2 Chronicles 30

Chapter Overview

What happens in 2 Chronicles 30

Hezekiah invites all Israel and Judah — including the northern tribes — to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem for the first time in many years. Though some northerners mock the invitation, many come. It becomes the greatest Passover celebration since the days of Solomon.

Scripture

The Invitation to All Israel

Study note

Hezekiah sent letters throughout all Israel and Judah inviting everyone to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem. They held it in the second month because not enough priests had purified themselves and the people had not assembled. Messengers carried the letters from city to city through Ephraim, Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun. Most people in the north laughed at the messengers and mocked them, but some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came. In Judah, God gave them unity.

1 Hezekiah sent messages to everyone in Israel and Judah. He also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh. He invited them all to come to the Lord's temple in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover for the Lord, the God of Israel. 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.

2 The king, his officials, and all the people in Jerusalem chose to keep the Passover in the second month. For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month.

3 They could not keep it at the normal time. Not enough priests had made themselves clean. The people had not yet come to Jerusalem. 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.

4 Everyone agreed that this plan was a good one. And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation.

5 They sent word through all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan. They asked everyone to come to Jerusalem for the Passover. It had been a long time since a large crowd kept it the right way. 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 the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written.

6 Messengers traveled all across Israel and Judah carrying letters from the king and his officials. The letters said, "People of Israel, come back to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Then he will come back to those of you who survived and escaped from the kings of Assyria." 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.

7 "Do not be like your ancestors and relatives who were unfaithful to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. Therefore he made them an example of what happens to those who disobey, as you can see." 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.

8 "Do not be stubborn like your ancestors. Surrender to the Lord and come to his temple, which he has made holy forever. Serve the Lord your God, and his fierce anger will turn away from you." 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.

9 "If you return to the Lord, your relatives and children will be treated with kindness by their captors and will be allowed to come back to this land. The Lord your God is gracious and merciful. He will not turn away from you if you come back to him." 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.

10 The messengers went from town to town through the lands of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the way to Zebulun. But the people laughed at them and made fun of them. 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.

11 Still, some people from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves. They came to Jerusalem. Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.

12 In Judah, God gave the people one heart. They all wanted to do what the king and his officials ordered, following the word of the Lord. 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.

The Great Passover Celebration

Study note

A very large crowd assembled in Jerusalem. They first removed all the pagan altars and incense altars in the city and threw them into the Kidron Valley. Then they slaughtered the Passover lamb. Many people had not properly purified themselves, but they ate the Passover anyway. Hezekiah prayed for them, asking God to pardon everyone who seeks him even if they had not followed all the purification rules. God heard Hezekiah and healed the people.

13 A very large crowd came together in Jerusalem. They were there to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread during the second month. And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation.

14 They got to work tearing down the pagan altars in Jerusalem. They also removed all the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley. 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.

15 They killed the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and Levites felt ashamed of themselves and made themselves holy. Then they brought burnt offerings to the Lord's temple. 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.

16 They took their assigned places as the Law of Moses, the man of God, required. The priests splashed the blood that the Levites passed to them. 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.

17 Many people were not clean. So the Levites had to kill the Passover lambs for all who were not pure enough to give their own to the Lord. 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.

18 Many people, especially from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not made themselves clean. But they ate the Passover meal anyway. This was not the right way to do it. But Hezekiah prayed for them: "May the good Lord forgive everyone" 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

19 "who has set their heart on looking for God, the Lord, the God of their ancestors. This is true even if they are not clean by the temple rules." 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.

20 The Lord heard Hezekiah's prayer and healed the people. And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.

21 The Israelites in Jerusalem celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy. The Levites and priests praised the Lord every day. They sang to him with loud instruments. 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.

22 Hezekiah spoke encouraging words to all the Levites who showed great skill in serving the Lord. The people ate the festival food for seven days, brought fellowship offerings, and gave thanks to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. 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.

Seven More Days of Celebration

Study note

The assembly was so joyful that they decided to celebrate for seven additional days. Hezekiah provided 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep, and the officials provided 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep. There had not been such joy in Jerusalem since the days of Solomon. The priests and Levites blessed the people, and their prayer reached God's holy dwelling place in heaven.

23 The whole assembly then agreed to keep celebrating for seven more days. So they had another seven days of joyful celebration. And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness.

24 King Hezekiah gave the crowd 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep and goats. The officials gave another 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep and goats. A large number of priests also made themselves holy. 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.

25 All of Judah was filled with joy. So were the priests and the Levites. So were the people from Israel. So were the strangers who lived in Israel and Judah. 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.

26 There was tremendous joy in Jerusalem. Nothing like this had taken place in Jerusalem since the days of King Solomon, the son of David. 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.

27 The priests and Levites stood and blessed the people. God heard their prayers, and their words reached his holy home in heaven. 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.

Key Themes

Themes in 2 Chronicles 30

God's grace covers imperfect worshipInvitation to return is always openUnity across divisions in worshipJoy overflowing when God's people gather

Prophetic Connections

How this chapter points to Christ

2 Chronicles 30:1-12 Luke 14:16-24

Hezekiah's invitation to all Israel to return and celebrate echoes Jesus' parable of the great banquet, where the host sends messengers far and wide — and some accept while others refuse.

Apply This Today

Living 2 Chronicles 30

Many who came to the Passover had not properly prepared, yet Hezekiah prayed for them and God healed them. God values a willing heart over perfect performance. Come to God as you are — He meets sincere seekers where they are and extends His grace.

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