2 Chronicles 30:1

_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._ Hezekiah sent to all ... Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh. The names of these leading tribes are used for the whole kingdom of Israel. It being judged impossible, however, that the temple, the priests, and people could be all duly sanctified at the usual time appointed for the anniversary-namely, the 14th day of the first month (Nisan) - it was resolved, instead of postponing the feast until another year, to observe it on the 14th day of the second month: a liberty which, being in certain circumstances (Numbers 9:6) granted to individuals, might, it was believed, be allowed to the whole people. This postponement, however, is no proof that inward holiness wa

1-12 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!...

CHAPTER XXX _Hezekiah invites all Israel and Judah, and writes letters to_ _Ephraim and Manasseh to come up to Jerusalem, and hold a_ _passover to the Lord_, 1-4. _The posts go out with the king's proclamation from Dan to_ _Beer-sheba, and pass from city to city through the coasts_ _of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Zebulun, but are generally mocked_ _in Israel_, 5-10. _Yet several of Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun, humble themselves,_ _and come to Jerusalem_, 11. _But in Judah they are all of one heart_, 12, 13....

Compare 2 Chronicles 29:24 note....

EXPOSITION This chapter contains the account of Hezekiah's arrangements after the restoration for the observance of the Passover—arrangements more than ordinarily interesting to notice in respect of, _first, _the unusual time appointed for the celebration; and, _second, _the determined and brave attempt of the good king to win again to the worship of Jerusalem (though, as was no doubt anticipated, it subjected his royal proffers to scorn, 2 Chronicles 30:10) the separated people of "all Israel" (2 Chronicles 30:1); and further, the celebration itself, the happy omen (2 Chronicles 30:14) with which it opened, its duration; and certain several other incidents

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 hi

CHAPTER 30 THE PASSOVER _ 1. Preparations for the great Passover (2 Chronicles 30:1)_ 2. The celebration of the Passover (2 Chronicles 30:15) 3. The concluding festive days (2 Chronicles 30:23) The Passover is next celebrated. It was, so to speak, the birthday of the nation, and typified the great redemption by the blood of the true Passover-Lamb. It had not been kept for a long time and as the proper yearly time for its celebration had passed, the first month, they concluded to keep it in the second month. The law had made provision for that and therefore what they did was according to the Word. (See...

2 Chronicles 29:1 to 2 Chronicles 32:33. THE REIGN OF HEZEKIAH (see notes on 2 Kings 18:2 f., 2 Kings 18:13; 2 Kings 18:19; 2 Kings 20:1). The Chronicler in this long section writes, from his own point of view, much that is quite unhistorical. The three main subjects treated by him here are Hezekiah's reopening of the Temple, the Passover, and the appointment of the Temple officials. In...

SENT. This was before the Removal of Israel. ALL ISRAEL. See note on 2 Chronicles 30:24 and App-67. ALSO. He wrote letters, as well as sent messengers. the LORD. Hebrew. _Jehovah._ App-4. KEEP THE PASSOVER. One of the ten observances of this feast. See note on Exodus 12:28. GOD Hebrew. _Elohim._ App-4....

2 Chronicles 30:1-12 (not in 2 Kin.). Hezekiah Invites all Israel to keep the Passover This Passover took place in the first year of Hezekiah while the Northern Kingdom was still standing. The Chronicler, however, takes no note of merely political conditions, and it is not improbable that Hezekiah ventured to do in the fallen state of Israel that which earlier kings would not have dared to do....