Bible Commentaries
2 Chronicles 30

Verse 1

And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel.

To Ephraim and Manasseh. — That is, To all that were left of the ten tribes under king Hoshea, who, being rather atheist than idolater, and brought very low by the Assyrian, hindered not the people’s going up to the temple. The good of our brethren in other kingdoms mast also be minded.

Verse 2

For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month.

To keep the passover in the second month. — He knew that nunquam sero si serio. See Numbers 9:10 . If we can but say, with Augustine, Nimis sero te amavi Domine, all shall do well.

Verse 3

For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.

For they could not keep it at that time. — Namely, On the fourteenth day of the first month, for the two following reasons. See the like, Numbers 9:10-11 .

Verse 4

And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation.

And all the congregation. — Who might here well say, in the courtier’s language, Whatsoever pleaseth the king shall please me.

Verse 5

So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done [it] of a long [time in such sort] as it was written.

For they had not done it of a long time. — So easily falleth religion to the ground under bad princes and priests: such as were Ahaz and Uriah.

Verse 6

So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.

Ye children of Israel, turn again to the Lord. — Hezekiah knew that the poor remnant of Israel were in great affliction: he therefore presseth them to repentance, whereby men return to God, as by sin they run from him. Afflictiones sunt lex practice Psalms 119:71 Hezekiah thought it was good striking while the iron was hot.

Verse 7

And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, [who] therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see.

Who gave them up to desolation. — Heb., To astonishment: fecit ut omnes mirarentur, ac misererentur.

As ye see. — For it is to be hoped that your afflictions - those pillulae lucis - have cleared up your eyesight.

Verse 8

Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers [were, but] yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.

But yield yourselves unto the Lord. — Heb., Give the hand; i.e., submit to his justice, and implore his mercy; put yourselves into the hands of justice, in hope of mercy. "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may lift you up." James 5:10 "He will not take the wicked by the hand." Job 8:20 , margin

Verse 9

For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children [shall find] compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God [is] gracious and merciful, and will not turn away [his] face from you, if ye return unto him.

Your brethren … shall find compassion, … — A forcible reason; if but for your poor brethren and children’s sake, who shall find favour with their enemies for your piety and prayers, turn to the Lord. This because they did not, themselves also were shortly after carried captive by Shalmaneser, and never returned.

Verse 10

So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.

But they laughed them to scorn. — So profane and superstitious they were; so ready ripe for rain. It is a sad foretoken of a common calamity, when religion is become a matter, not of form only, but of scorn. Josephus saith that these Israelites thus invited slew both the messengers, and those prophets also that exhorted them to go up.

Verse 11

Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.

Nevertheless, divers of Asher … humbled. — And were hid, no doubt, when the rest were carried captive by Shalmaneser. Preserved they were, if not from the common destruction, yet from the common distraction; for God "will save the humble person." Job 22:29

Verse 12

Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD.

Also in Judah the hand of God, — i.e., The grace of God; whose alone it is to work the heart to good, and to give "repentance unto life." His grace is irresistible.

Verse 13

And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation.

A very great congregation. — Brought thither by God’s holy hand; 2 Chronicles 30:12 yea, the arm of the Lord was revealed unto them. Isaiah 53:1

Verse 14

And they arose and took away the altars that [were] in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast [them] into the brook Kidron.

And took away the altars. — With other instruments of superstition: the brazen serpent also, because it was abused by the people. See 2 Kings 18:4 . See Trapp on " 2 Kings 18:4 "

Verse 15

Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth [day] of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD.

Then they killed the passover. — So must we first cast the baggage into the brook, and then come to the Lord’s supper. 1 Corinthians 5:7-8

And the priests and Levites were ashamed. — As well they might, that they had been so slack and backward to so good a business, so generally and zealously set upon.

Verse 16

And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, [which they received] of the hand of the Levites.

The blood which they received of the hands of the Levites. — Part of the blood they sprinkled as a type of that "blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things" for us; and part to be poured out by the priest upon the earth, to show that the best have deserved to be destroyed, and that God is the Lord of life and of death.

Verse 17

For [there were] many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one [that was] not clean, to sanctify [them] unto the LORD.

The charge of the killing of the passovers. — That is, Not only of the paschal lamb, but of the passover offerings, 2 Chronicles 35:7-8 called here passovers.

Verse 18

For a multitude of the people, [even] many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one

Many of Ephraim and Manasseh, … — Who had been a long while without God, without law, and without a teaching priest; 2 Chronicles 15:3 these came rudely and unreverently to the passover, and some way smarted for it. In the gospel, he that came in without a wedding garment on his back, went not out without fetters on his feet. And "for this cause many are weak and sickly amongst you, and some are fallen asleep," i.e., dead outright. 1 Corinthians 11:30

The good Lord pardon every one. — Iehovah optimus praestet Spiritu suo quod isti temporis importunitate praetermiserunt: the good Lord make us by his Spirit, what, through want of time or means, is wanting to this poor people, and graciously accept their weak but willing services, …

Verse 19

[That] prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though [he be] not [cleansed] according to the purification of the sanctuary.

That prepareth his heart. — As well as he is able, though he fall far short of what he should be. The bent, frame, and tendencies of the heart show what the man is.

Verse 20

And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.

And healed the people. — He healed them on both sides: "he forgave all their iniquities, and healed all their diseases." Psalms 103:3

Verse 21

And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, [singing] with loud instruments unto the LORD.

Singing with loud instruments. — Heb., With instruments of strength; or, concerning the strength and power of God, as Munster senseth it.

Verse 22

And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers.

And Hezekiah spake comfortably to all the Levites. — Heb., To the heart of all the Levites: he cheered them up, and encouraged them to do their work lustily, promising them his best assistance. Few such princes. Some Cajetan. sense the words thus: He spake unto them words piercing to the heart, that they should take upon them and continue the care of instructing the people. Others thus: He instructed them in the free grace and rich mercy of God, who accepteth of those that are upright in heart, though there may be some outward failings. A most comfortable doctrine indeed.

That taught the good knowledge of the Lord. — And therefore had the more need of encouragement under so laborious an employment.

Verse 23

And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept [other] seven days with gladness.

And they kept other seven days. — Gaudet solennitas haec produci, as Augustine saith of the feast of pentecost. This they did, partly to make amends for their former neglect of this holy service, and partly to keep their hearts in so good a frame, to retain the gladness they had in the first seven: as the silkworm stretcheth forth herself before she spinneth her finest thread.

Verse 24

For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.

And the princes gave a thousand bullocks. — Neither the king nor princes spared for cost to further so good a motion, and to draw the people to stay with delight; those of the ten tribes especially, that they may be better instructed.

Verse 25

And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced.

And all the congregation … rejoiced. — This was right; for all God’s worships were to be celebrated with joy; Deuteronomy 12:7 and joy is a condition of an acceptable service. Deuteronomy 26:14 Sacrifices offered in mourning were an abomination, Hosea 9:4 yea, accursed of God. Deuteronomy 28:47

Verse 26

So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel [there was] not the like in Jerusalem.

There was not the like in Jerusalem. — Since the revolt of the ten tribes, there was not such a panegyris, or general assembly, nor so great a festivity.

Verse 27

Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came [up] to his holy dwelling place, [even] unto heaven.

Arose and blessed the people. — Which was a part of their office. See the form. Numbers 6:23