301 Now 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 celebrate the Passover to the Lord God of Israel . 2 For the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month , 3 since they could not celebrate it at that time , because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient numbers , nor had the people been gathered to Jerusalem . 4 Thus the thing was right in the sight of the king and all the assembly . 5 So they established a decree to circulate a proclamation throughout all Israel from Beersheba even to Dan , that they should come to celebrate the Passover to the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem . For they had not celebrated it in great numbers as it was prescribed . 6 The couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with the letters from the hand of the king and his princes , even according to the command of the king , saying , "O sons of Israel , return to the Lord God of Abraham , Isaac and Israel , that He may return to those of you who escaped and are left from the hand of the kings of Assyria . 7 " Do not be like your fathers and your brothers , who were unfaithful to the Lord God of their fathers , so that He made them a horror , as you see . 8 "Now do not stiffen your neck like your fathers , but yield e to the Lord and enter His sanctuary which He has consecrated forever , and serve the Lord your God , that His burning anger may turn away from you. 9 "For if you return to the Lord , your brothers and your sons will find compassion before those who led them captive and will return to this land . For the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate , and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him." 10 So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh , and as far as Zebulun , but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. 11 Nevertheless some men of Asher , Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem . 12 The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the Lord .
13 Now many people were gathered at Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month , a very large assembly . 14 They arose and removed the altars which were in Jerusalem ; they also removed all the incense altars and cast them into the brook Kidron . 15 Then they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth e of the second month . And the priests and Levites were ashamed of themselves, and consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the Lord . 16 They stood at their stations after their custom , according to the law of Moses the man of God ; the priests sprinkled the blood which they received from the hand of the Levites . 17 For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves; therefore, the Levites were over the slaughter of the Passover lambs for everyone who was unclean e , in order to consecrate them to the Lord . 18 For a multitude of the people , even many from Ephraim and Manasseh , Issachar and Zebulun , had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than prescribed . For Hezekiah prayed for them, saying , "May the good Lord pardon
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 30:1-18
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 30:1-12
(Read 2 Chronicles 30:1-12)
Hezekiah made Israel as welcome to the passover, as any of his own subjects. Let us yield ourselves unto the Lord. Say not, you will do what you please, but resolve to do what he pleases. We perceive in the carnal mind a stiffness, an obstinacy, an unaptness to compel with God; we have it from our fathers: this must be overcome. Those who, through grace, have turned to God themselves, should do all they can to bring others to him. Numbers will be scorners, but some will be humbled and benefited; perhaps where least expected. The rich mercy of God is the great argument by which to enforce repentance; the vilest who submit and yield themselves to the Lord, seek his grace, and give themselves to his service, shall certainly be saved. Oh that messengers were sent forth to carry these glad tidings to every city and every village, through every land!
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 30:13-20
(Read 2 Chronicles 30:13-20)
The great thing needful in attendance upon God in solemn ordinances, is, that we make heart-work of it; all is nothing without this. Where this sincerity and fixedness of heart are, there may yet be many things short of the purification of the sanctuary. 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, even as to the very best of our doings, we should be undone. The way to obtain pardon, is to seek it of God by prayer; it must be gotten by petition through the blood of Christ. Yet every defect is sin, and needs forgiveness; and should be matter to humble, but not to discourage us, though nothing can make up for the want of a heart prepared to seek the Lord.