1Chizkijáš vzkázal celému Izraeli a Judsku a také napsal dopisy Efrajimovi a Manasesovi, aby přišli do Hospodinova domu v Jeruzalémě slavit Velikonoce Hospodinu, Bohu Izraele. 2Král se dohodl se svými knížaty a s celým shromážděním v Jeruzalémě, že budou slavit Velikonoce ve druhém měsíci, 3protože je nemohli slavit v tom čase, neboť kněží se nestačili posvětit a lid se neshromáždil v Jeruzalémě. 4Líbilo se to králi i celému shromáždění. 5Stanovili, aby se rozšířila zpráva po celém Izraeli od Beer-šeby až po Dan, aby přišli slavit Velikonoce Hospodinu, Bohu Izraele, do Jeruzaléma, neboť to dlouho nedělali tak, jak je psáno. 6Běžci běželi s dopisy od krále a jeho knížat po celém Izraeli a Judsku a podle králova příkazu ohlašovali: Synové Izraele, navraťte se k Hospodinu, Bohu Abrahama, Izáka a Izraele, aby se vrátil k těm z vás, kteří zůstali, kteří vyvázli z ruky asyrských králů. 7Nebuďte jako vaši otcové a vaši bratři, kteří se zpronevěřili Hospodinu, Bohu svých otců, a učinil je předmětem hrůzy, jak to vidíte. 8Nezatvrzujte nyní svou šíji jako vaši otcové. Poddejte se Hospodinu a vejděte do jeho svatyně, kterou navěky posvětil. Služte Hospodinu, svému Bohu, aby se od vás odvrátil jeho planoucí hněv. 9Jestliže se navrátíte k Hospodinu, vaši bratři a vaši synové dojdou slitování před svými vězniteli a vrátí se do této země. Vždyť Hospodin, váš Bůh, je milostivý a soucitný, neodvrátí od vás svou tvář, jestliže se k němu navrátíte. 10Běžci procházeli od města k městu územím Efrajima a Manasesa až k Zabulónu. Tam se jim však vysmívali a posmívali. 11Jenom někteří z Ašera, Manasesa a Zabulóna se pokořili a přišli do Jeruzaléma. 12Také na Judejcích spočinula Boží ruka a dala jim jednomyslnost, aby splnili příkaz krále a knížat podle Hospodinova slova. 13V Jeruzalémě se shromáždilo množství lidu, aby v druhém měsíci slavili svátek nekvašených chlebů; bylo to převeliké shromáždění. 14Povstali a odstranili oltáře, které byly v Jeruzalémě. Odstranili také všechny kadidlové oltáře a hodili je do údolí Kidrónu. 15Čtrnáctého dne druhého měsíce zabíjeli velikonoční oběti. Kněží a lévité byli zahanbeni; posvětili se a přinesli do Hospodinova domu zápalné oběti. 16Stáli na svém místě podle nařízení pro ně, podle zákona Mojžíše, muže Božího. Kněží kropili krví převzatou od lévijců. 17Protože ve shromáždění byli mnozí, kteří se neposvětili, lévijci zabíjeli velikonoční oběti pro všechny nečisté, aby je posvětili Hospodinu. 18Většina lidu totiž, mnozí z Efrajima, Manasesa, Isachara a Zabulóna, se neočistili, a nejedli velikonoční oběť tak, jak je psáno. Ale Chizkijáš se za ně modlil slovy: Ať dobrotivý Hospodin daruje smíření 19každému, kdo zaměřil své srdce na hledání Boha, Hospodina, Boha svých otců, ačkoliv není čist podle očišťování platného pro svatyni. 20Hospodin Chizkijáše vyslyšel a uzdravil lid. 21Synové Izraele, kteří se nacházeli v Jeruzalémě, slavili svátek nekvašených chlebů po sedm dní s velikou radostí. Lévité a kněží chválili Hospodina den co den se silnými nástroji Hospodina. 22Chizkijáš promluvil k srdci všech lévijců, kteří byli velmi zruční ve službě Hospodinu, aby jedli sváteční oběti po sedm dní, obětovali pokojné oběti a chválili Hospodina, Boha svých otců. 23Celé shromáždění se dohodlo slavit dalších sedm dní. A tak slavili svátek dalších sedm dní. 24Judský král Chizkijáš totiž daroval shromáždění tisíc býčků a sedm tisíc ovcí. Knížata darovala shromáždění tisíc býčků a deset tisíc ovcí. Kněží se posvětili ve velkém množství. 25A tak se radovalo celé shromáždění Judejců, kněží i lévijci, celé shromáždění těch, kteří přišli z Izraele, cizinci, kteří přišli z izraelské země i ti, kteří bydleli v Judsku. 26V Jeruzalémě byla veliká radost, neboť ode dnů izraelského krále Šalomouna, syna Davidova, nebylo v Jeruzalémě nic takového. 27Lévijští kněží povstali a požehnali lidu. Jejich hlas byl vyslyšen a jejich modlitba přišla do jeho svatého příbytku, do nebes.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 HEZEKIAH PROCLAIMS A PASSOVER. (
2Chr 30:1-12)
Hezekiah sent to all . . . Judah . . . to come to . . . Jerusalem, to keep the passover--This great religious festival had not been regularly observed by the Hebrews in their national capacity for a long time because of the division of the kingdom and the many disorders that had followed that unhappy event. Hezekiah longed extremely to see its observance revived; and the expression of his wishes having received a hearty response from the princes and chief men of his own kingdom, the preparatory steps were taken for a renewed celebration of the national solemnity.
letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh--The names of these leading tribes are used for the whole kingdom of Israel. It was judged impossible, however, that the temple, the priests, and people could be all duly sanctified at the usual time appointed for the anniversary, namely, the fourteenth day of the first month (Nisan). Therefore it was resolved, instead of postponing the feast till another year, to observe it on the fourteenth day of the second month; a liberty which, being in certain circumstances (
Num 9:6-
Num 9:13) granted to individuals, might, it was believed, be allowed to all the people. Hezekiah's proclamation was, of course, authoritative in his own kingdom, but it could not have been made and circulated in all the towns and villages of the neighboring kingdom without the concurrence, or at least the permission, of the Israelitish sovereign. Hoshea, the reigning king, is described as, though evil in some respects, yet more favorably disposed to religious liberty than any of his predecessors since the separation of the kingdom. This is thought to be the meaning of the mitigating clause in his character (
2Kgs 17:2).
6 the posts--that is, runners, or royal messengers, who were taken from the king's bodyguard (
2Chr 23:1-2). Each, well mounted, had a certain number of miles to traverse. Having performed his course, he was relieved by another, who had to scour an equal extent of ground; so that, as the government messengers were despatched in all directions, public edicts were speedily diffused throughout the country. The proclamation of Hezekiah was followed by a verbal address from himself, piously urging the duty, and setting forth the advantages, of a return to the pure faith and institutions which God had delivered to their ancestors through Moses.
the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria--This implies that several expeditions against Israel had already been made by Assyrian invaders--by Pul (
2Kgs 15:19), but none of the people were then removed; at a later period by Tiglath-pileser, when it appears that numbers among the tribes east of Jordan (
1Chr 5:26), and afterwards in the northern parts of Israel (
2Kgs 15:20), were carried into foreign exile. The invasion of Shalmaneser cannot be alluded to, as it did not take place till the sixth year of Hezekiah's reign (
2Kgs 17:6;
2Kgs 18:9-12).
10 the posts passed from city to city--It is not surprising that after so long a discontinuance of the sacred festival, this attempt to revive it should, in some quarters, have excited ridicule and opposition. Accordingly, among the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Zebulun, Hezekiah's messengers met with open insults and ill usage. Many, however, in these very districts, as well as throughout the kingdom of the ten tribes, generally complied with the invitation; while, in the kingdom of Judah, there was one unanimous feeling of high expectation and pious delight. The concourse that repaired to Jerusalem on the occasion was very great, and the occasion was ever after regarded as one of the greatest passovers that had ever been celebrated.
14 THE ASSEMBLY DESTROYS THE ALTARS OF IDOLATRY. (
2Chr 30:13-27)
they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem--As a necessary preparation for the right observance of the approaching solemnity, the removal of the altars, which Ahaz had erected in the city, was resolved upon (
2Chr 28:24); for, as the people of God, the Hebrews were bound to extirpate all traces of idolatry; and it was a happy sign and pledge of the influence of the Spirit pervading the minds of the people when they voluntarily undertook this important preliminary work.
15 the priests and the Levites were ashamed--Though the Levites are associated in this statement, the priests were principally referred to; those of them who had been dilatory or negligent in sanctifying themselves (
2Chr 29:34) were put to the blush and stimulated to their duty by the greater alacrity and zeal of the people.
16 the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites--This was a deviation from the established rules and practices in presenting the offerings of the temple. The reason was, that many present on the occasion having not sanctified themselves, the Levites slaughtered the paschal victims (see on
2Chr 35:5) for everyone that was unclean. At other times the heads of families killed the lambs themselves, the priests receiving the blood from their hands and presenting it on the altar. Multitudes of the Israelites, especially from certain tribes (
2Chr 30:18), were in this unsanctified state, and yet they ate the passover--an exceptional feature and one opposed to the law (
Num 9:6); but this exception was allowed in answer to Hezekiah's prayer (
2Chr 30:18-20).
20 the Lord . . . healed the people--We imagine the whole affair to have been the following: In consequence of their transgressions they had cause to fear disease and even death (
Lev 15:31). Hezekiah prayed for the nation, which was on the point of being diseased, and might therefore be regarded as sick already [BERTHEAU].
21 the children of Israel . . . kept the feast--The time appointed by the law for the continuance of the feast was seven days [
Exod 12:15;
Exod 13:6;
Lev 23:6]; but in consequence of its having been allowed to fall so long into desuetude, they doubled the period of celebration and kept it fourteen days with unabated satisfaction and joy. Materials for the additional sacrificial meals were supplied by the munificence of the king and the princes.
24 and a great number of priests sanctified themselves--so that there would be a sufficient number of hands for the additional services.