Chapter XXX
Ver. 1-12. Hezekiah Proclaims A PasSover. 1. Ileke* kiah srnt to all , , . .Tudnh . . , to come to . . . Jemsalein, to keep the passover—This great religious festival had not been regularly observed l)y the Hebrews in their national capacity for a long time, in consequeaca
thf; Levites were not allowed to enter within the walls of
Hezckiah Proclaims a Passover. 2 CHRONICLES XXXI. TTie Altars of Idolatry Destroyed.
both of the division of tiie liingdom, and the many disorders that liad followed that unhappy event. Hezekiah longed extremely to see its observance revived; and th§ expression of his wishes having received a hearty response from the princes and chief men of his own kingdom, the preparatory steps were taken for a renewed celebration of tlie national solemnity, letters to Epliralm aud DIanagseh—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, viz., the fourteenth day of the first month (Nisan), it was resolved, instead of postponing the feast till another year, to observe it on the fourteenth day of the second month ; a liberty which, being in certain circumstances (Numbers 9. 6-13) granted to individuals, might, it was believed, be allowed to the whole people. Hezekiah's proclamation was, of course, authoritative ill his own kingdom, but it could not have been made and circulated in all the towns and villages of the neighbouring kingdom without the concurrence, or at least the permission, of the Israelitish sovereign. Iloshea, the reigning king, is described as though evil in some respects, yet more favourably disposed to religious liberty than any of his predecessors since the separation of the kingdom. This is thought to be the meaning of the mitigating clause in his character (2 Kings 17. 2). tlie posts—
dutj' by the -greater alacrity and zeal of the people. IBIS, the priests sprinkled the blood tvhicli they received of tl«e hand of the Levites—This was a deviation from the established rules and practices in presenting the otTerings of the temple ; and the reason was, that numbers present on the occasion having not sanctified themselves, the Levltes slaughtered the paschal victims (see on ch. 35. 5) for every one hat was unclean ; wliile a t other times the heads of families killed the lambs themselves, the priests receiving the blood from their hands and presenting it on the altar. Multitudes of the Israelites, especially from certain tribes (v. 18), were in this nnsanctified state, and yet they ate the passover—an exceptional feature and one opposed to the law (Numbers 9. 6) ; but this exception was allowed in answer to Hezekiah's prayer (v. 18-20). tlie Lord . . . healed tlie people—We imagine the whole affair to have been the following : in consequence of their transgressions they had cause to fear disease and even death (Leviticus 15. .SI). Hezekiah prayed for the nation, which was on the point of being diseased, and might therefore be regarded as sick already. [BekTHEAU.l 21. the children of Israel . . . kept the feast —The time appointed by the law for the continuance of the feast was seven days; but in consequence of its having been allowed to fall so long into desuetxide, they doubled the period of celebration, and kept it fourteen days with unabated satisfaction and jOy, materials for the additional sacrificial meals being supplied by the munificence of the king and the princes, and a great number of priests sanctifled themselves—So that there would be a sufficient number of hands for the additional services.
i.e., runners, or royal messengers, who were taken from the Icing's body-guard (ch. 2.^;. 1, 2). Each, well mounted, had a certain numlier of miles to traverse, and, having performed his course, was relieved by another, who had to scour an equal extent of ground; so that, as the government messengers were despatched in all directions, public edicts were speedily diffused throughout the country. The proclamation of Hezekiah was followed by a verbal address from himself, piously urging the duty, and setting forth the advantages of a return to the pure faith and institutions which God had delivered to their ancestors through Moses, tlie remnant of yon tliat are escaped ottt of the hand of the kings of Assyria—This implies that several expeditions against Israel had already been made by Assyrian invaders — by Pnl (2 Kings 1.5. 19\ but none of the people were then removed ; at a later period by Tiglath-pileser, when it appears that numbers among the tribes east of Jordan (1 Chronicles .5. 26), and afterwards in the northern parts of Israel (2 Kings 1.5. 20), were carried into foreign exile. The invasion of Shalmaneser cannot be alluded to, as it did not take place till the sixth year of Hezekiiih's reign (2 Kings 17.6; IS. 0-12). 10. The posts passed from city to city—It is not surprising that after so long a discontinuance of the sacred festival, this attempt to revive It should, in some quarters, have excited ridicule and opposition; and, accordingly, among the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Zebulun, liezekiiili's in('ss<'ngers met with oi)en insults and ill usage. KumlxTs, however, in these very districts, as well as throughout the kingdom of the ten tribes, generally complied with the invitation; while, in the kingdom of .ludah, there vvas one unanimous feolingof high expectation and pious delight. The concourse that repaired to .Terusalem on the occasion was very great, and tlie occasion was ever after regarded as one of the greatest passovers that had ever been celebrated.