to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover 2 unto the Lord God of Israel. For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep 3 the passover in the second month. For they could not keep it at that time, on the fourteenth day of the first month, as the law directed, for the temple was not cleansed till the sixteenth ; and because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusa 4 lem. And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation; the advice of the council was approved, and the thing agreed upon.* 5 So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba 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 6 written. 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 7 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 8 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. 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 10 [his] face from you, if ye return unto him. 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 message was generally slighted; they knew so little of Jehovah, and were so used to other gods, that their 11 hearts were hardened. Nevertheless, divers of Asher, and Manasseh, and 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, Judah was unanimous, and this is mentioned as being the work of God,

13

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

The ten tribes had not kept it since their separation, being hindered from going to Je rusalem: and Judah never kept it with such solemnity as they did now, since the time of Sol

amon.

This was the pious and affectionate letter which he sent, in which he exhorts them to turn again and yield themselves to God, and enter his sanctuary at Jerusalem; and not be like their fathers who were given up to idolatry: and the reasons he urges are, that they were the chil dren of Israel; that Jehovah was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel; that he would be merciful to them, and save them from ruin, and bring back their brethren. This the law of Moses declared; and Hezekiah, no doubt, had authority to urge it in this case, as a motive to their repentance.

14 gregation. And they arose and took away the altars that [were] in Jerusalem, and all the altars for the incense took they away, and cast [them] into the brook Kidron. They began by showing 15 their zeal against idolatry. Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth [day] of the second month: and the priests and the Levites who had not sanctified themselves before, were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD. They were ashamed at seeing the 16 people so forward, and themselves so cold and negligent. And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God, that they might dispatch the business the more readily: the priests sprinkled the blood, [which 17 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 (the paschal lamb and other sacrifices belonging to that feast, and more than usual were now necessary) for every one [that was] not 18 clean, to sanctify [them] unto the LORD. 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. Having a pious desire 10 eat it, they were allowed to do so, lest they should be discouraged, and the growing reformation be prevented, in humble confidence that God would not punish this neglect, when the heart was honest and upright. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, 19 The good LORD pardon every one [That] prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, that cometh with pure and holy intentions, though [he be] not [cleansed] according to 20 the purification of the sanctuary. And the LORD hearkened to 21 Hezekiah, and healed the people.* 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 instru22 ments unto the LORD. And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD, that read and expounded the law to the people, and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the Lord GoD of their fathers. This was necessary, considering the idolatry of Israel, and of the last reign in Judah. Hezekiah commended their care and diligence, and promised to reward their zeal in propagating the true religion, as 23 we find in the next chapter. And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days, though it was the time of harvest and they kept [other] seven days with gladness; with 24 sacrifices, prayer, praises, &c. 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

Some have supposed that God had inflicted some disease upon them; others, that he Bow pardoned them; and gave them some tokens of his acceptance: probably fire from heaven, which had gone out in the time of Ahas.

bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves. Hezekiah entertained his subjects and the Israelites, and there came in a sufficient number of priests to offer 25 the sacrifices, and sprinkle the blood. And all the congregation of Judah with the priests and the Levites, and all the congrega. tion that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out 26 of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced.* 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.

27

1.

Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people according to the law, that is, prayed that God would bless them: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came [up] to his holy dwelling place, [even] unto heaven. He answered their prayer, and ratified the blessing they pronounced.

REFLECTIONS.

T is the duty of those who have revolted from God, to turn ter into strict engagements to be his. This is the way to escape, the misery which impenitent sinners fall into, and to secure God's faHe never turns his face away from those that seek him; Return unto me, and I will return unto thee, saith the Lord.

your.

2. It is no new thing for messengers who come on the most important concerns, and in the most friendly way, to be despised and scorned. One would have thought the Israelites should at least have given Hezekiah's messengers a civil reception: but they mocked them, and laughed them to scorn. So the gospel of reconciliation is often treated; and the kind invitations of the King of heaven despised. But the consequences will be dreadful; Such despisers shall wonder and perish.

3. It is a great satisfaction to reflect, that while many reject the gospel offers, some embrace them. As the gospel will be to many a savour of death, it is pleasant to think, that to some it will be a savour of life. This gives encouragement to ministers and good men; and the hand of God should be acknowledged in it.

4. The zeal and piety of others should shame us out of our sloth and negligence, v. 15. And the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves. God continues in every age some examples of eminent piety, to quicken our zeal. When we see others eager and forward in religion, instead of censuring their conduct, and imputing bad designs to them, let us rather imitate their zeal. Ministers especially, when they see private christians zealous, should be ashamed to be less so. May we all, by our good example, provoke one another to love and good works.

These strangers from Israel became proselytes, and dwelt in Judah, and thus escaped that utter destruction which quickly after was brought on their country by the Assyrians; when those who mocked Rezekiah's messengers were carried away.

5. Hezekiah's prayer for the people may properly be adopted by us in our approaches to God. The great thing is to prepare the heart to seek God: to have a sincere mind, and a fixed intention to serve him. There may be defects, in our wandering thoughts, in the frame of our spirits; when they are not such as we could wish; in such cases, we may go to God by prayer, entreat him to pardon us, and accept our sincere endeavours through Christ, not→ withstanding these unallowed imperfections. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in the time of need. Heb. iv. 16.

6. Religious services ought always to be attended with joy. It is often said, They kept the feast with gladness, and rejoiced with great joy. All religious duties,should be performed with pleasure; we should come to them with delight; and endeavour to keep our hearts cheerful. Pray without ceasing, and rejoice evermore.

7. The blessings which God's ministers pronounce, if attended to with sincerity and devotion, will be acceptable to him, and confirmed by him. v. 27. It is not an empty or insignificant form; if we sincerely join in it, and humbly desire a blessing, our prayers will be granted, and the blessing ratified. Let us then heartily join in such solemn acts; for in God's house he commands a blessing, even Life for evermore.

CHAP. XXXI.

The zeal of the people in destroying idolatry; the provision made for supplying God's table, and his priests ; and Hezekiah's integrity and success in all.

2

Now

TOW when all this was finished, after the celebration of the passover, and the good instructions they had received, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places, and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin. in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyerl them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.

And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, which David had instituted, and the daily worship; every man according to his service, the priest and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to min ister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD, in the gates of his house about which the Levites were 3 encamped, and kept their proper stations. [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

5

set feasts, as [it is] written in the law of the LORD.* 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; that being maintained, they might be encouraged in the discharge of their duty.

And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance of the first fruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the 6 tithe of all [things] brought they in abundantly. 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 7 God, and laid [them] by heaps. In the third month, at the beginning of harvest, they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished [them] in the seventh month, at the end of harvest. 8 And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel. They blessed God for this plenty, who had given the people a heart to contribute; and commended the people's generosity and piety, and prayed God 9 to bless them. Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps; how there came to be so much 10 left. 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, laid up for winter.

Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house 12 of the LORD, for storehouses; and they prepared [them,] And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated [things] faithfully over which Cononiah the Levite [was] ruler, and 13 Shimei his brother [was] the next. And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, [were] overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the 14 house of God. And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, [was] over the free will offerings of God to distribute the oblations of the LORD, and the most holy things; to give out the proper sacrifices, and what belonged to them, as oil, 15 flour, salt, wine, and incense, &c. And next him [were] Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in [their] set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small; as the former were to distribute portions to the priests in waiting, these were to take care of those who were at home in their cities. 16 Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and up

This was appointed to be furnished out of the common stock; but as the people were poor, Hezekiah contributed to it out of his own revenue: he set a good example, that he might thereby quicken others.

By consecrated thing: is meant, their vows or voluntary dedications, the gains of trade or the spoils of war.

VOL. III.

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