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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 And Hezekiah sendeth unto all Israel and Judah, and also letters he hath written unto Ephraim and Manasseh, to come in to the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem, to make a passover to Jehovah, God of Israel. |
Sent to all Israel – Isaiah's prophecy respecting the carrying away of Israel into captivity was already in progress and this invitation served to incite "Israelites indeed" to return to the Lord's worship. R2380:1
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| 2 And the king taketh counsel, and his heads, and all the assembly in Jerusalem, to make the passover in the second month, |
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| 3 for they have not been able to make it at that time, for the priests have not sanctified themselves sufficiently, and the people have not been gathered to Jerusalem. |
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| 4 And the thing is right in the eyes of the king, and in the eyes of all the assembly, |
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| 5 and they establish the thing, to cause to pass over an intimation into all Israel, from Beer-Sheba even unto Dan, to come in to make a passover to Jehovah, God of Israel, in Jerusalem, for not for a long time had they done as it is written. |
Throughout all Israel – Not only to his own kingdom of Judah, but also to the ten tribes. R4812:5
Such a message of true fellowship to the true Israel is made alike to all, ignoring all creeds and parties. R2380:6
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| 6 And the runners go with letters from the hand of the king and his heads, into all Israel and Judah, even according to the command of the king, saying, 'O sons of Israel, turn back unto Jehovah, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and He doth turn back unto the escaped part that is left of you from the hand of the kings of Asshur; |
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| 7 and do not be like your fathers, and like your brethren, who trespassed against Jehovah, God of their fathers, and He giveth them to desolation, as ye do see. |
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| 8 'Now, harden not your neck like your fathers, give a hand to Jehovah, and come in to His sanctuary, that He hath sanctified to the age, and serve Jehovah your God, and the fierceness of His anger doth turn back from you; |
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| 9 for in your turning back unto Jehovah, your brethren and your sons have mercies before their captors, even to return to this land, for gracious and merciful [is] Jehovah your God, and He doth not turn aside the face from you, if ye turn back unto Him.' |
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| 10 And the runners are passing over from city to city, in the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, even unto Zebulun: and they are laughing at them, and mocking at them, |
They laughed – In the northern kingdom, where idolatry had a stronger hold, the invitation was derided by many. R4812:5
Them to scorn – Now, as then, the proud will stand up for sectarianism and for its honors and dignities, and will fail to get the divine blessing. R2381:1
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| 11 only, certain from Asher, and Manasseh, and from Zebulun, have been humbled, and come in to Jerusalem. |
Divers of Asher and – The true, faithful Israelites were gathered out of the ten-tribe kingdom into the two-tribe kingdom at that early day. R2380:3
All are to be esteemed and treated as Israelites indeed who trust in the precious blood of Christ and are consecrated to the service of the Lord. R2380:6
Humbled themselves – A few humble ones from almost all sects, parties and creeds will be attracted. R2381:1
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| 12 Also, in Judah hath the hand of God been to give to them one heart to do the command of the king and of the heads, in the matter of Jehovah; |
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| 13 and much people are gathered to Jerusalem, to make the feast of unleavened things in the second month a mighty assembly for multitude. |
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| 14 And they arise and turn aside the altars that [are] in Jerusalem, and all the perfume altars they have turned aside, and cast [them] to the brook Kidron; |
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| 15 and they slaughter the passover-offering on the fourteenth of the second month, and the priests and the Levites have been ashamed, and sanctify themselves, and bring in burnt-offerings to the house of Jehovah. |
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| 16 And they stand on their station according to their ordinance; according to the law of Moses the man of God the priests are sprinkling the blood out of the hand of the Levites, |
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| 17 for many [are] in the assembly who have not sanctified themselves, and the Levites [are] over the slaughtering of the passover-offerings for every one not clean, to sanctify [him] to Jehovah: |
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| 18 for a multitude of the people, many from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, have not been cleansed, but have eaten the passover otherwise than it is written; but Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, 'Jehovah, who [is] good, doth receive atonement for every one |
Not cleansed themselves – Similarly, in the Church of Christ, we find some who but imperfectly comprehend the sanctification of life necessary to a proper participation in the Lord's "feast of fat things." R4813:1
Prayed for them – Let us not denounce as hypocrites those who imperfectly comprehend sanctification of life, but pray for them and assist them in the more excellent way. R4813:1
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| 19 who hath prepared his heart to seek God Jehovah, God of his fathers yet not according to the cleansing of the sanctuary;' |
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| 20 and Jehovah hearkeneth unto Hezekiah, and healeth the people. |
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| 21 And the sons of Israel, those found in Jerusalem, make the feast of unleavened things seven days with great joy; and giving praise to Jehovah day by day are the Levites and the priests, with instruments of praise before Jehovah. |
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| 22 And Hezekiah speaketh unto the heart of all the Levites, those giving good understanding concerning Jehovah, and they eat the appointed thing seven days; sacrificing sacrifices of peace-offerings, and making confession to Jehovah, God of their fathers. |
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| 23 And all the assembly take counsel to keep other seven days, and they keep seven days [with] joy; |
With gladness – There is no other peace or joy so soul-satisfying as that which comes from fellowship with the Creator through Christ in the antitypical passover. R4812:6
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| 24 for Hezekiah king of Judah hath presented to the assembly a thousand bullocks, and seven thousand sheep; and the heads have presented to the assembly bullocks a thousand, and sheep ten thousand; and priests sanctify themselves in abundance. |
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| 25 And all the assembly of Judah rejoice, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the assembly, those coming in from Israel, and the sojourners, those coming in from the land of Israel, and those dwelling in Judah, |
Came out of Israel – The true faithful Israelites were gathered out of the ten-tribe kingdom into the two-tribe kingdom. R2380:3
It was the remnant of Israel and not merely of Judah that was gathered into the Gospel age, while the remainder were "blinded." R2380:3
All "Israelites indeed," trusting in the precious blood of Christ, are one in Christ Jesus and are to be esteemed as brethren. R2380:6
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| 26 and there is great joy in Jerusalem; for from the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel there is not like this in Jerusalem, |
Great joy – Many seek pleasure and joy but few find it. Real pleasure is in finding the Lord and coming into heart-harmony with him. R4812:6
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| 27 and the priests, the Levites, rise and bless the people, and their voice is heard, and their prayer cometh in to His holy habitation, to the heavens. |
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