly.
5So they established a decree to circulate a proclamation throughout Israel from Beersheba to Dan, that they are to come to celebrate the Passover to the Lord God of Israel in Jerusalem. For they had not celebrated it in great numbers as was written.
6The couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with the letters from the hand of the king and his princes, even according to the command of the king, saying, “Sons of Israel, return to the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that He may return to those of you who escaped and are left from the hand of the kings of Assyria.
7Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were untrue to the Lord God of their fathers, so that He made them an object of horror, just as you see.
8Now do not stiffen your neck like your fathers, but yield to the Lord and enter His sanctuary which He has consecrated forever, and serve the Lord your God, that His burning anger may turn away from you.
9For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and your sons will find compassion in the presence of those who led them captive, and will return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate, and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.”
10So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed at them with scorn and mocked them.
11Nevertheless, some men of Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.
12The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the Lord.
13Now many people were gathered at Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very large assembly.
14They got up and removed the altars which were in Jerusalem; they also removed all the incense altars and threw them into the brook Kidron.
15Then they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth of the second month. And the priests and Levites were ashamed of themselves, and consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the Lord.
16They stood at their stations following their custom, according to the Law of Moses the man of God; the priests sprinkled the blood which they received from the hand of the Levites.
17For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves; therefore, the Levites were in charge of the slaughter of the Passover lambs for everyone who was unclean, in order to consecrate them to the Lord.
18For a multitude of the people, many from Ephraim and Manasseh, and Issachar and Zebulun, had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written. For Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lord pardon
19everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though not according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.”
20So the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.
21The sons of Israel present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy, and the Levites and the priests were praising the Lord day after day with loud instruments to the Lord.
22Then Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good insight in the things of the Lord. So they ate for the appointed seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the Lord God of their fathers.
23Then the whole assembly decided to celebrate the feast another seven days, so they celebrated the seven days with joy.
24For Hezekiah king of Judah had contributed to the assembly a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep, and the princes had contributed to the assembly a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep; and a large number of priests consecrated themselves.
25All the assembly of Judah rejoiced, with the priests and the Levites and all the assembly that came from Israel, both the strangers who came from the land of Israel and those living in Judah.
26So there was great joy in Jerusalem, because there was nothing like this in Jerusalem since the days of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel.
27Then the Levitical priests stood and blessed the people; and their voice was heard and their prayer came to His holy dwelling place, to heaven.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Chronicles 30.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Hezekiah's passover. (1–12). The passover celebrated. (13–20). The feast of unleavened bread. (21–27).
vv1-12
Hezekiah made Israel as welcome to the passover, as any of his own subjects. Let us yield ourselves unto the Lord. Say not, you will do what you please, but resolve to do what he pleases. We perceive in the carnal mind a stiffness, an obstinacy, an unaptness to compel with God; we have it from our fathers: this must be overcome. Those who, through grace, have turned to God themselves, should do all they can to bring others to him. Numbers will be scorners, but some will be humbled and benefited; perhaps where least expected. The rich mercy of God is the great argument by which to enforce repentance; the vilest who submit and yield themselves to the Lord, seek his grace, and give themselves to his service, shall certainly be saved. Oh that messengers were sent forth to carry these glad tidings to every city and every village, through every land!
vv13-20
The great thing needful in attendance upon God in solemn ordinances, is, that we make heart-work of it; all is nothing without this. Where this sincerity and fixedness of heart are, there may yet be many things short of the purification of the sanctuary. These defects need pardoning, healing grace; for omissions in duty are sins, as well as omissions of duty. If God should deal with us in strict justice, even as to the very best of our doings, we should be undone. The way to obtain pardon, is to seek it of God by prayer; it must be gotten by petition through the blood of Christ. Yet every defect is sin, and needs forgiveness; and should be matter to humble, but not to discourage us, though nothing can make up for the want of a heart prepared to seek the Lord.
vv21-27
Many prayers were put up to God with the peace-offerings. In these Israel looked to God as the God of their fathers, a God in covenant with them. There was also abundance of good preaching. The Levites read and explained the Scriptures. Faith cometh by hearing, and true religion preaching has abounded. They sang psalms every day: praising God should be much of our work in religious assemblies. Having kept the seven days of the feast in this religious manner, they had so much comfort in it, that they kept other seven days also. This they did with gladness. Holy duties should be done with holy gladness. And when sinners humble themselves before the Lord, they may expect gladness in his ordinances. Those who taste this happiness will not soon grow weary of it, but will be glad to prolong their enjoyment.
Key Words
יְחִזְקִיָּה: Jechizkijah, the name of five Israelites
שָׁלַח: to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
יְהוּדָה: Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
כָּתַב: to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)
אִגֶּרֶת: an epistle
גַּם: properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
אֶפְרַיִם: Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
מְנַשֶּׁה: Menashsheh, a grandson of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
Cross References
2 Chronicles 30Allows a second-month Passover in cases of ceremonial uncleanness or being on a journey.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explicit biblical provision for celebrating the Passover on the fourteenth day of the second month.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Shows the previous shortage of sanctified priests, causing the delay to the second month.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Details the Assyrian captivity under Tiglath-pileser, leaving the 'remnant' Hezekiah addresses.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The invasion of Pul, king of Assyria, beginning the depletion of the northern tribes.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Hebrew idiom 'yield' (literally 'give the hand') signifying submission and covenant loyalty.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Another historical usage of 'giving the hand' as a pledge of covenant submission.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The idolatrous altars Ahaz had erected, which the people now destroy before the feast.
Supported by JFB
Precedent for members of Ephraim and Manasseh falling to Judah when they saw God was with them.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies Moses by the title 'man of God', matching the wording in verse 16.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Connects the humble individuals of the northern tribes with those who ate without full cleansing.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the concept of preparing the heart to seek God despite ritual shortcomings.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The original Law of Moses specifying the fourteenth day of the first month.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Hoshea's milder character allowed northern subjects religious liberty to attend Hezekiah's feast.
Supported by JFB
Shows similar Passover administration under Josiah, with priests and Levites in their places.
Supported by JFB