CHAPTER 30
. HEZEKIAH
PROCLAIMS A PASSOVER.
1-5. Hezekiah sent to all . . .
Judah . . . to come to . . . Jerusalem, to keep the passover—This
great religious festival had not been regularly observed by the
Hebrews in their national capacity for a long time because of the
division of the kingdom and the many disorders that had followed that
unhappy event. Hezekiah longed extremely to see its observance
revived; and the 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 the
national solemnity.
letters also to Ephraim and
Manasseh—The names of these leading tribes are used for the
whole kingdom of Israel. It was judged impossible, however, that the
temple, the priests, and people could be all duly sanctified at the
usual time appointed for the anniversary, namely, the fourteenth day
of the first month (Nisan). Therefore 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 all the
people. Hezekiah's proclamation was, of course, authoritative in his
own kingdom, but it could not have been made and circulated in all
the towns and villages of the neighboring kingdom without the
concurrence, or at least the permission, of the Israelitish
sovereign. Hoshea, the reigning king, is described as, though evil in
some respects, yet more favorably 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).
6. the posts—that is, runners,
or royal messengers, who were taken from the king's bodyguard
(2 Chronicles 23:1; 2 Chronicles 23:2).
Each, well mounted, had a certain number of miles to traverse. Having
performed his course, he 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.
the remnant of you, that are
escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria—This implies
that several expeditions against Israel had already been made by
Assyrian invaders—by Pul (2 Chronicles 23:2), 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 (1 Chronicles 5:26), were carried into foreign exile. The invasion of
Shalmaneser cannot be alluded to, as it did not take place till the
sixth year of Hezekiah's reign (2 Kings 17:6;
2 Kings 18:9-12).
10-12. 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. Accordingly, among
the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Zebulun, Hezekiah's messengers
met with open insults and ill usage. Many, 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
Judah, there was one unanimous feeling of high expectation and pious
delight. The concourse that repaired to Jerusalem on the occasion was
very great, and the occasion was ever after regarded as one of the
greatest passovers that had ever been celebrated.
. THE ASSEMBLY
DESTROYS THE ALTARS
OF IDOLATRY.
14. they arose and took away the
altars that were in Jerusalem—As a necessary preparation for
the right observance of the approaching solemnity, the removal of the
altars, which Ahaz had erected in the city, was resolved upon (); for, as the people of God, the Hebrews were bound to
extirpate all traces of idolatry; and it was a happy sign and pledge
of the influence of the Spirit pervading the minds of the people when
they voluntarily undertook this important preliminary work.
15. the priests and the Levites were
ashamed—Though the Levites are associated in this statement,
the priests were principally referred to; those of them who had been
dilatory or negligent in sanctifying themselves () were put to the blush and stimulated to their duty by the
greater alacrity and zeal of the people.
16-18. the priests sprinkled the
blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites—This was
a deviation from the established rules and practices in presenting
the offerings of the temple. The reason was, that many present on the
occasion having not sanctified themselves, the Levites slaughtered
the paschal victims (see on ) for everyone that was unclean. At 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 (), were in this unsanctified state, and yet they ate the
passover—an exceptional feature and one opposed to the law (); but this exception was allowed in answer to Hezekiah's
prayer (2 Chronicles 30:18-20).
20. the Lord . . . healed the
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 15:31).
Hezekiah prayed for the nation, which was on the point of being
diseased, and might therefore be regarded as sick already [BERTHEAU].
21-24. the children of Israel . . .
kept the feast—The time appointed by the law for the
continuance of the feast was seven days [Exodus 12:15;
Exodus 13:6; Leviticus 23:6];
but in consequence of its having been allowed to fall so long into
desuetude, they doubled the period of celebration and kept it
fourteen days with unabated satisfaction and joy. Materials for the
additional sacrificial meals were supplied by the munificence of the
king and the princes.
24. and a great number of priests
sanctified themselves—so that there would be a sufficient
number of hands for the additional services.
CHAPTER 30
. HEZEKIAH PROCLAIMS A PASSOVER.
1-5. Hezekiah sent to all . . . Judah . . . to come to . . . Jerusalem, to keep the passover—This great religious festival had not been regularly observed by the Hebrews in their national capacity for a long time because of the division of the kingdom and the many disorders that had followed that unhappy event. Hezekiah longed extremely to see its observance revived; and the 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 the national solemnity.
letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh—The names of these leading tribes are used for the whole kingdom of Israel. It was judged impossible, however, that the temple, the priests, and people could be all duly sanctified at the usual time appointed for the anniversary, namely, the fourteenth day of the first month (Nisan). Therefore 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 all the people. Hezekiah's proclamation was, of course, authoritative in his own kingdom, but it could not have been made and circulated in all the towns and villages of the neighboring kingdom without the concurrence, or at least the permission, of the Israelitish sovereign. Hoshea, the reigning king, is described as, though evil in some respects, yet more favorably 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).
6. the posts—that is, runners, or royal messengers, who were taken from the king's bodyguard (2 Chronicles 23:1; 2 Chronicles 23:2). Each, well mounted, had a certain number of miles to traverse. Having performed his course, he 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.
the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria—This implies that several expeditions against Israel had already been made by Assyrian invaders—by Pul (2 Chronicles 23:2), 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 (1 Chronicles 5:26), were carried into foreign exile. The invasion of Shalmaneser cannot be alluded to, as it did not take place till the sixth year of Hezekiah's reign (2 Kings 17:6; 2 Kings 18:9-12).
10-12. 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. Accordingly, among the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Zebulun, Hezekiah's messengers met with open insults and ill usage. Many, 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 Judah, there was one unanimous feeling of high expectation and pious delight. The concourse that repaired to Jerusalem on the occasion was very great, and the occasion was ever after regarded as one of the greatest passovers that had ever been celebrated.
. THE ASSEMBLY DESTROYS THE ALTARS OF IDOLATRY.
14. they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem—As a necessary preparation for the right observance of the approaching solemnity, the removal of the altars, which Ahaz had erected in the city, was resolved upon (); for, as the people of God, the Hebrews were bound to extirpate all traces of idolatry; and it was a happy sign and pledge of the influence of the Spirit pervading the minds of the people when they voluntarily undertook this important preliminary work.
15. the priests and the Levites were ashamed—Though the Levites are associated in this statement, the priests were principally referred to; those of them who had been dilatory or negligent in sanctifying themselves () were put to the blush and stimulated to their duty by the greater alacrity and zeal of the people.
16-18. the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites—This was a deviation from the established rules and practices in presenting the offerings of the temple. The reason was, that many present on the occasion having not sanctified themselves, the Levites slaughtered the paschal victims (see on ) for everyone that was unclean. At 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 (), were in this unsanctified state, and yet they ate the passover—an exceptional feature and one opposed to the law (); but this exception was allowed in answer to Hezekiah's prayer (2 Chronicles 30:18-20).
20. the Lord . . . healed the 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 15:31). Hezekiah prayed for the nation, which was on the point of being diseased, and might therefore be regarded as sick already [BERTHEAU].
21-24. the children of Israel . . . kept the feast—The time appointed by the law for the continuance of the feast was seven days [Exodus 12:15; Exodus 13:6; Leviticus 23:6]; but in consequence of its having been allowed to fall so long into desuetude, they doubled the period of celebration and kept it fourteen days with unabated satisfaction and joy. Materials for the additional sacrificial meals were supplied by the munificence of the king and the princes.
24. and a great number of priests sanctified themselves—so that there would be a sufficient number of hands for the additional services.