2 Chronicles 30:2. To keep the passover in the second month, one month later because the apostate priests were as yet unclean. See the calendar in Exodus 12. To defer the passover eleven months would have chilled the rekindling zeal which now animated the nation, seeing God had given them so good a king.
2 Chronicles 30:6. So the posts went with the letters. Swift-footed men. The mail, to this day, is made up at Bombay for overland, so as to form the turban of the post. One half sheet of thin paper is allowed for each letter. The postmen almost fly from office to office till they reach Bagdad, and thence to Europe.
2 Chronicles 30:22. Hezekiah spake comfortably to all the levites that taught the good knowledge of the Lord. They read the whole law at those festivals, and in different places, one reader succeeding another.
2 Chronicles 30:25. The strangers, the proselytes from all places flocked like doves to their windows.
REFLECTIONS.
We have seen Hezekiah burning with holy zeal to serve the Lord. He began in haste with his capital; and now he extends the blessing by command to all Judah, and by letters of invitation to all of Israel willing to come; for many of the other tribes had sought protection under David's house. 2 Chronicles 5:8-9. And though the season for the passover was passed; yet regarding the duty more than the day, he commanded it to be celebrated one month later. He thought it sinful or unwise to delay another year, for it had been neglected many years; and pious purposes postponed are apt to vanish away. Hence we learn that with God the spirit of devotion is more than the observance of days, and punctilious forms of worship. Hence also we learn, that it was very uncharitable and wicked in the Roman pontificate to excommunicate the whole Greek church because they did not keep Easter on the same Sunday as the Latin church; but on the fourteenth day of the moon.
A vineyard run to ruin is difficult to restore. We have to lament that many of the cities of Israel, ignorant, hardened and neglected, mocked at the servants of the king, though their letters were purely religious, and breathed the spirit of genuine piety and reformation. When sinners mock at mercy, it is in God's account the last of crimes. Well, let the filthy worshippers of Priapus mock on but remember, as your prophets have said, Isaiah 10:5-6, that the Assyrian sword shall shortly address you in ruder accents. So also they mocked our Lord, and his apostles; and the sword of the Romans cut them off.
While many mocked, more obeyed. If we may judge of the multitude who in one week ate eleven thousand oxen and seventeen thousand sheep, it could not be less than half a million. How glorious to see a whole nation formally abjure wickedness, and renew its covenant with the Lord. How glorious to see Jerusalem filled with people, and surrounded with camps, not for war, but for worship. How glorious to see a thousand scribes stand up to read the neglected law, and to hear amens and responses from every tongue. The seeds of truth were sown at large, the fruits were peace of conscience, and righteousness of life. The altar smoked, the music resounded, psalms followed, and the blood of the covenant was sprinkled on the crowd. Thus for a whole week they had a daily feast for the body, and more joyful delight for the soul. Hence we learn the utility and great importance of high example in religious concerns. It was the princes or elders who had corrupted Joash; it was the same order who had corrupted Ahaz, and then Ahaz corrupted them. The people will follow, if properly led. How great then is the account which the nobility and gentry must give to God, for spending their fortunes and time in a way so unworthy of the christian name; who riot in luxury and pride, affect the infidel, and exalt their dogmas above the maxims of revelation.
On the last day, the priests and levites stood up on the usual eminences, and blessed the people. ‘Return, oh blessed and happy people, rescued from the vanity of idols and the power of sin. Return, blessed and happy Israel, having the blood of the covenant sprinkled upon you, and the grace of the covenant written on your heart. Return in peace to your houses, and fear not the growing power of the Assyrian empire; no weapon formed against you shall prosper. Return, oh happy people, under a most religious and gracious king, and serve your God in psalms and prayers at home, and every blessing of the covenant shall follow on you, and on your children.' Here is an example worthy to be followed by every christian church and nation. And as an encouragement to the duty, we have proof abundant in the sacred writings that the Israelites never renewed their covenant without having a tide of blessings following on all the land; and they never forsook the covenant without being chastised with the calamities which it threatened. See Deuteronomy 28.