your hand.

solemn sacrifices.

32 And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, an hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD.

33 And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.

Before CHRIST 726.

strengthened

34 But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites + did help them, Heb. till the work was ended, and until them. the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

35 And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of the LORD was set in order.

36 And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.

CHAP. XXX.

Hezekiah proclaimeth a solemn passover on the second month for Judah and Israel. 13 The assembly, having destroyed the altars of idolatry, keep the feast fourteen days. 27 The priests and Levites bless the people.

heads and worshipped.

31 Then Hezekiah answered and Or, filled said, Now, ye have || consecrated yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings.

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 For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second a month.

a Numb. 9. 10, 11.

He proclaimeth

Before CHRIST 726.

+ Heb. was right in the eyes of the

king.

the hand.

3 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 And the thing + pleased the king and all the congregation.

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 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 So the posts went with the letHeb. from ters + 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.

+ Heb. harden not your necks.

the hand.

7 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 Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers but yield your were, Heb, give selves 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 For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that

God, who, they knew, had dispensed on like occasions with such ritual observances. See Numb. ix. 11. Pyle. The ten tribes had never kept the passover, in such a manner as the law prescribed, since the division of the kingdom under Jeroboam; and it appears from ver. 26, that the tribe of Judah had never kept it with such solemnity since the time of Solomon. Bp. Patrick.

5.- proclamation throughout all Israel,] We may reasonably suppose that this took place with the consent of Hoshea king of Israel; for he has the best character given of him of all the kings of Israel: and, though "he did evil in the sight of the Lord," 2 Kings xvii. 2, yet it is added in the next words, "but not as the kings of Israel that were before him ;" which probably implies, that he did not prevent his subjects from attending their Divine worship at Jerusalem, as other kings had done. Dr. Wells. We should remark, as an extraordinary instance of God's goodness to his sinful people in the ten tribes, that He raised up at the very last, when they were ripe for destruction, such a king to reign over them, who did not prevent those of his

b

a passover.

Before CHRIST 726.

they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away b Exod. 34. his face from you, if ye return unto 6. him.

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.

11 Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.

12 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.

13 And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation.

14 And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, cChap. 28. 24. and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron.

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 in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD.

16 And they stood in their place + Heb. their + after their manner, according to the standing. law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites.

17 For there were many in the congregation that were not sancti

subjects, who were disposed, from going to worship at Jerusalem. Bp. Patrick. The two golden calves which Jeroboam had set up were at this time taken away; that at Dan by Tiglath-pileser, and the other by Shalmaneser: on this account, the Israelites were probably better disposed at this time to go up to Jerusalem for publick worship. Bp. Wilson.

12. by the word of the Lord.] They considered the command of the king and the princes on this occasion to be as a Divine command; and so it appeared to be by the mighty power of God, which wrought their hearts to a cheerful obedience. Bp. Patrick.

14. took away the altars] They first destroyed all the superstitious altars and images which were used for purposes of idolatry. Pyle.

17. For there were many in the congregation &c.] It was found that many of the Israelites who came up from the ten tribes to celebrate this festival, had, through long ignorance and disuse, forgotten to prepare themselves for it by certain ceremonial purifications, required by the law; but, as they appeared to come

The feast kept fourteen days.

Before CHRIST 726.

fied: 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 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 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 And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people. 21 And the children of Israel that + Heb. found. 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.

+ Heb. instruments of strength. + Heb. to the heart of all,

&c.

up, or, offered.

22 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.

23 And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness.

24 For Hezekiah king of Judah + Heb. lifted + 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 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.

Now wheel that were present + Heb.found.

went out to the cities of Judah, and

a

4.

statues.

brake the images in pieces, and a 2 Kings 18. cut down the groves, and threw down Heb. the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, † until they had + Heb. until utterly destroyed them all. Then all to make an the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.

2 ¶ And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.

3 He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of b Numb. 28. the LORD.

4 Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.

Chap. XXXI. ver. 1.—the high places and the altars] Those probably which Ahaz had made in all the fenced cities of Judah, chap. xxviii. 25. By destroying these monuments of idolatry, the Israelites shewed the good effects of the instruction they had received at the celebration of the passover. Pyle.

2.- in the gates of the tents of the Lord.] That is, in the Lord's house, which anciently was a tent. Bp. Patrick.

4.-

to give the portion of the priests &c.] To pay

The people's forwardness

5¶And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.

6 And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps.

c

7 In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.

8 And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.

9 Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.

10 And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.

11 ¶ Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them,

12 And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully over which Cononiah the

punctually the dues allotted to the support of the ministers at the temple, "that they might be encouraged in the law of the Lord;" that is, that they might not grow negligent in their holy duties, through want and poverty. Pyle.

7.- they began to lay the foundation of the heaps,] They began to bring in their offerings of firstfruits in the third month, when their harvest began, and finished the tithing in the seventh month, when the harvest was ended, Exod. xxiii. 16. Bp. Patrick.

15.—to give to their brethren by courses, &c.] The persons, here mentioned, were appointed to give their due portion to their brethren, who stayed in their cities "by courses," while the others came to officiate at the temple, and that, as well to “the great" or elder, as to "the small" or younger. Except (as it proceeds ver. 16,) such children as, by the genealogies of the males, which were carefully kept, appeared to be three years old and upward; for to their males "from three years old and upward," "even unto every one that entereth (that is, that might enter) into the house of the Lord" with their fathers, when they came to wait in their

in offerings, &c.

hand.

15 And next him were Eden, and Heb. at his Miniamin, and Jeshua, and She- hand. maiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their || set | Or, trust. office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small:

16 Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto every one that entereth into the house of the LORD, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses;

17 Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses;

18 And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their || set || Or, trust. office they sanctified themselves in holiness:

courses, there was allowed in the temple a due portion to each priest and Levite, with his male children that came with him. Dr. Wells. Those males, that were three years old and upwards, were allowed to come into the temple with their parents, and in the distribution these were provided for, the others being passed over. Bp. Patrick.

17.- from twenty years old &c.] These words relate not to the priests, but to the Levites only, who, according to the law of Moses, were not obliged to enter on their functions till they were thirty years old, Numb. iv. 3. But David, in the latter end of his reign, a little before the building of the temple, admitted them to officiate at the age of twenty years, 1 Chron. xxiii. 27. Bp. Patrick.

18. And to the genealogy of all their little ones, &c.] The above-mentioned officers gave to every family their portion; not only to the priests, but to their wives and children, of whom (as it here appears) an exact register was kept, according to which the distribution was made.

&c.]

-for in their set office they sanctified themselves Rather, according to the Hebrew," in faith," or