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2 Chronicles Chapter Thirty

 

2 Chronicles 30 Outline of Contents

Hezekiah Keeps the Passover (v.1~27)

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 30

Hezekiah having consulted his nobles about keeping the passover the second month and determined upon it sent messengers throughout Israel and Judah to acquaint them with it at which some mocked and others seriously attended to it 2 Chronicles 30:1 so it was celebrated in a solemn manner though some were not qualified for it according to the law and for whose pardon Hezekiah prayed and it was granted 2 Chronicles 30:13 also the feast of unleavened bread was kept seven days and a festival of seven days more was likewise observed with great joy and gladness 2 Chronicles 30:21.

 

2 Chronicles 30:1  And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem to keep the Passover to the Lord God of Israel.

   YLT  1And Hezekiah sendeth unto all Israel and Judah and also letters he hath written unto Ephraim and Manasseh to come in to the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem to make a passover to Jehovah God of Israel.

And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah .... Sent messengers to them not only to the subjects of his own kingdom Judah but to all the Israelites that dwelt in it who were come thither for the sake of religion and the worship of God:

and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh; which are put for all the ten tribes as appears from 2 Chronicles 30:10 and are distinguished from Israel in the preceding clause:

that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem; not that he laid his commands upon them to come they not being his subjects namely those of the ten tribes; but he hereby admonished them of their duty and gave them a kind invitation signifying the doors of the temple were open for them and they were welcome to come thither:

to keep the passover unto the Lord God of Israel; to the glory of his name who was the common Lord of them all and whose command it was to keep the passover and that at Jerusalem and nowhere else see Deuteronomy 16:1.

 

2 Chronicles 30:2  2 For the king and his leaders and all the assembly in Jerusalem had agreed to keep the Passover in the second month.

   YLT  2And the king taketh counsel and his heads and all the assembly in Jerusalem to make the passover in the second month

For the king had taken counsel and his princes and all the congregation in Jerusalem .... He and his nobles and the great sanhedrim or senate of the nation had consulted together:

to keep the passover in the second month; in the month Ijar as the Targum because they could not keep it in the first month as it should have been kept according to the law of God for the reasons following.

 

2 Chronicles 30:3  3 For they could not keep it at the regular time [a] because a sufficient number of priests had not consecrated themselves nor had the people gathered together at Jerusalem.

   YLT  3for they have not been able to make it at that time for the priests have not sanctified themselves sufficiently and the people have not been gathered to Jerusalem.

For they could not keep it at the time .... In the month Nisan as the Targum adds on the fourteenth day of the month as the law enjoined because the cleansing of the temple was not finished until the sixteenth day see 2 Chronicles 29:17 and besides this two other reasons follow:

because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently; that is a sufficient number of them were not sanctified to slay all the passover lambs the people that came to the feast would want:

neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem; they had no notice of it nor summons for it; and it was required that at such a time all the males in the land should appear at Jerusalem; but this custom having been long disused it required time to acquaint them of the revival of it.

 

2 Chronicles 30:4  4 And the matter pleased the king and all the assembly.

   YLT  4And the thing is right in the eyes of the king and in the eyes of all the assembly

And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. They all unanimously agreed to it and determined it should be done.

 

2 Chronicles 30:5  5 So they resolved to make a proclamation throughout all Israel from Beersheba to Dan that they should come to keep the Passover to the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem since they had not done it for a long time in the prescribed manner.

   YLT  5and they establish the thing to cause to pass over an intimation into all Israel from Beer-Sheba even unto Dan to come in to make a passover to Jehovah God of Israel in Jerusalem for not for a long time had they done as it is written.

So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel .... Passed a vote that heralds should be appointed and sent to proclaim it throughout the land that all might know it and none plead ignorance:

from Beersheba even to Dan; the one being the southern and the other the northern boundary of the whole land of Israel:

that they should come to keep the passover unto the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem: the only proper place where it was to be kept:

for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written; as prescribed in the law those of the ten tribes had not observed it from the time of the schism of Jeroboam and many in the kingdom of Judah had neglected it at least had not kept it as the law required; for the phrase which we render "of a long time" rather respects a multitude of persons than length of time who had been very deficient in their observance of this ordinance; the Targum is that"many had not done it in its time in Nisan 'and suggests that it was kept twice this year first in Nisan by a few and now again in the second month Ijar and which is the sense of some Talmudic writersF16T. Bab. Sanhedrin fol. 12. 2. but has no foundation in the text.

 

2 Chronicles 30:6  6 Then the runners went throughout all Israel and Judah with the letters from the king and his leaders and spoke according to the command of the king: “Children of Israel return to the Lord God of Abraham Isaac and Israel; then He will return to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria.

   YLT  6And the runners go with letters from the hand of the king and his heads into all Israel and Judah even according to the command of the king saying `O sons of Israel turn back unto Jehovah God of Abraham Isaac and Israel and He doth turn back unto the escaped part that is left of you from the hand of the kings of Asshur;

So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah .... Both through the kingdoms of the ten tribes of Israel and the kingdom of the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin:

and according to the commandment of the king saying; so they were ordered by the king to say when they delivered the letters which by the king's commandment they carried; or this was the purport of them as follows especially of those that were sent to the ten tribes:

ye children of Israel turn again unto the Lord God of Abraham Isaac and Israel; from whom they had revolted and from whose worship they had departed by setting up and serving the calves at Dan and Bethel:

and he will return to the remnant of you that are escaped out of the hand of the king of Assyria; Pul and Tiglathpileser who had both invaded their land and the latter had taken many of their cities and carried the inhabitants captive 2 Kings 15:19.

 

2 Chronicles 30:7  7 And do not be like your fathers and your brethren who trespassed against the Lord God of their fathers so that He gave them up to desolation as you see.

   YLT  7and do not be like your fathers and like your brethren who trespassed against Jehovah God of their fathers and He giveth them to desolation as ye do see.

And be not ye like your fathers and like your brethren which trespassed against the Lord God of their fathers .... By worshipping the calves and neglecting the service of God in the temple at Jerusalem; the Targum is "which acted deceitfully with the Word of the Lord their God:"

who therefore gave them up to desolation as ye see; some part of the land of Israel being already made desolate by the kings of Assyria which was very visible.

 

2 Chronicles 30:8  8 Now do not be stiff-necked as your fathers were but yield yourselves to the Lord; and enter His sanctuary which He has sanctified forever and serve the Lord your God that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you.

   YLT  8`Now harden not your neck like your fathers give a hand to Jehovah and come in to His sanctuary that He hath sanctified to the age and serve Jehovah your God and the fierceness of His anger doth turn back from you;

Now be ye not stiffnecked as your fathers were .... Obstinate and refractory like heifers unaccustomed to the yoke which draw back from it and will not submit to it:

but yield yourselves unto the Lord; be subject unto him or "give the hand"F17תנו יד "date manum" Pagninus Montanus &c. to him as a token of subjection and homage or of entering into covenant with him promising for the future to serve and obey him:

and enter into his sanctuary which he hath sanctified for ever; set apart for worship and service until the Messiah should come:

and serve the Lord your God; there in the temple according to his prescribed will:

that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you; which had already broke out in suffering the Assyrians to invade their land and distress them.

 

2 Chronicles 30:9  9 For if you return to the Lord your brethren and your children will be treated with compassion by those who lead them captive so that they may come back to this land; for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn His face from you if you return to Him.”

   YLT  9for in your turning back unto Jehovah your brethren and your sons have mercies before their captors even to return to this land for gracious and merciful [is] Jehovah your God and He doth not turn aside the face from you if ye turn back unto Him.'

For if ye turn again unto the Lord .... To the fear or worship of the Lord as the Targum:

your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive so that they shall come again into this land; who had been carried away by Tiglathpileser see Psalm 106:46

for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful; so he had proclaimed his name as they must know Exodus 34:6

and will not turn away his face from you; in wrath and anger; or withdraw his Shecaniah from you as the Targum; his gracious and glorious presence:

if ye return unto him; his fear and worship as the same paraphrase.

 

2 Chronicles 30:10  10 So the runners passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun; but they laughed at them and mocked them.

   YLT  10And the runners are passing over from city to city in the land of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: and they are laughing at them and mocking at them

So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun .... Through all the ten tribes not being hindered or forbid by Hoshea king of Israel who was one of the best of their kings and was very willing his people should go and worship at Jerusalem if they thought fit; so that they had no excuse to make as before that they were forbid by their king going thither; and which it is very probable Hezekiah knew and therefore took the freedom to send posts throughout his kingdom:

but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them; the messengers that brought the letters the contents of which they despised and paid no regard to; this was the behaviour of many and probably of the greater part but not of all as follows.

 

2 Chronicles 30:11  11 Nevertheless some from Asher Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.

   YLT  11only certain from Asher and Manasseh and from Zebulun have been humbled and come in to Jerusalem.

Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves .... Confessed their idolatries and impieties and expressed sorrow and repentance for them and were willing to obey the commands of God and attend his worship and ordinances:

and came to Jerusalem; to keep the passover.

 

2 Chronicles 30:12  12 Also the hand of God was on Judah to give them singleness of heart to obey the command of the king and the leaders at the word of the Lord.

   YLT  12Also in Judah hath the hand of God been to give to them one heart to do the command of the king and of the heads in the matter of Jehovah;

Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart .... To make them unanimous in this service hearty and willing to it to a man which was owing to the power and efficacy of divine grace:

to do the commandment of the king and of the princes by the word of the Lord; to keep the passover which they did not only in obedience to their superiors and their orders but considering these as agreeable to the word and will of God.

 

2 Chronicles 30:13  13 Now many people a very great assembly gathered at Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month.

   YLT  13and much people are gathered to Jerusalem to make the feast of unleavened things in the second month -- a mighty assembly for multitude.

And there assembled at Jerusalem much people .... Out of the several tribes:

to keep the feast of unleavened bread: the passover which was eaten with unleavened bread:

in the second month: the month Ijar:

a very great congregation; such as had not been seen on such an occasion for many years.

 

2 Chronicles 30:14  14 They arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem and they took away all the incense altars and cast them into the Brook Kidron.

   YLT  14And they arise and turn aside the altars that [are] in Jerusalem and all the perfume altars they have turned aside and cast [them] to the brook Kidron;

And they arose .... Before they slew and ate the passover:

and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem; which Ahaz had set up in every corner of Jerusalem to offer sacrifices upon 2 Chronicles 28:24.

and all the altars for incense took they away; for as there were some to offer sacrifices on there were others to burn incense upon not to the Lord but to idols as the Targum adds:

and cast them into the brook Kidron; having reduced them to dust and ashes see 2 Chronicles 29:16.

 

2 Chronicles 30:15  15 Then they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed and sanctified themselves and brought the burnt offerings to the house of the Lord.

   YLT  15and they slaughter the passover-offering on the fourteenth of the second month and the priests and the Levites have been ashamed and sanctify themselves and bring in burnt-offerings to the house of Jehovah.

Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month .... For though they could not keep it in the month in which it should have been kept for the reasons before given yet they kept it on the day of the month in which it was observed:

and the priests and the Levites were ashamed; of their negligence and backwardness to service and to fit themselves for it when they saw the people so forward and ready to attend to it:

and they sanctified themselves; by washing their bodies and their garments:

and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the Lord; to be offered up on the altar of burnt offerings to expiate their own sins and the sins of the people; though some take these to be the passover offerings; but they were not offered until the fifteenth day and besides were peace offerings mentioned 2 Chronicles 30:22 rather these were the daily sacrifices.

 

2 Chronicles 30:16  16 They stood in their place according to their custom according to the Law of Moses the man of God; the priests sprinkled the blood received from the hand of the Levites.

   YLT  16And they stand on their station according to their ordinance; according to the law of Moses the man of God the priests are sprinkling the blood out of the hand of the Levites

And they stood in their place after their manner according to the law of Moses the man of God .... The priests in their place and the Levites in theirs in which they were ordered to stand when they offered sacrifice:

the priests sprinkled the blood which they received of the hand of the Levites; the blood either of the burnt offerings before mentioned or of the passover lambs which the Levites slew and received the blood of them in basins; and which the priests took of them and sprinkled not on the door posts of houses as in Egypt but on the altar round about and which none but priests might do Leviticus 1:5.

 

2 Chronicles 30:17  17 For there were many in the assembly who had not sanctified themselves; therefore the Levites had charge of the slaughter of the Passover lambs for everyone who was not clean to sanctify them to the Lord.

   YLT  17for many [are] in the assembly who have not sanctified themselves and the Levites [are] over the slaughtering of the passover-offerings for every one not clean to sanctify [him] to Jehovah:

For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified .... Or purified from uncleanness contracted either by idolatry or through such things which according to the ceremonial law made them unclean and from which they had not now time to cleanse themselves according to the law:

therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for everyone that was not clean to sanctify them unto the Lord; this they did for the masters of families who were ceremonially unclean who otherwise might have killed their passover lambs themselves see Exodus 12:6 but now the Levites did it for them that their passovers might be sanctified and consecrated to the Lord; for as Philo the Jew saysF18De Vita Mosis l. 3. p. 686. & de Decalogo p. 766. one day in a year the whole sacrificed everyone acted as a priest and brought and slew his own sacrifice meaning at the passover.

 

2 Chronicles 30:18  18 For a multitude of the people many from Ephraim Manasseh Issachar and Zebulun had not cleansed themselves yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them saying “May the good Lord provide atonement for everyone

   YLT  18for a multitude of the people many from Ephraim and Manasseh Issachar and Zebulun have not been cleansed but have eaten the passover otherwise than it is written; but Hezekiah prayed for them saying `Jehovah who [is] good doth receive atonement for every one

For a multitude of the people even many of Ephraim and Manasseh Issachar and Zebulun .... All which were of the ten tribes where idolatry had prevailed for a long time:

had not cleansed themselves; from impurity contracted by idolatry and other things:

yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written; because they ate it in their uncleanness which was not according to the law that required that such should be clean that ate of any holy things see John 18:28 but since these people came a great way off and there was no deferring it to another month the king chose rather they should be admitted to eat of it though in their uncleanness:

but Hezekiah prayed for them saying the good Lord pardon everyone; God who is gracious and merciful and of his goodness grace and mercy forgive such who though ceremonially unclean ate of the passover and especially since they were sincere and cordial in their services; and therefore he hoped that this breach of the ceremonial law would not be laid to their charge. Goodness is such a well known attribute of God that the very Heathens ascribe it to their deities; hence we read of a temple of the "good god" the gods being the givers of good things to men; Jupiter or Jove the supreme god is supposed to be meantF19Pausan. Arcadica sive l. 8. p. 513. Vid. Ciceronem de Nat. Deor. l. 3. prope finem. .

 

2 Chronicles 30:19  19 who prepares his heart to seek God the Lord God of his fathers though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.”

   YLT  19who hath prepared his heart to seek God -- Jehovah God of his fathers -- yet not according to the cleansing of the sanctuary;'

That prepareth his heart to seek God the Lord God of his fathers .... Who was heartily desirous of worshipping God and observing his ordinances which had been enjoined their fathers and they had kept; though Aben Ezra as Kimchi observes refers this to Hezekiah:

whose whole heart he directed or prepared to seek the Lord &c. by prayer and supplication for everyone of the said persons:

though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary: according to the ceremonial law which the service of the temple required; since though they were attended with a ceremonial impurity had a moral purity and their hearts were right with God.

 

2 Chronicles 30:20  20 And the Lord listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.

   YLT  20and Jehovah hearkeneth unto Hezekiah and healeth the people.

And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah .... Heard his prayer and accepted of it and granted what he desired:

and healed his people; that is forgave their sins as Kimchi interprets it; forgiveness being expressed by healing for which he refers to Psalm 41:4 to which may be added Psalm 103:3 and which was known either by a prophet sent to declare it or by not punishing them for their offence.

 

2 Chronicles 30:21  21 So the children of Israel who 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 to the Lord accompanied by loud instruments.

   YLT  21And the sons of Israel those found in Jerusalem make the feast of unleavened things seven days with great joy; and giving praise to Jehovah day by day are the Levites and the priests with instruments of praise before Jehovah.

And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness .... Which according to the law of Moses were always to follow the passover Exodus 12:18.

and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day singing with loud instruments unto the Lord; or instruments of strengthF20בכלי עז "cum instrumentis fortitudinis" Vatablus. ; so called not from the matter of them or manner in which they were made but either from the sound of them as our version or from the strength and power of God which they set forth in praise; the Targum is "with instruments of praise 'and so the word is sometimes used see Psalm 8:2 compared with Matthew 21:16 the priests blew with trumpets and the Levites played on harps psalteries &c. and this they did every day when the sacrifices were offered during the seven days of unleavened bread.

 

2 Chronicles 30:22  22 And Hezekiah gave encouragement to all the Levites who taught the good knowledge of the Lord; and they ate throughout the feast seven days offering peace offerings and making confession to the Lord God of their fathers.

   YLT  22And Hezekiah speaketh unto the heart of all the Levites those giving good understanding concerning Jehovah and they eat the appointed thing seven days; sacrificing sacrifices of peace-offerings and making confession to Jehovah God of their fathers.

And Hezekiah spake comfortably to all the Levites .... Or "to the heart"F21על לב "ad cor" Pagninus Montanus &c. of them such things as were very encouraging to them to go on in the work and worship of God commending their singing exhorting them to diligence in instructing the people promising them his favour and protection:

even those that taught the good knowledge of the Lord; who instructed the people well in his word worship and ordinances; though some restrain this to their skill in singing the praises of God both vocally and instrumentally and their abilities and diligence in teaching others:

and they did eat throughout the feast: or did eat the feast; that is the sacrifices of it; not the Levites only but the king and all the congregation:

offering peace offerings; part of which belonged to the Lord another part to the priests and a third to the offerers on which they feasted with their friends; and this they did throughout all the seven days of the feast:

and making confession to the Lord God of their fathers; confessing their sins of omission and commission they had been guilty of; owning the goodness grace and mercy of God towards them; blessing and praising his name for the restoration of his worship and ordinances among them.

 

2 Chronicles 30:23  23 Then the whole assembly agreed to keep the feast another seven days and they kept it another seven days with gladness.

   YLT  23And all the assembly take counsel to keep other seven days and they keep seven days [with] joy;

And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days .... They consulted among themselves and with the king and his nobles about it who all agreed to it:

and they kept other seven days with gladness; not altogether in the same manner they had kept the preceding seven days; they did not slay and eat passover lambs nor did they eat unleavened bread but offered peace offerings and feasted upon them; and sung the praises of God and attended to the instructions of the priests and Levites being in a very agreeable frame of mind for religious exercises.

 

2 Chronicles 30:24  24 For Hezekiah king of Judah gave to the assembly a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep and the leaders gave to the assembly a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep; and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.

   YLT  24for Hezekiah king of Judah hath presented to the assembly a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the heads have presented to the assembly bullocks a thousand and sheep ten thousand; and priests sanctify themselves in abundance.

For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation one thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep .... He separated them as Kimchi interprets it from his own herds and flocks; or out of his own substance at his own expense purchased them; or lifted them up as the word signifies as heave offerings to the Lord; and gave them to the people for thank offerings to feast upon:

and the princes gave to the congregation one thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: for the same purposes following the king's example:

and a great number of priests sanctified themselves; besides those who had before that they might be fit to offer this great number of sacrifices.

 

2 Chronicles 30:25  25 The whole assembly of Judah rejoiced also the priests and Levites all the assembly that came from Israel the sojourners who came from the land of Israel and those who dwelt in Judah.

   YLT  25And all the assembly of Judah rejoice and the priests and the Levites and all the assembly those coming in from Israel and the sojourners those coming in from the land of Israel and those dwelling in Judah

And all the congregation of Judah with the priests and Levites .... The people that were gathered together out of the several cities of Judah which no doubt was the largest congregation with whom the priests and Levites are joined as being of that kingdom and dwellers in Jerusalem where their office lay:

and all the congregation that came out of Israel; out of the ten tribes particularly Ephraim Manasseh Issachar and Zebulun 2 Chronicles 30:18 and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel and that dwelt in Judah rejoiced; the proselytes even such as were circumcised who ate of the passover and kept the feast of unleavened bread as well as the other days of rejoicing the former of which none might partake of but circumcised persons; and it can hardly be thought that any other would come out of Israel on such an occasion see Exodus 12:48.

 

2 Chronicles 30:26  26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem.

   YLT  26and there is great joy in Jerusalem; for from the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel there is not like this in Jerusalem

So there was great joy in Jerusalem .... Not merely carnal expressed in eating and drinking and making merry with one another but spiritual on account of the restoration of temple service and the feasts of the Lord:

for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem; not the like joy so spiritual sincere and hearty; nor such a number of persons rejoicing together on such an occasion; nor for so many days together which were as many as at the dedication of the temple by Solomon.

 

2 Chronicles 30:27  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 to heaven.

   YLT  27and the priests the Levites rise and bless the people and their voice is heard and their prayer cometh in to His holy habitation to the heavens.

Then the priests the Levites arose .... The priests who were of the tribe of Levi; for there were some in Israel that were not but were made of any of the people as in the times of Jeroboam; though some supply the copulative "and"; so the Targum: "and blessed the people"; which was the proper work and business of the priests to do; though while they were blessing the Levites might be singing:

and their voice was heard; meaning not by the people though undoubtedly it was but by the Lord; the Targum is "their prayer was heard or received;'for the blessing was delivered in a petitionary way Numbers 6:24 and was no other than a request that God would bless them which he did:

and their prayer came up to his holy dwellingplace even unto heaven; see Psalm 3:4 by what means it was known their prayer was heard and accepted cannot be said; there might be some visible token of it as the people were dismissed and departed.

 

──John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Chronicles 30:3 That is the first month (compare Leviticus 23:5); literally at that time