2 Chronicles30
World English Bible · Public Domain
1Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to Yahweh’s house at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to Yahweh, the God of Israel.
2For the king had taken counsel with his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem to keep the Passover in the second month.
3For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves in sufficient number, and the people had not gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.
4The thing was right in the eyes of the king and of all the assembly.
5So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to Yahweh, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem, for they had not kept it in great numbers in the way it is written.
6So the couriers went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, according to the commandment of the king, saying, “You children of Israel, turn again to Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may return to the remnant of you that have escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.
7Don’t be like your fathers and like your brothers, who trespassed against Yahweh, the God of their fathers, so that he gave them up to desolation, as you see.
8Now don’t be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to Yahweh, and enter into his sanctuary, which he has sanctified forever, and serve Yahweh your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you.
9For if you turn again to Yahweh, your brothers and your children will find compassion with those who led them captive, and will come again into this land, because Yahweh your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you if you return to him.”
10So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even to Zebulun, but people ridiculed them and mocked them.
11Nevertheless some men of Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.
12Also the hand of God came on Judah to give them one heart, to do the commandment of the king and of the princes by Yahweh’s word.
13Many people assembled at Jerusalem to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great assembly.
14They arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and they took away all the altars for incense and threw them into the brook Kidron.
15Then they killed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought burnt offerings into Yahweh’s house.
16They stood in their place after their order, according to the law of Moses the man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood which they received of the hand of the Levites.
17For there were many in the assembly who had not sanctified themselves; therefore the Levites were in charge of killing the Passovers for everyone who was not clean, to sanctify them to Yahweh.
18For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover other than the way it is written. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, “May the good Yahweh pardon everyone
19who sets his heart to seek God, Yahweh, the God of his fathers, even if they aren’t clean according to the purification of the sanctuary.”
20Yahweh listened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.
21The children of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness. The Levites and the priests praised Yahweh day by day, singing with loud instruments to Yahweh.
22Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who had good understanding in the service of Yahweh. So they ate throughout the feast for the seven days, offering sacrifices of peace offerings and making confession to Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
23The whole assembly took counsel to keep another seven days, and they kept another seven days with gladness.
24For Hezekiah king of Judah gave to the assembly for offerings one thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the assembly a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep; and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.
25All the assembly of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the assembly who came out of Israel, and the foreigners who came out of the land of Israel and who lived in Judah, rejoiced.
26So there was great joy in Jerusalem; for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was nothing like this in Jerusalem.
27Then the Levitical priests arose and blessed the people. Their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy habitation, even 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