2 Chronicles 30:16-26

16 1They stood at their stations after their custom, according to the law of Moses the man of God; the priests sprinkled the blood which they received from the hand of the Levites.
17 For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves; therefore, 2the Levites were over the slaughter of the Passover lambs for everyone who was unclean *, in order to consecrate them to the LORD.
18 For a multitude of the people, 3even many from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not purified themselves, 4yet they ate the Passover 5otherwise than prescribed. For Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "May the good LORD pardon
19 6everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though not according to the purification rules of the sanctuary."
20 So the LORD heard Hezekiah and 7healed the people.
21 The sons of Israel present in Jerusalem 8celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy, and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day after day with loud instruments to the LORD.
22 Then Hezekiah 9spoke encouragingly * to all the Levites who showed good insight in the things of the LORD. So they ate for the appointed seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and 10giving thanks to the LORD God of their fathers.
23 Then the whole assembly 11decided to celebrate the feast another seven days, so they celebrated the seven days with joy.
24 For 12Hezekiah king of Judah had contributed to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 * sheep, and the princes had contributed to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 10,000 * sheep; and 13a large number of priests consecrated themselves.
25 All the assembly of Judah rejoiced, with the priests and the Levites and 14all the assembly that came from Israel, both the sojourners who came from the land of Israel and those living in Judah.
26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem, because there was nothing like this in Jerusalem 15since the days of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel.

2 Chronicles 30:16-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 30

Hezekiah having consulted his nobles about keeping the passover the second month, and determined upon it, sent messengers throughout Israel and Judah, to acquaint them with it, at which some mocked, and others seriously attended to it, 2Ch 30:1-12 so it was celebrated in a solemn manner, though some were not qualified for it according to the law, and for whose pardon Hezekiah prayed, and it was granted, 2Ch 30:13-20, also the feast of unleavened bread was kept seven days, and a festival of seven days more was likewise observed with great joy and gladness, 2Ch 30:21-27.

messengers to them, not only to the subjects of his own kingdom, Judah, but to all the Israelites that dwelt in it, who were come thither for the sake of religion, and the worship of God:

\\and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh\\; which are put for all the ten tribes, as appears from 2Ch 30:10,11 and are distinguished from Israel in the preceding clause:

\\that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem\\; not that he laid his commands upon them to come, they not being his subjects, namely, those of the ten tribes; but he hereby admonished them of their duty, and gave them a kind invitation, signifying the doors of the temple were open for them, and they were welcome to come thither:

\\to keep the passover unto the Lord God of Israel\\; to the glory of his name, who was the common Lord of them all, and whose command it was to keep the passover, and that at Jerusalem, and nowhere else, see De 16:1-6. 19787-950128-1141-2Ch30.2

Cross References 15

  • 1. 2 Chronicles 35:10, 15
  • 2. 2 Chronicles 29:34
  • 3. 2 Chronicles 30:11, 25
  • 4. Numbers 9:10
  • 5. Exodus 12:43-49
  • 6. 2 Chronicles 19:3
  • 7. James 5:16
  • 8. Exodus 12:15; Exodus 13:6
  • 9. 2 Chronicles 32:6
  • 10. Ezra 10:11
  • 11. 1 Kings 8:65
  • 12. 2 Chronicles 35:7, 8
  • 13. 2 Chronicles 29:34; 2 Chronicles 30:3
  • 14. 2 Chronicles 30:11, 18
  • 15. 2 Chronicles 7:8-10

Footnotes 2

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