2 Chronicles 30

Verse 1. Manasses. The pious king thought he might give a general invitation, without umbrage. King Osee was not so impious as his predecessors. 4 Kennicott. 17:2. Afflictions had made his people more docile. The Jews say ( Calmet.) that the golden calves had been taken away by the Assyrians, and that the king removed the guards, which had been placed to hinder his subjects from repairing to Jerusalem. Menochius. Salien, A. 3305.—Ezechias writes privately to the house of Joseph, as the people were prouder on account of the royal dignity. Saint Jerome Trad.

Verse 2. Month. The Rabbins pretend that the king intercalated the second Adar, contrary to the rule and advice of the wise, and the that he ought to have allowed those who were pure to celebrate the feast in due time. Selden, Syn. ii. 1.—But the Caraite Jews deny this pretended leap-year; and we see that Ezechias acted according to the advice of the princes, and that the Scripture praises his conduct. Calmet.—Those who had a lawful impediment, were authorized to put off the feast till the second month. Numbers 9:10. The nation was under this predicament, as they had not priests at hand, ( Tirinus.) nor were they assembled. D.

Verse 5. Many. None had kept the Phase this year. Bible.—But those of Israel had not done it for a long time. Grotius.—Hebrew “for they had not long before done according to the Scripture.” Septuagint “the multitude had not done,” and so forth Calmet.—Yet, even in the worst times, Tobias, (1:6) and other zealous souls, contrived to comply with their duty. Bible.

Verse 6. Posts. Lit. “runners or couriers.” Bible.—King. Hebrew “kings.” Phul and Thelgathphalnasar. The latter had taken away some tribes. 4 Kennicott. 15:20. 29. Calmet.

Verse 7. Destruction. Septuagint “solitude.” Prot. “desolation.”

Verse 8. Yield. Lit. “give your hands,” ( Bible.) in sign of submission ( Calmet.) and fidelity. Septuagint “give glory.”

Verse 9. Brethren. God sometimes spares one for the sake of another. Bible.

Verse 10. Zabulon. Aser and Nephthali lay more to the north. But they were also invited, as well as the few who might remain on the other side the Jordan. 1 Chronicles 5:26. At least, we find that some of Aser came, verse 11. Thus those, who had been invited last, came first, while Ephraim continued more stubborn; (verse 18) and the greatest part derided the messengers, as we still see too frequently verified in the days of the gospel. Bible.

Verse 11. Yielding. Septuagint “were converted.” Prot. “humbled themselves, and came.” Bible.

Verse 12. Hand; grace ( Menochius.) and power, to endure such unanimity.

Verse 14. Burnt, both vessels and altars. Calmet.—To idols, corresponding with the Septuagint “the false ones,” and is added by way of explanation, unless it be lost in Hebrew. The illegal ( Bible.) altars had been set up by Achaz. Calmet. 28:24. Menochius.

Verse 15. At length. Septuagint “were converted.” Hebrew “ashamed, and sanctified themselves.” Bible.—The ceremonies of purification for priests were longer, (Calmet. 29:34) and the sacred ministers were ashamed to be outdone by the people. Menochius.

Verse 16. Levites, who received the paschal lambs from the unsanctified. Menochius.—The law does not require the ministry of the tribe of Levi for this purpose, as each one might kill the paschal victim at home. But the people were not sufficiently purified on this occasion. Lyran.—At other times, laics killed the victims, if they were clean. Exodus 12:6. After the tabernacle was set up, the priests poured out the blood on the altar; and, in latter ages, they slew the victim according to Grotius. But the texts of Josephus (x. 5 and Bel. vi. 45. Lat. vii. 17. Bible.) are inconclusive; and Philo repeatedly assert that, on one day, the law authorizes all the people to sacrifice: and, though he lived at Alexandria, his testimony respecting a fact of public notoriety, is not to be rejected. Only the unclean applied to the Levites on this occasion, and the latter had no more right to sacrifice than the rest. Calmet.

Verse 17. For. Prot. “for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the Lord.” Septuagint “not able to be purified to the Lord.” Bible.—The priests alone continued to pour the blood on the altar, till the destruction of the temple. Calmet.

Verse 18. Ephraim and.… Issachar had not been mentioned before, verse 18. Bible.—Some indulgence was shewn to the tribes of Israel, which had been so long rebellious, for fear lest they should return no more; and because they had shewn a good will in procuring the Levites to slay the victims for them, as that was rightly judged a more sacred action than to partake of the feast. The law forbade, nevertheless, the unclean to approach to any thing sacred. Leviticus 15:31 and 22:4. Numbers 9:6. Calmet.—But a dispensation was granted, ( Menochius.) as the Passover could not be celebrated in any but the first or the second month. The people had come with such eagerness, that they had not time to acquire the purity required. Calmet.—They were however truly penitent, and God dispensed with them. Worthington.

Verse 20. Merciful; lit. “appeased.” Hebrew and Septuagint “healed.” S. Jerom (Trad.) says, “It was asserted that no unclean person could taste the Phase, but death presently ensued; and they understood that the Lord was appeased, because those who eat did not die.” Bible.—Hebrew girpa may, however, denote that God “pardoned,” or did not impute the uncleanness to the people. Schindler, and Calmet. 36:16 and Isaiah 6:10.

Verse 21. Days. It seems all the observances had been omitted in the first month. The Jews teach, that those who have complied with those prescriptions, which require no particular purity, are not bound to keep the festival for seven days, nor to abstain from leavened bread the second month.—That agreed. Hebrew and Septuagint “of strength,” sonorous, ( Menochius.) which they played on with all their force, or which sounded for the divine power. Calmet.

Verse 22. Heart; encouraged them to bear the fatigue for other seven days.—Lord; being of good dispositions, ( Calmet.) and able musicians. Sa. Menochius.—Praising. Prot. “making confession to.” But the sense is the same. Bible.—During the seven days, unleavened bread and peace-offerings were used, verse 24. Calmet.

Verse 23. Joy, though not prescribed by the law. Menochius.—This we should call a work of supererogation, ( Worthington.) which gives Prot. so much offence. Bible.

Verse 25. Proselytes, who had embraced the Jewish law: the rest were not allowed to partake of the paschal victims. Exodus 12:48.

Verse 26. Israel: as many of the tribes came to join with their brethren of Juda.

Verse 27. Levites. These only applauded the solemn blessings, which were given by the priests. Numbers 6:24. Calmet.—God is said to reside in heaven, because he there displays his glory to the blessed. D.