The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 357

CHAPTER XXX. the posts went throughout Israel and J ndoh with the letters, which they may be sup- This chapter contains the aeconnt of posed t.o have dropped only t.o some, not to all Hezekiah's arrangements after the restora- and those some Israel, or Ephmim, Manasseh: tion for the observance of the Passover- and brethren. There will have been to hand arrangements more than ordinarily interest- other, the usual methods of communication with Judah, from Jerusalem its metropolis, ing to notice in respect of, first, the unusual and from its king. The thing different from time appointed for the celebration; and, " letters" that was circulated may have second, the determined and brave attempt of been just the "proclamation" of ver. 5. the good king to win again to the worship It has been suggested that the now King of Israel, Hoshea, was very probably a captive of Jerusalem (though, a,s was no doubt of Assyria at this exact time (2 Kings anticipated, it subjected his royal proffers xvii. 4). to scorn, ver. 10) the separated people of Ver. 2.-This and the following verse are "a.11 Israel" (vers. 1-12); and further, the well explained by Numb. ix. 6-13, where celebration itself, the happy omen (ver. 14) the particular instance of the "defilement with which it opened, its duration; and by a dead body" simply exemplified other legitimate instances of defilement or non- certain several other incidents attending it sanctification (eh. x.xix. 5, 15,34),a11-d where (vers. 13-2i). absence on a journey similarly exemplified Ver. 1.-Rezekie.h sent . . . wrote letters other unavoidable absence. also to Ephraim and lrlana.sseh. Some have Ver. 3.-Atthat time. The words seem 11ought to bring into the appearance of har- like a reminiscence of the "at that day," mony the two :first clauses of this verse by twice occuxring in ver. 6 of Numb. ix. But 11upposing that the former clanse purports anyway the meaning is plain "at the ap- to say that Hezekiah sent messengers to all pointed season." Israel and Judah, and in particular letters Ver. 4.-Thi.s verse betokens the careful in addition to Ephraim and l!l[anasseh, the considerat-ion on the part of "king, princes, chief tribes of the northern kingdom and and all the congregation," that had been the Joseph tribes. Vers. 6 and 10, however, given to the distinct question, whether tha aeem to dispose effectually of this offer of exact present circumstances legitimately explanation; while another explanation, fell under the description of Numb. ix. 6- that the names of the two tribes are simply 13 ; and the issue was that they decided to be taken a,s equivalent to "all Israel," that they did, they "ruled the thing right " 1Cems true, though, in fact, it may be to (i;i:iEJ ,~·:J). advance Ill! no way at alL We should Ver. 5.-0f a long time. Though the idea prefer in the difficulty, unimportant though expressed in this rendering must, under any it is, yet one facing UB, rather to assume that circumstances, attach to tliis passage, yet it the verse wishes to say that Hezekiah ,ent can scarcely be understood to be given in the (i.e. sent messengers, which prove to be the one Hebrew word we have here (::i'i~); out runners, rendered the "posts") to all Israel of nearly a hundred and fifty occurrences and J ude.h, and to Ephraim, Manasseh, and of the word, and often with its present pre- the rest of their allied tribes by implication, position, this is the solitary occasion of its but not to Judah wrote letters also which being turned into a mark of time. The were carried by the posts (or runners). It translation should read, / or they liad not ia true that ver. 6 may negative even this kept it in multitude, i.e. in proper multi- conjecture for getting over the difficulty, tudes, and in the multitude of an undivided but not necesS11.rily BO, for it only saya that and holy kingdom. The force of the refer• cllt. x.t.x. 1-27.] THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 361