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| 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 LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD 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 For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month. |
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| 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. |
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| 4 And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. |
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| 5 So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from 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 as it was 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 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 he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. |
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| 7 And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see. |
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| 8 Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but 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. |
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| 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 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. |
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| 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. |
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 Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came 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 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 LORD. |
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| 13 And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation. |
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| 14 And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron. |
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| 15 Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day 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 LORD. |
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| 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, which they received of the hand of the Levites. |
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| 17 For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD.
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| 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 good LORD pardon 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 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. |
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| 20 And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people. |
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| 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 LORD day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the LORD. |
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| 22 And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers. |
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| 23 And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness. |
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 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. |
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| 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. |
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 So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like 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 Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven. |
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