ved and deſtroyed, partly becauſe all the Iſraelites were confined te tne A'rars of the Temple; and partly becauſe theſe Altars were erected to Idols. | Is Then they killed the paſſover on the fourteenth 4ay of the ſecond month : and the Prieſts and the Le- vites were aſhamed 9, and fandified themſelves, and
brought in the burnt-ofterings into the houſe of the LORD.
7 Their Negligence and Remiſneſs being upbraided by the great and general Alacrity and Forwardneſs of the People- | 16 And they ſtood in Þ their place, after their man- + Heb. ner, according to the law of Moſes the man of God : their #and the prieſts ſprinkled the blood r, which they received of "+ the hand of the Levites s. | r Of the Sacrifices upon the Altar, Zevir.:r.-5. 5 Who flayed * and killed the Sacrifices which the Prieſts, if they had been ſanctis fied, ſhould have doae, as it was oblerved before, ch. 29. 34+ 17 For there were many in the congregation that were not ſanctifieds : therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the paſſoversx,for every one that was not clean y, to ſanftihe them unto the LORD. # That had more deſire to come to the Paſſover, than care and diligence to cleanſe and-prepare themſclves for it. Now theſe per® ſons were either 1. The Prieſts who were before taxed with Un» cleanneſs and Unprieparedneſss Or rather 2. the Pevple, as is im- plyed in the wora Congregasion, and expreſſ:d in the next verſe. and confirmed by the Reaſon here following. « Becauſe many of the People were unclean,and therefore many more Sacrifices were to be - offered for their Purification than the Prieſts could kill- z 5. e. Ei- ther 1. the Paſchal! Lambs; which the Levires here offered, becauſe cf the Impuriry of many of the Maſters of Families, who otherwiſe, as ſome think, ſhould have killed the Paſchal Lambs in their own Houſes, Exod. 12 3- Or 2. The other Sacrifices which accompani- ed the P.aſ[>vergwhich alſo are called by the ſame Name, as is evident from Deut, 16. 2, 3. where ſee my Notes; which the Levites here killed, for the Reaſons row mentioned». » So far as they could make any diſcovery of their uncleanneſs, either by their own Con- f- ſion, or otherwiſe, But there were many whoſe Uncleanneſles weie not known, and therefore did nor cleanſe themſelves, as is ſajd, wv. 18, as they ought to have donz?. | 18 For a mulcitudeof the people, eves many of Eph- raim and Manailch, Ifſachar, and Zebulun, had not cleanſ2d themſelves, yet did they eat the paſſover,other- wiſe than it was written z: bur Hezekiah prayed for _. chem, ſaying, F The good LOKD pardon every one. + Heb #f 2 They had fo eager a eſire ro partak2 of this Ordinance, that LORP+, -ather than neglect ir, thy would venture upon it with ſome Ce- ##e $108 remonia] Uacleznn-{s upo- them, pardon, 19 That prepareth bis heart to ſeek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleayjed according to the purification of the ſanfuary a. a i, e« With that Ceremonial Purification which was required of them that cime into Gods Sanctuary. Sa he calls it to diſtinguiſh from thar Moral and Internal Purity which they are here ackaow- ledged to have. 20 And the LORD hearkned to Hezekiah, and healed the people. | b From their Uncleanneſs; which it ſelf was a Spiritual Diſeaſe, and which protab'y produced a Diſeaſe, cr Diſtemper, oc Trouble in their Minis and Conſciencies; which alſo had formerly brought, and might juitly now bring even ourward Diſ:aſes upon the Body, or, at leaſt Guilr, which is a Diſcaſe upon the Soul : From all which the Lord was pl-aſed nowto heal them, by pardoning this the'r Sin, and accepting them and their Services, as if they had b:en clean«
=
pen therein,
9 Forif ye turn again unto the LORD, your bre- thren and your children ſhal! frxd compaſſion before them that lead them captive, ſo that they ſhall come again into this land : for the LORD your God zs * gra-
*F:oa;. Cious and merciful, and will not turn away bis face 366. {rom you, if ye return unto him. 19 So the poſts paſled from city to city, through
Which ic is ikelyGod waspleaſed to manifeſt by ſome outward Signs:
! poſſibly by fire from Heaven conſuming the Sacrifices ; which was
the uſual Token of Gods Approbationzas hath been formerly nored
: more than once. |
' 21 And the children of Iſrael hat were | preſent at --
' Jeruſalem, kept the feaſt of unleavened bread ſeven jp _
| days with great gladneſs : and the Levites, and the” 3X prieſts
2b: In n.nts
oth. <b. #0
Oo
+64 by
be nd.
Wares, Hebe ill to ec An
ap. XXXI.
art of
prieſts praiſed the LORD day by day, ſinging with + loud inſtruments unto the LORD, ſ
22 And Hezekiah ſpake + comfortably unto all the Levites c that taught the good knowledge of the LORD 4: and they did eat throughout the feaſt ſeven days, offering peace-offerings, and making confettion
e unto the Lord God of their fathers.
c Encouraged them to a chearful ard diligent attendance upon their Holy Miniſtrations by rhe promiſe of his Favour and utmoſt Care for them, which he fairhtully performed, ch. 31. 4+ &c. 4d Who by their Office were to. in{truct and build up the people in the Knowledge and fear of God : which is mentioned as the Cauſe of his Reſpect and Kindneſs to them, which was for #heir works ſake, as it is ſaid 1 Th. 5- 23. e Either r Confeſſing their ſins: which Work was to accompany many of their Sacrifices: of which ſee Levlt, 5. 5. and 16. 21. Or rather, 2 Confeſling Gods Goodneſs, or praiſing of Gcd, which oft goes under this Name, as I Chron. 16. 8, 24. which alſo ſeems to be more proper work for this Seaſon of Joy,
23 And the whole aflembly rook counſel to keep
* other ſeven days: and they kept other ſeyen days with gladneſs f.
#} Not in the ſame manner as they had done the former,..with off:ring new Paſchal Lambs, and eating only Unleavened Bread, ( of which there is ne: the leaſt intimarion in the Text } bur only in the Solemn Worſhip ef God, by Sacrifices, and Prayers, and Praiſes, and publick Inttruction ef thar great Congregation, tnrhe good Knowledge of the L1rds which was ſo dear to Hezeklab, v.22. and at this time moſt ſcaſ-nable and neceſſary for the pe: ple, after ſo tong and diſmal a Night of Ignorance, Superſtition and Idlarry, as both 1/eel and Judeb hed been involved in- 1 IN
24 For Hezekiah king of Judah + did give to the
congregation F Aa thouſand bullocks, and ſeven thou- ſand | ſheep þ; and the princes gave to the congregation