Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

2 Chronicles 30:1

Second Chronicles - Chapter 30

(Note: The things being studied now are found only in Chronicles, but they come chronologically here [in the Hardbound Commentary 1^st Edition, under 2Kings comments] in the context of the Kings record. -Author)

Passover Preparations - Verses 1-12

With the renewal of the covenant came the reinstitution of the feasts which were required by the law of Moses. The very first feast of the year was the Passover (see Leviticus 23:4-8; Exodus 12:1-11; Exodus 23:14-17). But the cleansing of priests, Levites, and the temple had only begun in the first month, and the date of the Passover had passed. Hezekiah then consulted with the princes of Judah, his counselors, and with the people, and they agreed it should be kept at the same date in the second month.

They cited two reasons why it could not be observed at the usual time; 1) the sanctification had not been completed; 2) the people had not been gathered to Jerusalem for it.

There was a provision for observance of the Passover in the second month instead of the first (Numbers 9:10-11). So it was decreed, and a proclamation was published to be sent throughout all the land of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, thus including the northern tribes who had suffered so terribly from the depredations of the Assyrians. Hoshea, the last king of Israel, yet occupied the throne of the northern kingdom. .

It was about two years before the siege of Samaria by Tiglath­pileser began and some five years before the city’s fall. This call to the Passover in Jerusalem may have been the Lord’s last call to them to turn again in his worship. (Isaiah 55:6-7).

It had been a long time since the nation had observed the Passover. The king’s letters of invitation were sent out by post throughout the tribes north and south. Its message called on the people to turn back to the God of tile patriarchs that He might restore His blessings on the remnant who had escaped from the enemy’s sword and from famine.

They were to forsake the stiffnecked way of their fathers which brought down the wrath of God and yield themselves to Him. They who had long served the gods of the high places and groves were implored to come back to the Lord’s sanctuary which represented His everlasting presence.

If the people of the northern tribes would return to the Lord He might be compassionate on them and save them out of the hand of the Assyrians. Their children might be allowed to escape the captivity and even be allowed to return to their homeland. If they did not respond favorably His face would be turned away from them and they would not receive His grace and mercy, which He reserved for those who called on Him.

So the king’s posts traversed the land, from north to south through the cities, inviting the people to attend the Passover in Jerusalem in the second month. They went into the northern tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh and on into Zebulun. Most of the people ridiculed them, laughing and mocking. But some of them had second thoughts and prepared themselves to go to Jerusalem and join the celebration. They came out of the tribes of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun. The people of Judah also responded with one heart to do what the king had commanded by the word of the Lord (cf. Matthew 21:28-31).

2 Chronicles 30:13

Passover kept - Verses 13-27

The Scriptures say "much people" gathered in Jerusalem for the feast of unleavened bread, which followed immediately after Passover. Though the priests and Levites had, most of them, sanctified themselves, and the sanctuary had been cleansed, there were still vestiges of idolatry throughout the city. These people went through Jerusalem and tore down the altars of incense erected in every street (2 Chronicles 28:24), and cast them into the brook Kidron.

Thus they prepared to observe the Passover, which was killed on the evening of the fourteenth day of the second month, just a month from the time it was ordinarily observed.

So diligent were the people to sanctify themselves and keep the Passover the priests and Levites were made ashamed of their own delay and indifference to prepare themselves for the feast. So they sanctified themselves and stood in their places to offer the burnt offerings and to sprinkle the blood of their lambs. The Levites took the blood and brought it to the priests, who applied it as the law stipulated in the keeping the Passover.

Some of those who attended at the last had come without sanctifying themselves, but they were allowed to eat the Passover anyway.

The Levites prepared their lambs for them. They seem to be some of the people who earlier had laughed and mocked at the king’s postmen, but in the end had changes of heart and came to the feast at Jerusalem, though not sanctified. they were out of the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun. Hezekiah, himself prayed for them, "The good Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary." The Lord heard the king’s prayer, and healed the uncleanness of the people. This indicates the real motive of true worship, for God looks for clean hearts rather than clean bodies (Acts 10:35; 1 Samuel 16:7).

The feast proceeded for its full seven days, the people demonstrating great gladness. At the end they wanted to continue, so the king consulted with the princes and the assembly and proclaimed an additional seven days.

It continued with unabated gladness and joy. Hezekiah spoke comforting words to the hard-working Levites, and they taught the people the word of God, as they were intended to do in their office. The people feasted and made their peace offerings, and confessed their sins and the sins of their fathers. The Lord’s praises were sung and taught throughout the time.

The well-to-do contributed to the feast Hezekiah himself contributed a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep. The princes also contributed a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep. Many of the priests were sanctified, dedicated again to the Lord’s service.

People of Judah, people of Israel, and strangers out of both kingdoms joined gladly in the feast. It was the most spectacular and successful keeping of the Passover and feast since the days of David and Solomon. The priests and Levites rose up and blessed the people, and their voice and their prayers came up to god’s holy dwelling place, to heaven.

Some lessons: 1) those who have the gospel should urge others to accept it too; 2) though the lost may mock and scoff some will be convicted and accept the Lord after all; 3) zeal on the part of some will cause others to be more concerned for the Lord also; 4) real revival is not a quick flash and soon gone, but it evinces real and lasting joy and gladness in the revived.