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 19 everyone who prepares his heart to seek God , the Lord God of his fathers , though not according to the purification rules of the sanctuary ." 20 So the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people .
21 The sons of Israel present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy , and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day after day with loud instruments to the Lord . 22 Then Hezekiah spoke encouragingly e to all the Levites who showed good insight in the things of the Lord . So they ate for the appointed seven days , sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the Lord God of their fathers . 23 Then the whole assembly decided to celebrate the feast another seven days , so they celebrated the seven days with joy . 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah had contributed to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 e sheep , and the princes had contributed to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 10,000 e sheep ; and a large number of priests consecrated themselves. 25 All the assembly of Judah rejoiced , with the priests and the Levites and all the assembly that came from Israel , both the sojourners who came from the land of Israel and those living in Judah . 26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem , because there was nothing like this in Jerusalem since the days of Solomon the son of David , king of Israel . 27 Then the Levitical priests arose and blessed the people ; and their voice was heard and their prayer came to His holy dwelling place , to heaven .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 30:13-27
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.
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 30:21-27
(Read 2 Chronicles 30:21-27)
Many prayers were put up to God with the peace-offerings. In these Israel looked to God as the God of their fathers, a God in covenant with them. There was also abundance of good preaching. The Levites read and explained the Scriptures. Faith cometh by hearing, and true religion preaching has abounded. They sang psalms every day: praising God should be much of our work in religious assemblies. Having kept the seven days of the feast in this religious manner, they had so much comfort in it, that they kept other seven days also. This they did with gladness. Holy duties should be done with holy gladness. And when sinners humble themselves before the Lord, they may expect gladness in his ordinances. Those who taste this happiness will not soon grow weary of it, but will be glad to prolong their enjoyment.