Bible Chapter Summary
2 Chronicles 30 Summary
Hezekiah's Passover and Extended Celebration
Hezekiah sends letters throughout Israel and Judah inviting all to keep the Passover at Jerusalem in the second month, since the priests have not yet fully sanctified themselves. Many from Israel mock and scorn the invitation, but some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humble themselves and come. At Jerusalem, the people destroy the altars and idols, then keep the Passover with joy. Many are not ceremonially clean, but Hezekiah prays for them and God heals them. The feast of unleavened bread is kept for seven days with great gladness, and the people decide to celebrate seven more days. Hezekiah and the princes provide a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep for the assembly, and great joy fills Jerusalem, unmatched since the days of Solomon.
Key themes
Key verses
2 Chronicles 30:1-2
“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. For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month.”
2 Chronicles 30:6-9
“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. 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. 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. 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.”
2 Chronicles 30:15-17
“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. 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. 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.”
2 Chronicles 30:26-27
“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. 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.”
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