2 Chronicles 30

2 Chronicles 30:1

30:1-5 Chapter 30 is wholly taken up with Hezekiah’s reinstatement of the Passover Feast, which had not been observed in such fashion since before the kingdom was divided (2Ch_8:13). In the first month the king had purified the temple and reestablished its services. In the second month he prepared to keep the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. According to Num_9:11, the Passover could be celebrated in the second month if a dead corpse resulted in somebody’s uncleanness, or if they were far away on a journey. In Hezekiah’s case, observance during the first month, the regular time, was not possible because a sufficient number of priests had not consecrated themselves (v. 3). Since it was a national feast, the whole nation must be invited. So messengers were sent throughout Judah and Israel to ask the people to come to Jerusalem.

Israel was an Assyrian province at this time, the bulk of the people having been taken into captivity. However, Hezekiah was able to invite the remaining Israelites without opposition from the Assyrians. 30:6-12 Most of the Israelites ridiculed the couriers who exhorted them to return to the LORD. However, a small remnant did repent and travel to Jerusalem to observe the Passover in the first year of Hezekiah’s reign, 716-715 B.C. (2Ch_29:3). 30:13-15 The zeal of the people shamed the priests and . . . Levites and awakened them to a more serious consideration of their duties. The city was cleansed of its heathen filth, and every vestige of idolatry was thrown into the Brook Kidron. 30:16-27 The Levites aided those who were ceremonially unclean and Hezekiah prayed that the Lord would overlook the irregularities and accept the heart attitude of the people. And the LORD did. The Feast of Unleavened Bread was such a joy to all that they decided to celebrate an extra seven days. The king and the leaders contributed animals for this extended feast and there was great joy in Jerusalem. The whole assembly was blessed; things were as they had been in Israel’s golden age, and once more the prayers of Jehovah’s priests were heard in heaven.