2 Chronicles30
New Living Translation
1King Hezekiah now sent word to all Israel and Judah, and he wrote letters of invitation to the people of Ephraim and Manasseh. He asked everyone to come to the Temple of the Lord at Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of the Lord, the God of Israel.
2The king, his officials, and all the community of Jerusalem decided to celebrate Passover a month later than usual.
3They were unable to celebrate it at the prescribed time because not enough priests could be purified by then, and the people had not yet assembled at Jerusalem.
4This plan for keeping the Passover seemed right to the king and all the people.
5So they sent a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north, inviting everyone to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of the Lord, the God of Israel. The people had not been celebrating it in great numbers as required in the Law.
6At the king’s command, runners were sent throughout Israel and Judah. They carried letters that said: “O people of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that he will return to the few of us who have survived the conquest of the Assyrian kings.
7Do not be like your ancestors and relatives who abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and became an object of derision, as you yourselves can see.
8Do not be stubborn, as they were, but submit yourselves to the Lord. Come to his Temple, which he has set apart as holy forever. Worship the Lord your God so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.
9“For if you return to the Lord, your relatives and your children will be treated mercifully by their captors, and they will be able to return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful. If you return to him, he will not continue to turn his face from you.”
10The runners went from town to town throughout Ephraim and Manasseh and as far as the territory of Zebulun. But most of the people just laughed at the runners and made fun of them.
11However, some people from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem.
12At the same time, God’s hand was on the people in the land of Judah, giving them all one heart to obey the orders of the king and his officials, who were following the word of the Lord.
13So a huge crowd assembled at Jerusalem in midspring to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread.
14They set to work and removed the pagan altars from Jerusalem. They took away all the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley.
15On the fourteenth day of the second month, one month later than usual, the people slaughtered the Passover lamb. This shamed the priests and Levites, so they purified themselves and brought burnt offerings to the Temple of the Lord.
16Then they took their places at the Temple as prescribed in the Law of Moses, the man of God. The Levites brought the sacrificial blood to the priests, who then sprinkled it on the altar.
17Since many of the people had not purified themselves, the Levites had to slaughter their Passover lamb for them, to set them apart for the Lord.
18Most of those who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not purified themselves. But King Hezekiah prayed for them, and they were allowed to eat the Passover meal anyway, even though this was contrary to the requirements of the Law. For Hezekiah said, “May the Lord, who is good, pardon those
19who decide to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors, even though they are not properly cleansed for the ceremony.”
20And the Lord listened to Hezekiah’s prayer and healed the people.
21So the people of Israel who were present in Jerusalem joyously celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. Each day the Levites and priests sang to the Lord, accompanied by loud instruments.
22Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites regarding the skill they displayed as they served the Lord. The celebration continued for seven days. Peace offerings were sacrificed, and the people gave thanks to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.
23The entire assembly then decided to continue the festival another seven days, so they celebrated joyfully for another week.
24King Hezekiah gave the people 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep and goats for offerings, and the officials donated 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep and goats. Meanwhile, many more priests purified themselves.
25The entire assembly of Judah rejoiced, including the priests, the Levites, all who came from the land of Israel, the foreigners who came to the festival, and all those who lived in Judah.
26There was great joy in the city, for Jerusalem had not seen a celebration like this one since the days of Solomon, King David’s son.
27Then the priests and Levites stood and blessed the people, and God heard their prayer from his holy dwelling in 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