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. Ver. 1. _To Ephraim and Manasseh._] That is, To all that were left of the ten tribes under king H... [ Continue Reading ]
For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month. Ver. 2. _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 Domi... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 3. _For they could not keep it at that time._] Namely, On the fourteenth day of the first month, for the two following reas... [ Continue Reading ]
And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. Ver. 4. _And all the congregation._] Who might here well say, in the courtier's language, Whatsoever pleaseth the king shall please me.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 5. _For they had not done it of... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 7. _Who gave them up to desolation._] Heb., To astonishment: _fecit ut omnes mirarentur, ac misererentur._ As ye see.] For it... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 8. _But yield yourselves unto the Lord._] Heb., Give the... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 9.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 10. _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 calamit... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem. Ver. 11. 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 com... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 12. _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... [ Continue Reading ]
And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation. Ver. 13. _A very great congregation._] Brought thither by God's holy hand; 2Ch 30:12 yea, the arm of the Lord was revealed unto them. Isa 53:1... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 14. _And took away the altars._] With other instruments of superstition: the brazen serpent also, because it was abused by the people. See 2 K... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 15. _Then they killed the passover._] So must we first cast the baggage into the br... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 16. _The blood which they received of the hands of the Levites._] Part of the blood they sprinkled as a type of tha... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 17. _The charge of the killing of the passovers._] That is, Not only of the paschal lam... [ Continue Reading ]
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 Ver. 18. _Many of Ephraim and Manasseh, &c._] Wh... [ Continue Reading ]
2 Chronicles 30:19 [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. Ver. 19. _That prepareth his heart._] As well as he is able, though he fall far short of what he should be. The bent, frame, and tend... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people. Ver. 20. _And healed the people._] He healed them on both sides: "he forgave all their iniquities, and healed all their diseases." Psa 103:3... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 21. _Singing with loud instruments._] Heb., With instruments... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 22. _And Hezekiah spake comfortably to all the Levites._] Heb., To... [ Continue Reading ]
And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept [other] seven days with gladness. Ver. 23. _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... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 24. _And the princes gave a thousand bullocks._] Neith... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 25. And all the congregation … rejoiced.] This was right; for all God's worships were... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 26. _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 festivit... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 27. _Arose and blessed the people._] Which was a part of their office. See the form. Num 6:23... [ Continue Reading ]