2 Chronicles 30:26

_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._ Since the time of Solomon ... there was not the like in Jerusalem. The annual festivals, after the schism in the kingdom, seem to have decayed in regularity as well as magnificence of observance....

21-27 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....

Verse 2 Chronicles 30:26. _SINCE THE TIME OF SOLOMON _- THERE WAS _NOT THE LIKE IN_ _JERUSALEM._] For from that time the ten tribes had been separated from the true worship of God, and now many of them for the first time, especially from Asher, Issachar, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Zebulun, joined to celebrate the passover....

SINCE THE TIME OF SOLOMON - Compare 2 Chronicles 7:8....

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

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....

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...

NOT THE LIKE. Referring to the extra days of 2 Chronicles 30:23. Perfectly true; for this was " _since_ the time of Solomon". Josiah's passover (2 Kings 23:22; 2 Kings 23:23) was _after_ Hezekiah's....

there was _not the like_ Cp. what is said of Josiah's Passover; 2 Chronicles 35:18....