Make proclamation throughout all Israel— Respecting Hezekiah's invitation to Hoshea's subjects, to repair to Jerusalem to the celebration of his passover, we may well presume that he had encouragement from Hoshea himself, who, as to the matter of religion, has a better character in Scripture than any of his predecessors from the time of the division of the two kingdoms. And the truth was, that both the golden calves which had caused the religious separation were now taken away: that of Dan, by Tiglath-pilezer, and that of Bethel by his son Shalmaneser; and therefore the apostate Jews, being thus deprived of their idols, began to return to the Lord, and to go up to Jerusalem to worship, some time before Hezekiah made them this invitation to his passover. Prideaux, Ann. 729.
For they had not done it, &c.— Because it had not been celebrated universally, as it was commanded. Houbigant.