Ch. 2 Chronicles 30:1-12 (not in 2 Kin.). Hezekiah Invites all Israel to keep the Passover

This Passover took place in the first year of Hezekiah while the Northern Kingdom was still standing. The Chronicler, however, takes no note of merely political conditions, and it is not improbable that Hezekiah ventured to do in the fallen state of Israel that which earlier kings would not have dared to do.

2. in the second month] The Law allowed such a postponement; cp. Numbers 9:10-11.

3. at that time] In the first month.

sufficiently] R.V. in sufficient number.

4. pleased the king] R.V. was right in the eyes of the king.

5. to make proclamation] A phrase characteristic of the Chronicler.

they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written] R.V. they had not kept it in great numbers in such sort as it is written. The statement applies to Israel, not to Judah; for the first time an attempt is made to draw Israel en masse to a regular Passover at Jerusalem. R.V. mg. however agrees with A.V. in reading “of a long time” for “in great numbers.”

6. the posts] Lit. “the runners.”

7. who therefore gave them up to desolation] Render, so that he gave them up to be an astonishment (so R.V. mg.); cp. 2 Chronicles 29:8 (same Heb. word).

8. yield yourselves] Lit. “give the hand”; cp. 1 Chronicles 29:24 (“submitted themselves”).

sanctified for ever] Cp. 2 Chronicles 7:16.

the fierceness of his wrath] R.V. his fierce anger; cp. 2 Chronicles 29:10 (R.V.).

9. shall find compassion] Cp. Psalm 106:46 (a similar phrase in Heb.).

so that they shall come again] R.V. and shall come again.

10. passed] LXX. ἦσαν … διαπορευόμενοι (more literal).

11. humbled themselves] So 2 Chronicles 33:12.

12. Also in Judah the hand of God was] R.V. Also in Judah was the hand of God, i.e. the mighty working of God which brought some penitents from far parts of Israel manifested itself in Judah also.

the commandment of the king … by the word of the Lord] The king’s command was according to God’s command in the Law.

13–27 (not in 2 Kin.). Hezekiah’s Great Passover

13. the feast of unleavened bread] In the “Passover” were united two separate “feasts,” (1) the eating of the lamb on the fourteenth of Nisan, (2) the eating of unleavened bread from the fourteenth to the twenty-first of Nisan. The combined Feast was sometimes called “the Passover” and sometimes (as here) “the feast of unleavened bread”; cp. Exodus 12:1-14; Exodus 12:17-20, and note that the intervening verses, 15, 16, bind the two feasts into one celebration.

14. the altars] Cp. 2 Chronicles 28:24.

altars for incense] R.V. mg. vessels for incense.

15. the second month] Cp. 2 Chronicles 30:2-3.

were ashamed] Of their former backwardness; cp. 2 Chronicles 30:3, 2 Chronicles 29:34.

brought in the burnt offerings] R.V. brought burnt offerings, i.e. as an atonement for themselves.

16. after their manner] R.V. after their order.

17. were not sanctified] R.V. had not sanctified themselves.

of the killing of the passovers] R.V. of killing the passovers. “Passovers” (plur. rare) = “Paschal victims”; cp. 2 Chronicles 30:15, 2 Chronicles 35:8 (“passover offerings” A.V. & R.V.).

18. of Ephraim etc.] The list of tribes given here does not agree with the list in 2 Chronicles 30:11, but in both cases it is probable that the Chronicler merely wishes by his list to designate men of the Northern Kingdom as opposed to those of the Southern. He could not make the distinction by using the term “Israel” here, for in Chron. “Israel” as a rule is not used in opposition to “Judah”; cp. 2 Chronicles 11:3 (note).

it was written] R.V. it is written i.e. in the Mosaic Law.

But Hezekiah prayed] R.V. For Hezekiah had prayed.

The good Lord pardon] According to the Heb. division 2 Chronicles 30:18 ends with the word “pardon,” in the middle of the clause, as the A.V. (and R.V.) translate it. It is probable, however, that this Heb. division is right, and that it is the order of the words which needs correction. The phrase “the good Lord” (i.e. Jehovah “the good”) has no parallel in Heb. and is open to suspicion, but by a simple transposition we get, The LORD pardon the good. For “the good” cp. 2 Chronicles 19:11.

18, 19. every one that prepareth his heart] Render, even him that setteth his whole heart (cp. R.V. mg.). This clause defines the preceding phrase (“The good”); see last note.

20. healed the people] By prevention; no plague was allowed to break out among them, although uncleanness in the sanctuary had been threatened with death; Leviticus 15:31.

21. with loud instruments] Lit. “with instruments of strength.” It has been proposed to read “with all their might” (as 1 Chronicles 13:8). The change in Heb. amounts only to the dropping of the smallest letter (yôd).

22. that taught the good knowledge of the Lord] R.V. that were well skilled in the service of the LORD.

and they did eat … seven days] R.V. So they did eat … for the seven days, i.e. the usual seven days of unleavened bread.

pace offerings] R.V. sacrifices of peace offerings; cp. 1 Chronicles 16:1.

making confession] Or “giving thanks” R.V. mg. LXX. ἐξομολογούμενοι.

23. assembly] R.V. congregation, as in 2 Chronicles 30:13; 2 Chronicles 30:17. LXX. ἡ ἐκκλησία.

other seven days] Cp. 2 Chronicles 7:9 (Solomon’s Dedication Feast).

24. did give to the congregation] R.V. did give to the congregation for offerings.

sanctified themselves] Cp. 2 Chronicles 29:34.

25. the strangers] i.e. men of alien descent dwelling in Israel with certain conceded, not inherited, rights, and with most of the obligations of the native Israelite. LXX. οἱ προσήλυτοι. Cp. 2 Chronicles 2:17; 1 Chronicles 22:2 for the unfavourable side of a “stranger’s” position.

26. there was not the like] Cp. what is said of Josiah’s Passover; 2 Chronicles 35:18.

27. the priests the Levites] So in 2 Chronicles 23:18, but only in these two places in Chron. The phrase is Deuteronomic, and has been taken to imply that all Levites were potentially priests. Such was not in any case the view of the Chronicler, and perhaps we ought to read “the priests and the Levites” both here and in 2 Chronicles 23:18.

his holy dwelling place] R.V. his holy habitation; so Deuteronomy 26:15.