FRAMEWORKS:
2 Chronicles 30: Hezekiah
celebrates the Passover
[Introductory
Notes: This chapter
records a remarkable event. Bearing in mind that Israel had been
carried into captivity years before, it is amazing that there
were clearly still a remnant living throughout the land and it
is to these that Hezekiah appeals and brings about the greatest
celebration in Jerusalem since the days of Solomon [v.26] as they
celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Passover.]
v.1-4
Hezekaih and his leaders plan to celebrate the Passover
v.1
Hezekiah sent
word to all Israel and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim
and Manasseh, inviting them to come to the temple of the Lord
in Jerusalem
and celebrate the Passover to the Lord
, the God of
Israel.
v.2
The
king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem decided
to celebrate the Passover in the second month.
v.3
They
had not been able to celebrate it at the regular time because
not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had
not assembled in Jerusalem.
v.4
The
plan seemed right both to the king and to the whole assembly.
v.5,6a
He sends a proclamation throughout the Land
v.5
They
decided to send a proclamation throughout Israel, from
Beersheba to Dan, calling the people to come to Jerusalem and
celebrate the Passover to the Lord,
the God of Israel. It had not been celebrated in large numbers
according to what was written.
v.6
At
the king's command, couriers went throughout Israel and Judah
with letters from the king and from his officials, which read:
v.6b-9
It was a call to all the people to return to the Lord
‘People
of Israel, return to the Lord,
the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to you
who are left, who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria.
v.7
Do
not be like your parents and your fellow Israelites, who were
unfaithful to the Lord,
the God of their ancestors, so that he made them an object of
horror, as you see.
v.8
Do
not be stiff-necked, as your ancestors were; submit to the Lord
. Come to his
sanctuary, which he has consecrated for ever. Serve the Lord
your God,
so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.
v.9
If
you return to the Lord,
then your fellow Israelites and your children will be shown compassion
by their captors and will return to this land, for the Lord
your God is
gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you
if you return to him.'
v.10-12
A remnant from far and wide come
v.10
The
couriers went from town to town in Ephraim and Manasseh, as far
as Zebulun, but people scorned and ridiculed them.
v.11
Nevertheless,
some from Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and went
to Jerusalem.
v.12
Also
in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity
of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered,
following the word of the Lord.
v.13-15
A revival in Jerusalem brings about the Passover Feast
v.13
A
very large crowd of people assembled in Jerusalem to celebrate
the Festival of Unleavened Bread in the second month.
v.14
They
removed the altars in Jerusalem and cleared away the incense altars
and threw them into the Kidron Valley.
v.15
They
slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second
month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed and consecrated
themselves and brought burnt offerings to the temple of the Lord
.
v.16-20
With an imperfect preparation, Hezekaih prayed for all the people
v.16
Then
they took up their usual positions as prescribed in the Law of
Moses the man of God. The priests splashed against the altar the
blood handed to them by the Levites.
v.17
Since
many in the crowd had not consecrated themselves, the Levites
had to kill the Passover lambs for all those who were not ceremonially
clean and could not consecrate their lambs to the Lord
.
v.18
Although
most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar
and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover,
contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying,
‘May the Lord,
who is good, pardon everyone
v.19
who
sets their heart on seeking God – the Lord,
the God of their ancestors – even if they are not clean according
to the rules of the sanctuary.'
v.20
And
the Lord
heard Hezekiah and healed the people.
v.21,22
Thus there was the traditional seven-day celebration
v.21
The
Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Festival
of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great rejoicing, while
the Levites and priests praised the Lord
every day
with resounding instruments dedicated to the Lord.
v.22
Hezekiah
spoke encouragingly to all the Levites, who showed good understanding
of the service of the Lord.
For the seven days they ate their assigned portion and offered
fellowship offerings and praised the Lord
, the God of
their ancestors.
v.23-27
They continued a great celebration for another seven days
v.23
The
whole assembly then agreed to celebrate the festival seven more
days; so for another seven days they celebrated joyfully.
v.24
Hezekiah
king of Judah provided a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep
and goats for the assembly, and the officials provided them with
a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep and goats. A great number
of priests consecrated themselves.
v.25
The
entire assembly of Judah rejoiced, along with the priests and
Levites and all who had assembled from Israel, including the foreigners
who had come from Israel and also those who resided in Judah.
v.26
There
was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the days of Solomon son
of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem.
v.27
The
priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard
them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling-place.
Continue
to Ch.31