2 Chronicles 30:1-27
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.
2 For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month.
3 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.
4 And the thing pleaseda the king and all the congregation.
5 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.
6 So the posts went with the letters fromb 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 the hand of the kings of Assyria.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
10 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.
11 Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.
12 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.
13 And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation.
14 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.
15 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.
16 And they stood in their placec 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.
17 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.
18 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
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.
20 And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.
21 And the children of Israel that were presentd 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.
22 And Hezekiah spake comfortablye 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.
23 And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness.
24 For Hezekiah king of Judah did givef 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.
25 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.
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.
27 Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holyg dwelling place, even unto heaven.
2 Chronicles 30:2. To keep the passover in the second month, one month later because the apostate priests were as yet unclean. See the calendar in Exodus 12. To defer the passover eleven months would have chilled the rekindling zeal which now animated the nation, seeing God had given them so good a king.
2 Chronicles 30:6. So the posts went with the letters. Swift-footed men. The mail, to this day, is made up at Bombay for overland, so as to form the turban of the post. One half sheet of thin paper is allowed for each letter. The postmen almost fly from office to office till they reach Bagdad, and thence to Europe.
2 Chronicles 30:22. Hezekiah spake comfortably to all the levites that taught the good knowledge of the Lord. They read the whole law at those festivals, and in different places, one reader succeeding another.
2 Chronicles 30:25. The strangers, the proselytes from all places flocked like doves to their windows.
REFLECTIONS.
We have seen Hezekiah burning with holy zeal to serve the Lord. He began in haste with his capital; and now he extends the blessing by command to all Judah, and by letters of invitation to all of Israel willing to come; for many of the other tribes had sought protection under David's house. 2 Chronicles 5:8. And though the season for the passover was passed; yet regarding the duty more than the day, he commanded it to be celebrated one month later. He thought it sinful or unwise to delay another year, for it had been neglected many years; and pious purposes postponed are apt to vanish away. Hence we learn that with God the spirit of devotion is more than the observance of days, and punctilious forms of worship. Hence also we learn, that it was very uncharitable and wicked in the Roman pontificate to excommunicate the whole Greek church because they did not keep Easter on the same Sunday as the Latin church; but on the fourteenth day of the moon.
A vineyard run to ruin is difficult to restore. We have to lament that many of the cities of Israel, ignorant, hardened and neglected, mocked at the servants of the king, though their letters were purely religious, and breathed the spirit of genuine piety and reformation. When sinners mock at mercy, it is in God's account the last of crimes. Well, let the filthy worshippers of Priapus mock on but remember, as your prophets have said, Isaiah 10:5, that the Assyrian sword shall shortly address you in ruder accents. So also they mocked our Lord, and his apostles; and the sword of the Romans cut them off.
While many mocked, more obeyed. If we may judge of the multitude who in one week ate eleven thousand oxen and seventeen thousand sheep, it could not be less than half a million. How glorious to see a whole nation formally abjure wickedness, and renew its covenant with the Lord. How glorious to see Jerusalem filled with people, and surrounded with camps, not for war, but for worship. How glorious to see a thousand scribes stand up to read the neglected law, and to hear amens and responses from every tongue. The seeds of truth were sown at large, the fruits were peace of conscience, and righteousness of life. The altar smoked, the music resounded, psalms followed, and the blood of the covenant was sprinkled on the crowd. Thus for a whole week they had a daily feast for the body, and more joyful delight for the soul. Hence we learn the utility and great importance of high example in religious concerns. It was the princes or elders who had corrupted Joash; it was the same order who had corrupted Ahaz, and then Ahaz corrupted them. The people will follow, if properly led. How great then is the account which the nobility and gentry must give to God, for spending their fortunes and time in a way so unworthy of the christian name; who riot in luxury and pride, affect the infidel, and exalt their dogmas above the maxims of revelation.
On the last day, the priests and levites stood up on the usual eminences, and blessed the people. ‘Return, oh blessed and happy people, rescued from the vanity of idols and the power of sin. Return, blessed and happy Israel, having the blood of the covenant sprinkled upon you, and the grace of the covenant written on your heart. Return in peace to your houses, and fear not the growing power of the Assyrian empire; no weapon formed against you shall prosper. Return, oh happy people, under a most religious and gracious king, and serve your God in psalms and prayers at home, and every blessing of the covenant shall follow on you, and on your children.' Here is an example worthy to be followed by every christian church and nation. And as an encouragement to the duty, we have proof abundant in the sacred writings that the Israelites never renewed their covenant without having a tide of blessings following on all the land; and they never forsook the covenant without being chastised with the calamities which it threatened. See Deuteronomy 28.