mh_parser/vol_split/14 - 2Chronicles/Chapter 30.xml

<div2 id="iiCh.xxxi" n="xxxi" next="iiCh.xxxii" prev="iiCh.xxx" progress="86.81%" title="Chapter XXX">
<h2 id="iiCh.xxxi-p0.1">S E C O N D   C H R O N I C L E
S</h2>
<h3 id="iiCh.xxxi-p0.2">CHAP. XXX.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iiCh.xxxi-p1">In this chapter we have an account of the solemn
passover which Hezekiah kept in the first year of his reign. I. The
consultation about it, and the resolution he and his people came to
for the observance of it, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.2-2Chr.30.5" parsed="|2Chr|30|2|30|5" passage="2Ch 30:2-5">ver.
2-5</scripRef>. II. The invitation he sent to Judah and Israel to
come and keep it, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.1 Bible:2Chr.30.6" parsed="|2Chr|30|1|0|0;|2Chr|30|6|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:1,6">ver. 1,
6-12</scripRef>. III. The joyful celebration of it, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.13-2Chr.30.27" parsed="|2Chr|30|13|30|27" passage="2Ch 30:13-27">ver. 13-27</scripRef>. By this the
reformation, set on foot in the foregoing chapter, was greatly
advanced and established, and that nail in God's holy place
clenched.</p>
<scripCom id="iiCh.xxxi-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30" parsed="|2Chr|30|0|0|0" passage="2Ch 30" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iiCh.xxxi-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.1-2Chr.30.12" parsed="|2Chr|30|1|30|12" passage="2Ch 30:1-12" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Chr.30.1-2Chr.30.12">
<h4 id="iiCh.xxxi-p1.6">Preparations for the
Passover. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxxi-p1.7">b. c.</span> 726.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiCh.xxxi-p2">1 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and
wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come
to the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxxi-p2.1">Lord</span> at
Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxxi-p2.2">Lord</span> God of Israel.   2 For the king had
taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in
Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month.   3 For
they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not
sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered
themselves together to Jerusalem.   4 And the thing pleased
the king and all the congregation.   5 So they established a
decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba
even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxxi-p2.3">Lord</span> God of Israel at Jerusalem: for
they had not done <i>it</i> of a long <i>time in such sort</i> as
it was written.   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 <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxxi-p2.4">Lord</span> God
of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of
you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.
  7 And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren,
which trespassed against the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxxi-p2.5">Lord</span>
God of their fathers, <i>who</i> therefore gave them up to
desolation, as ye see.   8 Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your
fathers <i>were, but</i> yield yourselves unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxxi-p2.6">Lord</span>, and enter into his sanctuary, which he
hath sanctified for ever: and serve the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxxi-p2.7">Lord</span> your God, that the fierceness of his wrath
may turn away from you.   9 For if ye turn again unto the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxxi-p2.8">Lord</span>, your brethren and your
children <i>shall find</i> compassion before them that lead them
captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxxi-p2.9">Lord</span> your God <i>is</i> gracious and
merciful, and will not turn away <i>his</i> face from you, if ye
return unto him.   10 So the posts passed from city to city
through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but
they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.   11 Nevertheless
divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and
came to Jerusalem.   12 Also in Judah the hand of God was to
give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the
princes, by the word of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxxi-p2.10">Lord</span>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxxi-p3">Here is, I. A passover resolved upon. That
annual feast was instituted as a memorial of the bringing of the
children of Israel out of Egypt. It happened that the reviving of
the temple service fell within the appointed days of that feast,
the seventeenth day of the first month: this brought that forgotten
solemnity to mind. "What shall we do," says Hezekiah, "about the
passover? It is a very comfortable ordinance, and has been long
neglected. How shall we revive it? The time has elapsed for this
year; we cannot go about it immediately; the congregation is thin,
the people have not notice, the priests are not prepared, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.3" parsed="|2Chr|30|3|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. Must we defer it till
another year?" Many, it is likely, were for deferring it; but
Hezekiah considered that by that time twelve-month the good
affections of the people would cool, and it would be too long to
want the benefit of the ordinance; and therefore, finding a proviso
in the law of Moses that particular persons who were unclean in the
first month might keep the passover the fourteenth day of the
second month and be accepted (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.9.11" parsed="|Num|9|11|0|0" passage="Nu 9:11">Num. ix.
11</scripRef>), he doubted not but that it might be extended to the
congregation. Whereupon they resolved to keep the passover <i>in
the second month.</i> Let the circumstance give way to the
substance, and let not the thing itself be lost upon a nicety about
the time. It is good striking while the iron is hot, and taking
people when they are in a good mind. Delays are dangerous.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxxi-p4">II. A proclamation issued out to give
notice of this passover and to summon the people to it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxxi-p5">1. An invitation was sent to the ten
revolted tribes to stir them up to come and attend this solemnity.
Letters were written to Ephraim and Manasseh to invite them to
Jerusalem to keep this passover (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.1" parsed="|2Chr|30|1|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), not with any political design,
to bring them back to the house of David, but with a pious design
to bring them back to the Lord God of Israel. "Let them take whom
they will for their king," says Hezekiah, "so they will but take
him for their God." The matters in difference between Judah and
Israel, either upon a civil or sacred account, shall not hinder but
that if the people of Israel will sincerely return to the Lord
their God Hezekiah will bid them as welcome to the passover as any
of his own subjects. Expresses are sent post throughout all the
tribes of Israel with memorials earnestly pressing the people to
take this opportunity of returning to the God from whom they had
revolted. Now here we have,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxxi-p6">(1.) The contents of the circular letters
that were despatched upon the occasion, in which Hezekiah discovers
a great concern both for the honour of God and for the welfare of
the neighbouring kingdom, the prosperity of which he seems
passionately desirous of, though he not only received no toll,
tribute, or custom, from it, but it had often, and not long since,
been vexatious to his kingdom. This is rendering good for evil.
Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxxi-p7">[1.] What it is which he presses them to
(<scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.8" parsed="|2Chr|30|8|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>): "<i>Yield
yourselves unto the Lord.</i> Before you can come into communion
with him you must come into covenant with him." <i>Give the hand to
the Lord</i> (so the word is), that is, "Consent to take him for
your God." A bargain is confirmed by giving the hand. "Strike this
bargain. Join yourselves to him in an everlasting covenant.
<i>Subscribe with the hand</i> to be his, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.44.5" parsed="|Isa|44|5|0|0" passage="Isa 44:5">Isa. xliv. 5</scripRef>. Give him your hand, in token of
giving him your heart. Lay your hand to his plough. Devote
yourselves to his service, to work for him. <i>Yield to him,</i>"
that is, "Come up to his terms, come under his government, stand it
not out any longer against him." "<i>Yield to him,</i> to be
absolutely and universally at his command, at his disposal, to be,
and do, and have, and suffer, whatever he pleases. In order to
this, be not <i>stiff-necked as your fathers were;</i> let not your
corrupt and wicked wills rise up in resistance of and rebellion
against the will of God. Say not that you will do what you please,
but resolve to do what he pleases." There is in the carnal mind a
stiffness, an obstinacy, an unaptness to comply with God. We have
it from our fathers; it is bred in the bone with us. This must be
conquered; and the will that had in it a spirit of contradiction
must be melted into the will of God; and to his yoke the neck that
was an iron sinew must be bowed and fitted. In pursuance of this
resignation to God, he presses them <i>to enter into his
sanctuary,</i> that is, to attend upon him in that place which he
had chosen, to put his name there, and serve him in the ordinances
which he had appointed. "The doors of the sanctuary are now opened,
and you have liberty to enter; the temple service is now revived,
and you are welcome to join in it." The king says, <i>Come;</i> the
princes and priests say, <i>Come; whosoever will, let him come.</i>
This he calls (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.6" parsed="|2Chr|30|6|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>)
<i>turning to the Lord God;</i> for they had forsaken him, and
worshipped other gods. <i>Repent now, and be converted.</i> Thus
those who through grace have turned to God themselves should do all
they can to bring others back to him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxxi-p8">[2.] What arguments he uses to persuade
them to do this. <i>First,</i> "You are children of Israel, and
therefore stand related, stand obliged, to the God of Israel, from
whom you have revolted." <i>Secondly,</i> "The God you are called
to return to is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, a God in
covenant with your first fathers, who served him and yielded
themselves to him; and it was their honour and happiness that they
did so." <i>Thirdly,</i> "Your late fathers that forsook him and
trespassed against him have been given up to desolation; their
apostasy and idolatry have been their ruin, as you see (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.7" parsed="|2Chr|30|7|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>); let their harms be your
warnings." <i>Fourthly,</i> "You yourselves are but a
<i>remnant</i> narrowly <i>escaped out of the hands of the kings of
Assyria</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.6" parsed="|2Chr|30|6|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>),
and therefore are concerned to put yourselves under the protection
of the God of your fathers, that you be not quite swallowed up."
<i>Fifthly,</i> "This is the only way of <i>turning away the
fierceness of God's anger from you</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.8" parsed="|2Chr|30|8|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>), which will certainly consume
you if you continue stiff-necked." <i>Lastly,</i> "If you return to
God in a way of duty, he will return to you in a way of mercy."
This he begins with (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.6" parsed="|2Chr|30|6|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:6"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>) and concludes with, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.9" parsed="|2Chr|30|9|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. In general, "You will find him
<i>gracious and merciful,</i> and one that <i>will not turn away
his face from you,</i> if you seek him, notwithstanding the
provocations you have given him." Particularly, "You may hope that
he will turn again the captivity of your brethren that are carried
away, and bring them back to their own land." Could any thing be
expressed more pathetically, more movingly? Could there be a better
cause, or could it be better pleaded?</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxxi-p9">(2.) The entertainment which Hezekiah's
messengers and message met with. It does not appear that Hoshea,
who was now king of Israel, took any umbrage from, or gave any
opposition to, the dispersing of these proclamations through his
kingdom, nor that he forbade his subjects to accept the invitation.
He seems to have left them entirely to their liberty. They might go
to Jerusalem to worship if they pleased; for, though he did evil,
yet <i>not like the kings of Israel that were before him,</i>
<scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.17.2" parsed="|2Kgs|17|2|0|0" passage="2Ki 17:2">2 Kings xvii. 2</scripRef>. He saw
ruin coming upon his kingdom, and, if any of his subjects would try
this expedient to prevent it, they had his full permission. But,
for the people, [1.] The generality of them slighted the call and
turned a deaf ear to it. The messengers went from city to city,
some to one and some to another, and used pressing entreaties with
the people to come up to Jerusalem to keep the passover; but they
were so far from complying with the message that they abused those
that brought it, <i>laughed them to scorn, and mocked them</i>
(<scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.10" parsed="|2Chr|30|10|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>), not only
refused, but refused with disdain. Tell them of the God of Abraham!
they knew him not, they had other gods to serve, Baal and
Ashtaroth. Tell them of the sanctuary! their high places were as
good. Tell them of God's mercy and wrath! they neither dreaded the
one nor desired the other. No marvel that the king's messengers
were thus despitefully used by this apostate race when God's
messengers were so, his servants the prophets, who produced
credentials from him. The destruction of the kingdom of the ten
tribes was now at hand. It was but two or three years after this
that the king of Assyria laid siege to Samaria, which ended in the
captivity of those tribes. Just before this they had not only a
king of their own that permitted them to return to God's sanctuary,
but a king of Judah that earnestly invited them to do it. Had they
generally accepted this invitation, it might have prevented their
ruin; but their contempt of it hastened and aggravated it, and left
them inexcusable. [2.] Yet there were some few that accepted the
invitation. The message, though to some it was a <i>savour of death
unto death,</i> was to others a <i>savour of life unto life,</i>
<scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.11" parsed="|2Chr|30|11|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. In the worst
of times God has had a remnant; so he had here, many of Asher,
Manasseh, and Zebulun (here is no mention of any out of Ephraim,
though some of that tribe are mentioned, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.18" parsed="|2Chr|30|18|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>), <i>humbled themselves, and
came to Jerusalem,</i> that is, were sorry for their sins and
submitted to God. Pride keeps men from yielding themselves to the
Lord; when that is brought down, the work is done.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxxi-p10">2. A command was given to the men of Judah
to attend this solemnity; and they universally obeyed it, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.12" parsed="|2Chr|30|12|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. They did it with one
heart, were all of a mind in it, and <i>the hand of God gave</i>
them that <i>one heart;</i> for it is in the day of power that
Christ's subjects are made willing. It is God that works both <i>to
will</i> and <i>to do.</i> When people, at any time, manifest an
unexpected forwardness to do that which is good, we must
acknowledge that hand of God in it.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiCh.xxxi-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.13-2Chr.30.20" parsed="|2Chr|30|13|30|20" passage="2Ch 30:13-20" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Chr.30.13-2Chr.30.20">
<h4 id="iiCh.xxxi-p10.3">The Celebration of the
Passover. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxxi-p10.4">b. c.</span> 726.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiCh.xxxi-p11">13 And there assembled at Jerusalem much people
to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very
great congregation.   14 And they arose and took away the
altars that <i>were</i> in Jerusalem, and all the altars for
incense took they away, and cast <i>them</i> into the brook Kidron.
  15 Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth
<i>day</i> of the second month: and the priests and the Levites
were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt
offerings into the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxxi-p11.1">Lord</span>.   16 And they stood in their place
after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God:
the priests sprinkled the blood, <i>which they received</i> of the
hand of the Levites.   17 For <i>there were</i> many in the
congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had
the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one <i>that
was</i> not clean, to sanctify <i>them</i> unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxxi-p11.2">Lord</span>.   18 For a multitude of the people,
<i>even</i> 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 good <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxxi-p11.3">Lord</span> pardon every
one   19 <i>That</i> prepareth his heart to seek God, the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxxi-p11.4">Lord</span> God of his fathers, though
<i>he be</i> not <i>cleansed</i> according to the purification of
the sanctuary.   20 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxxi-p11.5">Lord</span> hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the
people.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxxi-p12">The time appointed for the passover having
arrived, a very great congregation came together upon the occasion,
<scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.13" parsed="|2Chr|30|13|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. Now here we
have,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxxi-p13">I. The preparation they made for the
passover, and good preparation it was: <i>They took away</i> all
<i>the</i> idolatrous <i>altars</i> that were found, not only in
the temple, but <i>in Jerusalem,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.14" parsed="|2Chr|30|14|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. Before they kept the feast,
they cast out this old leaven. The best preparation we can make for
the gospel passover is to cast away our iniquities, our spiritual
idolatries.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxxi-p14">II. The celebration of the passover. In
this the people were so forward and zealous that the priests and
Levites blushed to see themselves out-done by the commonalty, to
see them more ready to bring sacrifices than they were to offer
them. This put them upon sanctifying themselves (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.15" parsed="|2Chr|30|15|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>), that the work might not stand
still for want of hands to carry it on. The notice we take of the
zeal of others should make us ashamed of our own coldness, and
quicken us not only to do our duty, but to do it well, and to
sanctify ourselves to it. They did according to the duty of their
place (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.16" parsed="|2Chr|30|16|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>),
sprinkling <i>the blood upon the altar,</i> which was a type of
Christ our passover sacrificed for us.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxxi-p15">III. The irregularities they were guilty of
in this solemnity. The substance was well managed, and with a great
deal of devotion; but, besides that it was a month out of time, 1.
The <i>Levites killed the passover,</i> which should have been done
by the priests only, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.17" parsed="|2Chr|30|17|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:17"><i>v.</i>
17</scripRef>. They also assisted more than the law ordinarily
allowed in offering the other sacrifices, particularly those that
were for the purifying of the unclean, many of which there was now
occasion for. Some think that it was the offerers' work, not the
priests', that the Levites had here the charge of. Ordinarily every
man killed his lamb, but now for those that were under any
ceremonial pollution the Levites killed it. 2. Many were permitted
to eat the passover who were not purified according to the
strictness of the law, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.18" parsed="|2Chr|30|18|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:18"><i>v.</i>
18</scripRef>. This was the second month, and there was not warrant
to put them off further to the third month, as, if it had been the
first month, the law would have permitted them to eat it the
second. And they were loth to forbid them communicating at all,
lest they should discourage new converts, and send those away
complaining whom they desired to send away rejoicing. Grotius
observes from this that ritual institutions must give way, not only
to a public necessity, but to a public benefit and advantage.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxxi-p16">IV. Hezekiah's prayer to God for the
forgiveness of this irregularity. It was his zeal that had called
them together in such haste, and he would not that any should fare
the worse for being straitened of time in their preparation. He
therefore thought himself concerned to be an intercessor for those
that <i>ate the passover otherwise than it was written,</i> that
there might not be wrath upon them from the Lord. His prayer
was,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxxi-p17">1. A short prayer, but to the purpose:
<i>The good Lord pardon every one</i> in the congregation that has
fixed, engaged, or <i>prepared, his heart</i> to those services,
though the ceremonial preparation be wanting. Note, (1.) The great
thing required in our attendance upon God in solemn ordinances is
that we <i>prepare our hearts to seek him,</i> that we be sincere
and upright in all we do, that the inward man be engaged and
employed in it, and that we make heart-work of it; it is all
nothing without this. <i>Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward
part.</i> Hezekiah does not pray that this might be dispensed with,
nor that the want of other things might be pardoned where there was
not this. For <i>this</i> is the <i>one thing needful,</i> that we
<i>seek God,</i> his favour, his honour, and that we set our hearts
to do it. (2.) Where this sincerity and fixedness of heart are
there may still be many defects and infirmities, both the frame of
the spirit and the performance of the service may be short of
<i>the purification of the sanctuary.</i> Corruptions may not be so
fully conquered, thoughts not so closely fixed, affections not so
lively, faith not so operative, as they should be. Here is a defect
in sanctuary purification. There is nothing perfect under the sun,
nor <i>a just man that doeth good, and sinneth not.</i> (3.) These
defects need pardoning healing grace; for omissions in duty are
sins as well as omissions of duty. If God should deal with us in
strict justice according to the best of our performances, we should
be undone. (4.) The way to obtain pardon for our deficiencies in
duty, and all the iniquities of our holy things, is to seek it of
God by prayer; it is not so a pardon of course but that it must be
obtained by petition through the blood of Christ. (5.) In this
prayer we must take encouragement from the goodness of God: <i>The
good Lord pardon;</i> for, when he proclaimed his goodness, he
insisted most upon this branch of it, <i>forgiving iniquity,
transgression, and sin.</i> (6.) It is the duty of those that have
the charge of others, not only to look to themselves, but to those
also that are under their charge, to see wherein they are wanting,
and to pray for them, as Hezekiah here. See <scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.1.5" parsed="|Job|1|5|0|0" passage="Job 1:5">Job i. 5</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxxi-p18">2. A successful prayer: <i>The Lord
hearkened to Hezekiah,</i> was well pleased with his pious concern
for the congregation, and, in answer to his prayer, <i>healed the
people</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.20" parsed="|2Chr|30|20|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>),
not only did not lay their sin to their charge, but graciously
accepted their services notwithstanding; for healing denotes not
only forgiveness (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.6.10 Bible:Ps.103.3" parsed="|Isa|6|10|0|0;|Ps|103|3|0|0" passage="Isa 6:10,Ps 103:3">Isa. vi.
10; Ps. ciii. 3</scripRef>), but comfort and peace, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.57.18 Bible:Mal.4.2" parsed="|Isa|57|18|0|0;|Mal|4|2|0|0" passage="Isa 57:18,Mal 4:2">Isa. lvii. 18; Mal. iv.
2</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiCh.xxxi-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.21-2Chr.30.27" parsed="|2Chr|30|21|30|27" passage="2Ch 30:21-27" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Chr.30.21-2Chr.30.27">
<h4 id="iiCh.xxxi-p18.5">The Feast of Unleavened
Bread. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxxi-p18.6">b. c.</span> 726.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiCh.xxxi-p19">21 And the children of Israel that were present
at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with
great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxxi-p19.1">Lord</span> day by day, <i>singing</i> with loud
instruments unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxxi-p19.2">Lord</span>.   22
And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the
good knowledge of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxxi-p19.3">Lord</span>: and they
did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings,
and making confession to the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxxi-p19.4">Lord</span>
God of their fathers.   23 And the whole assembly took counsel
to keep other seven days: and they kept <i>other</i> seven days
with gladness.   24 For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the
congregation a 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.   25 And all the congregation of Judah, with the
priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of
Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and
that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced.   26 So there was great joy in
Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of
Israel <i>there was</i> not the like in Jerusalem.   27 Then
the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their
voice was heard, and their prayer came <i>up</i> to his holy
dwelling place, <i>even</i> unto heaven.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxxi-p20">After the passover followed the feast of
unleavened bread, which continued seven days. How that was observed
we are here told, and every thing in this account looks pleasant
and lively. 1. Abundance of sacrifices were offered to God in
peace-offerings, by which they both acknowledged and implored the
favour of God, and on part of which the offerers feasted with their
friends during these seven days (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.22" parsed="|2Chr|30|22|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>), in token of their communion
with God and the comfort they took in his favour and their
reconciliation to him. To keep up this part of the service, that
God's altar might be abundantly regaled with the fat and blood and
his priests and people with the flesh of the peace-offerings,
Hezekiah gave out of his own stock 1000 bullocks and 7000 sheep,
and the princes, excited by his pious example, gave the same number
of bullocks and a greater number of sheep, and all for
peace-offerings, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.24" parsed="|2Chr|30|24|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:24"><i>v.</i>
24</scripRef>. By this God was honoured, the joy of the festival
was kept up, and the strangers were encouraged to come again to
Jerusalem. It was generously done of the king and the princes thus
plentifully to entertain the whole congregation; but what is a
great estate good for but that it puts men into a capacity of doing
so much the more good? Christ feasted those that followed him. I
believe neither Hezekiah nor his princes were the poorer at the
year's end for this their pious liberality. 2. Many good prayers
were put up to God with the peace-offerings, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p20.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.22" parsed="|2Chr|30|22|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>. They <i>made confession to the
Lord God of their fathers,</i> in which the intent and meaning of
the peace-offerings were directed and explained. When the priests
sprinkled the blood and burnt the fat they made confession, so did
the people when they feasted on their part. They made a religious
confession of their relation to God and dependence upon him, a
penitent confession of their sins and infirmities, a thankful
confession of God's mercies to them, and a supplicatory confession
of their wants and desires; and, in all these, they had an eye to
God as <i>the God of their fathers,</i> a God in covenant with
them. 3. There was a great deal of good preaching. The Levites
(whose office it was, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p20.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.33.10" parsed="|Deut|33|10|0|0" passage="De 33:10">Deut. xxxiii.
10</scripRef>) <i>taught the people the good knowledge of the
Lord,</i> read and opened the scriptures, and instructed the
congregation concerning God and their duty to him; and great need
there was of this, after so long a famine of the word as there had
been in the last reign. Hezekiah did not himself preach, but he
<i>spoke comfortably to the Levites</i> that did, attended their
preaching, commended their diligence, and assured them of his
protection and countenance. Hereby he encouraged them to study hard
and take pains, and put a reputation upon them, that the people
might respect and regard them the more. Princes and magistrates, by
owning and encouraging faithful and laborious preachers, greatly
serve the interest of God's kingdom among men. 4. They sang psalms
every day (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p20.5" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.21" parsed="|2Chr|30|21|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>):
<i>The Levites and priests praised the Lord day by day,</i> both
with songs and musical instruments, thus expressing their own and
exciting one another's joy in God and thankfulness to him. Praising
God should be much of our work in our religious assemblies. 5.
Having kept the seven days of the feast in this religious manner,
they had so much comfort in the service that they <i>kept other
seven days,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p20.6" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.23" parsed="|2Chr|30|23|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:23"><i>v.</i>
23</scripRef>. They did not institute any new modes of worship, but
repeated and continued the old. The case was extraordinary: they
had been long without the ordinance; guilt had been contracted by
the neglect of it; they had now got a very great congregation
together, and were in a devout serious frame; they knew not when
they might have such another opportunity, and therefore could not
now find in their hearts to separate till they had doubled the
time. Many of them were a great way from home, and had business in
the country to look after, for, this being the second month, they
were in the midst of their harvest; yet they were in no haste to
return: the zeal of God's house made them forget their secular
affairs. How unlike those who snuffed at God's service, and said,
<i>What a weariness is it!</i> Or those who asked, <i>When will the
sabbath be gone?</i> The servants of God should abound in his work.
6. All this they did <i>with gladness</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p20.7" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.23" parsed="|2Chr|30|23|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>); they all rejoiced, and
particularly <i>the strangers,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p20.8" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.25" parsed="|2Chr|30|25|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>. <i>So there was great joy in
Jerusalem,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p20.9" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.26" parsed="|2Chr|30|26|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:26"><i>v.</i>
26</scripRef>. Never was the like since the dedication of the
temple in Solomon's time. Note, Holy duties should be performed
with holy gladness; we should be forward to them, and take pleasure
in them, relish the sweetness of communion with God, and look upon
it as matter of unspeakable joy and comfort that we are thus
favoured and have such earnests of everlasting joy. 7. The
congregation was at length dismissed with a solemn blessing,
<scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p20.10" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.27" parsed="|2Chr|30|27|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>. (1.) The
priests pronounced it; for it was part of their office to <i>bless
the people</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxxi-p20.11" osisRef="Bible:Num.6.22-Num.6.23" parsed="|Num|6|22|6|23" passage="Nu 6:22,23">Num. vi. 22,
23</scripRef>), in which they were both the people's mouth to God
by way of prayer and God's mouth to the people by way of promise;
for their blessing included both. In it they testified both their
desire of the people's welfare and their dependence upon God and
that word of his grace to which they commended them. What a comfort
is it to a congregation to be sent home thus crowned! (2.) God said
<i>Amen</i> to it. The voice of the priests, when they <i>blessed
the people, was heard in heaven</i> and came up to the
<i>habitation of God's holiness.</i> When they pronounced the
blessing God commanded it, and perhaps gave some sensible token of
the ratification of it. The prayer that comes up to heaven in a
cloud of incense will come down again to this earth in showers of
blessings.</p>
</div></div2>