30:1 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote
letters also to a Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should
come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the
passover unto the LORD God of Israel.
(a) Meaning, all Israel, whom Tiglath Pilesar had not taken
away into captivity, (2Ki 15:29).
30:2 For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all
the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the
b second month.
(b) Though they should have done it in the first month, as
in (Ex 12:18, Nu 9:3), yet if any were not clean or
else had a long journey, they could delay it to the
second month, as in (Nu 9:10,11).
30:5 So they established a decree to make proclamation
throughout all Israel, from c Beersheba even to Dan, that
they should come to keep the passover unto the LORD God of
Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done [it] of a long
[time in such sort] d as it was written.
(c) From one end of the land to the other, north and south.
(d) In such sort and perfection as God had appointed.
30:6 So the posts went with the letters from the king and his
princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to
the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel,
turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
and e he will return to the remnant of you, that are
escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.
(e) He will have compassion on them and preserve them.
30:8 Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers [were, but] f
yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his
sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the
LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn
away from you.
(f) Submit yourselves to the Lord, and rebel no more.
30:9 For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your
children [shall find] compassion before them that lead them
captive, so that they shall g come again into this land:
for the LORD your God [is] gracious and merciful, and will
not turn away [his] face from you, if ye return unto him.
(g) God will not only preserve you, but through your
repentance restore your brethren, who for their sins he
gave into the hands of the enemies.
30:10 So the posts passed from city to city through the country
of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they h
laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.
(h) Though the wicked mock the servants of God, by whom he
calls them to repentance, as in (Ge 19:14), yet
the word does not cease to ripen in the hearts of
God's elect.
30:12 Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one i
heart to do the commandment of the king and of the
princes, by the word of the LORD.
(i) He shows the reason why some obey and some mock God's
calling, that is, because his Spirit is with the one
sort and moves in their heart, and the others are left
to themselves.
30:14 And they arose and took away the k altars that [were] in
Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away,
and cast [them] into the brook Kidron.
(k) Which declares that we must put away those things with
which God is offended, before we can serve him
correctly.
30:15 Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth [day] of
the second month: and the priests and the Levites were l
ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the
burnt offerings into the house of the LORD.
(l) Seeing their own negligence (who should have been most
prompt) and the readiness of the people,
(2Ch 29:36).
30:16 And they stood in their place after their manner,
according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests
sprinkled the m blood, [which they received] of the hand
of the Levites.
(m) That is, of the lamb of the passover.
30:18 For a multitude of the people, [even] many of Ephraim, and
Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed
themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than
it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The
n good LORD pardon every one
(n) He knew that faith and sincerity of heart were more
agreeable to God than the observation of the
ceremonies and therefore he prayed to God to pardon
this fault to the people who did not offend out of
malice, but out of ignorance.
30:20 And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and o healed the
people.
(o) That is, accepted them as purified.
30:24 For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a
p thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the
princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and
ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests
sanctified themselves.
(p) This great liberality declares how kings, princes and
all they to whom God has given, should be ready to
bestow it in the setting forth of God's glory.
30:27 Then the priests the Levites arose and q blessed the
people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came
[up] to his holy dwelling place, [even] unto heaven.
(q) According to that which is written in (Nu 6:23)
when they should dismiss the people.
