2 Chronicles 30

Guar. XXX. Ver. 1-27. Hezekiah invites Israel to unite with Judah in the celebration of the Passover, and the king offers a solemn prayer on the occasion. —This was in the second month, which the law allowed, when the people could not be prepared sooner. But the good king’s invitation was received by many with contempt and ridicule; for Israel was generally more given up to idolatry than was Judah. Many, however, came and united with Judah, and they were “all of one heart and one soul.” So “sudden,” indeed, was the celebration, that many who came from a distance had not had opportunity to prepare themselves according to the prescribed rules. For these, therefore, the Levites slew, and prepared the Passover; and Hezekiah offered this short but excellent prayer on their behalf: “The good Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not prepared according to the purification of the sanctuary.”

Upon this, “the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.” If we look back to the origin of this institution, we shall find the observance of the divine law connected with the “I will put none of those diseases upon thee which I have brought on the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.” ((Exodus 15:26).) It is a part of the physician’s art to preserve health, as well as to restore it; and such is, perhaps, the sense of the text before us: the irregularities attending this Passover were visited with no punishment.

Notes on the verses

Chap. XXX. Ver. 2. Second month.—[in year, as they could not celebrate it in Nisan, the fourteenth of which month was the proper time. But Hezekiah and his counsellors justly concluded, that the regulation of the fourteenth day of the second month, which had been made for individuals, who were hindered from eating the passover at the appointed season, might, in their present circumstances, be extended to the people at large.] —Bagster.

Ver. 6. The posts went.—[Ratzim “runners,” or couriers, of the same kind as the running footmen, who were formerly, before the establishment of posts, and still are in some places, trained and set on purpose to convey dispatches speedily by running.] —Bagster.

Ver. 8. Not stiff-necked, but yield.—“Not your necks, but give the hand,” as in token of compliance with my wishes.

Ver. 11. Divers of Asker.—[It has been said, that Hezekiah had no right to invite Hoshea’s subjects to repair to Jerusalem to his passover; but, it may be presumed, that he was encouraged to do this by Hoshea himself, who was one of their best kings; besides which, both the golden calves having been taken away by the Assyrians, the apostate Israelites, being thus deprived of their idols, had begun to return to the Lord, and to go up to Jerusalem to worship, some time before Hezekiah gave them this invitation. See Prideaux.] —Bagster.

Ver. 21. Singing with loud instruments.—“Singing” is here improperly supplied; the priests did not sing, but sounded the trumpets, the “instruments” of strength here intended.

Ver. 23. Keep other seven days.—[They did not observe other seven days of unleavened bread, but offered sacrifices with praise and thanksgiving, and feasting, other seven days; and, as the people in general, and especially those who came out of the kingdom of Israel, would be unprepared for this additional expense, both Hezekiah and his princes liberally supplied them with cattle for sacrifices.] —Bagster.