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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 Jehovah at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto Jehovah, the 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 assembly 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 in sufficient number, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. |
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| 4 And the thing was right in the eyes of the king and of all the assembly. |
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| 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 Jehovah, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem: for they had not kept it in great numbers in such sort 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 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 Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may return to the remnant that are escaped of you 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, who trespassed against Jehovah, the God of their fathers, so that he 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 Jehovah, and enter into his sancturary, which he hath sanctified for ever, and serve Jehovah your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you. |
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| 9 For if ye turn again unto Jehovah, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that led them captive, and shall come again into this land: for Jehovah 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 certain men 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 upon Judah came the hand of God to give them one heart, to do the commandment of the king and of the princes by the word of Jehovah. |
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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 assembly. |
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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 burnt-offerings into the house of Jehovah. |
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| 16 And they stood in their place after their order, 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 assembly that had not sanctified themselves: therefore the Levites had the charge of killing the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto Jehovah. |
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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 is written. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, The good Jehovah 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 setteth his heart to seek God, Jehovah, the God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the Holy. |
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| 20 And Jehovah 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 Jehovah day by day, singing with loud instruments unto Jehovah. |
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| 22 And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that had good understanding in the service of Jehovah. So they did eat throughout the feast for the seven days, offering sacrifices of peace-offerings, and making confession to Jehovah, the God of their fathers. |
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| 23 And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days; and they kept another 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 assembly for offerings a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the assembly a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves. |
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| 25 And all the assembly of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the assembly that came out of Israel, and the sojourners 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 habitation, even unto the heavens. |
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