2 CHRONICLES LESSON 30


     We will begin this lesson in II Chronicles 30:1 "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."

     In the last lesson, we discovered that Hezekiah sacrificed the
burnt and sin offerings in the name of all 12 tribes of Israel, not
just for Judah. We see, in the verse above, that Hezekiah was making
the temple in Jerusalem open to all of Israel for the purpose of
worship. He wanted all of the twelve tribes to come and keep Passover
in the temple in Jerusalem.

     II Chronicles 30:2 "For the king had taken counsel, and his
princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover
in the second month."

     King Hezekiah had determined the thing to do was to celebrate
Passover. The ten tribes of Israel were already in deep trouble, and
Hoshea was possibly already in the hands of the Assyrians. Hezekiah
believed that even at this late date, if the people would return to
God and celebrate the Passover, He would still help Israel.

     II Chronicles 30:3 "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."

     Actually, the celebration the king had just after the cleansing
of the temple, that we studied in the last lesson, occurred two days
after Passover should have been celebrated. It was done on the 16th
day of the month, and Passover should have been on the 14th. It was
very similar to Passover, but since it was not exact, Hezekiah would
have a Passover feast a month later. We see that Hezekiah's reason for
the delay, was the fact that the priests were not sanctified, and
ready to perform their duties in time.

     II Chronicles 30:4 "And the thing pleased the king and all the
congregation."

     The terrible fate of Israel could have frightened the people of
Judah to the point that they wanted to seek God. They were pleased
about celebrating Passover, again.

     II Chronicles 30:5 "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."

     There were three feasts a year that were not optional. Passover
was one of the three. The other two were Tabernacles and Feast of
Weeks.  These feasts were mandatory for every male, who was considered
an adult.

     II Chronicles 30:6 "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."

     There had been some who attempted to celebrate through the years,
but the Passover had not been practiced the way the law intended it to
be held. This was the first real Passover celebration in many years.
The letters were sent to all of the families of Israel, as well as to
those of Judah. There seemed to be a remnant of Israel, who had been
spared, when the Assyrians overran Israel. Hezekiah was encouraging
them to return to worship of the One True God, so He would help them.

     II Chronicles 30:7 "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."

     The problem that Israel had been in, was because they had turned
away from the LORD. Hezekiah encouraged them to break from that
pattern of sin and return to the LORD.

     II Chronicles 30:8 "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."

     This Is speaking of a people who are self-centered. They are too
proud to humble themselves before the LORD. Hezekiah is encouraging
them to come back to God. Hezekiah reminded them that the temple was
established as the house of the LORD, while all 12 tribes were
together. Hezekiah wanted them to come back to the LORD, so His wrath
would turn away from them.

     II Chronicles 30:9 "For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your
brethren and your children [shall find] compassion before them that
lead them captive, so that 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."

     This was almost a plea from Hezekiah. It seems, that Hezekiah was
like a preacher in this. He was encouraging Israel to repent and
return to God. He was sure that the LORD would even bring their
families back from captivity, if they would humble themselves, and
return to the LORD.

     II Chronicles 30:10 "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."

     The posts, in this were speaking of a written document that
Hezekiah sent to the lands of Ephraim, Manasseh, and all of the ten
tribes of Israel. Ephraim had always been jealous of Judah, and they,
along with the other tribes, would not take heed to the message that
God had sent to them through Hezekiah. They not only would not accept
the message Hezekiah sent, but laughed at him for thinking they might
receive the message.

     II Chronicles 30:11 "Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh
and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem."

     We see that even though the message was rejected by most of the
people, there were a few who listened and came. We see they were not
of the tribe of Ephraim, but of Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun. It was
worth the effort that Hezekiah had made, just for these few.

     II Chronicles 30:12 "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."

     In Judah, it seemed that everyone wanted to keep the Passover.
They listened carefully to the instructions from Hezekiah and from the
heads of their families, so they would do exactly as they should in
this matter.

     II Chronicles 30:13  "And there assembled at Jerusalem much
people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a
very great congregation."

     The Feast of Unleavened Bread occured at the same time as
Passover.  In fact, the celebration lasted a week. The people turned
out in masses to keep the Passover and Unleavened Bread Feasts.

     II Chronicles 30:14 "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."

     These were the altars to the false gods. They destroyed them, and
threw them in the brook of Kidron.

     II Chronicles 30:15 "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."

     This was a great time of humbling of the priests and the Levites,
as well as of the people. This was exactly one month later than the
Passover lamb would have been sacrificed in ordinary circumstances.

     II Chronicles 30:16 "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."

     All of this was done according to the Mosaic law. Leviticus 1:11
"And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the
LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round
about upon the altar." To learn more specifics of this, read several
verses following this one in Leviticus. The sprinkling of the blood
was to atone for sin.

     II Chronicles 30:17 "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."

     The original instructions were for the people who brought the
offering, to kill the animal. They had been away from the LORD for
such a long time, they were not ceremonially clean. The Levites, who
had been cleansed, killed the animals for them.

     II Chronicles 30:18 "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" II Chronicles 30:19  "[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."

     Now, we see that some of Ephraim came, as well. They were not
cleansed, and were not supposed to eat the passover. Hezekiah prayed
that God would overlook this error and accept them, because they had
come with a clean heart. They were seeking God, again, and Hezekiah
would not let some technicality keep them from participating.

     II Chronicles 30:20 "And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and
healed the people."

     The LORD knew their hearts, and He accepted them. The healing was
both spiritual and physical. We know they had to have broken hearts
over all the problems that had come to them. God restores them to
fellowship with Him.

     II Chronicles 30:21 "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."

     This was a time of celebration. "Unleavened Bread" symbolized the
sinless body of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was the Bread of life.
The praise, songs, and music that went heavenward were sacrificial
offerings of praise unto the Lord. This was a time of great rejoicing.

     II Chronicles 30:22 "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."

     It appears, that Hezekiah was pleased with the Levites and the
priests, and told them he was pleased. He was depending on them to
stay with every letter of the law. They were trained in the law.
Notice, the confessions were made to the LORD.

     II Chronicles 30:23 "And the whole assembly took counsel to keep
other seven days: and they kept [other] seven days with gladness."

     This is just saying, they kept 14 days of celebration, instead of
the normal 7. Hezekiah thought this extended time of celebration would
be a lasting impression of the importance of Passover on all the
people.

     II Chronicles 30:24 "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."

     The priests generally worked a few at a time, but because of the
tremendous volume of the sacrifices, many of the priests were
sanctified to help with the offerings.

     II Chronicles 30:25 "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."

     This was a time of restoration of their relationship with God. It
was a time of rejoicing, because they were back in the good graces of
the LORD. This celebration was not just for Judah, but for all who
would come.

     II Chronicles 30:26 "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."

     We know that God visited the temple in Jerusalem, and made His
presence known to the congregation at the dedication of the temple.
Solomon had knealt before the altar and prayed one of the most
beautiful prayers in the Bible at that time. This celebration compared
with that for greatness of joy.

     II Chronicles 30:27  "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."

     Solomon had spoken a blessing from the LORD on the congregation
at the dedication of the temple. The Priests and Levites spoke a
blessing on the people here. The priests were anointed of God to
bless. God heard in heaven, and was pleased.





                      2 Chronicles 30 Questions


1.  How did Hezekiah contact all the people to tell them to come to
    the house of the Lord at Jerusalem to keep the Passover?
2.  Who is Hezekiah making the temple available to?
3.  When were they going to keep the Passover?
4.  Where was Hoshea, the king of Israel, at the time Hezekiah sent
    the letters?
5.  Why were they having it a month late?
6.  How did the king, and all the congregation, feel about having
    Passover?
7.  The proclamation went out throughout all _____________.
8.  What three feats were not optional?
9.  What is Israel spoken of, in verse 6, that lets us know there were
    not many?
10. Who did Hezekiah tell them not to be like?
11. What does stiffnecked tell us about these people?
12. Why did Hezekiah want them to come back to God?
13. What promise did he make to them about the Lord in verse 9?
14. How did they accept the letters Hezekiah sent?
15. Who did come?
16. How did the people in Judah feel about the Passover?
17. When is the Feast of Unleavened Bread?
18. What did the people do with the altars to the false gods?
19. When did they kill the passover lamb?
20. Who sprinkled the blood of the sacrifice?
21. The sprinkling of the blood was to _________ for _________.
22. Who had the charge of killing the passovers?
23. Who generally did that?
24. Verse 18 speaks of the large number of the congregation as a
    _____________.
25. Hezekiah would not let some ______________ keep them from
    participating.
26. Quote 2 Chronicles chapter 30 verse 20.
27. How many days did they keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread?
28. How did Hezekiah feel about the Levites and priests?
29. At the end of the celebration, what did they decide to do?
30. How many animals did Hezekiah give?
31. Whose time did they compare this to?