Verse 1

Manasses. The pious king thought he might give a general invitation, without umbrage. King Osee was not so impious as his predecessors, 4 K. xvii. 2. Afflictions had made his people more docile. The Jews say (C.) that the golden calves had been taken away by the Assyrians, and that the king removed the guards, which had been placed to hinder his subjects from repairing to Jerusalem. M. Salien, the year of the world 3305. --- Ezechias writes privately to the house of Joseph, as the people were prouder on account of the royal dignity. S. Jerom, Trad.

Verse 2

Month. The Rabbins pretend that the king intercalated the second Adar, contrary to the rule and advice of the wise, and the that he ought to have allowed those who were pure to celebrate the feast in due time. Selden, Syn. ii. 1. --- But the Caraite Jews deny this pretended leap-year; and we see that Ezechias acted according to the advice of the princes, and that the Scripture praises his conduct. C. --- Those who had a lawful impediment, were authorized to put off the feast till the second month, Num. ix. 10. The nation was under this predicament, as they had not priests at hand, (T.) nor were they assembled. D.

Verse 5

Many. None had kept the Phase this year. H. --- But those of Israel had not done it for a long time. Grotius --- Heb. "for they had not long before done according to the Scripture." Sept. "the multitude had not done," &c. C. --- Yet, even in the worst times, Tobias, (i. 6.) and other zealous souls, contrived to comply with their duty. H.

Verse 6

Posts. Literally, "runners or couriers." H. --- King. Heb. "kings." Phul and Thelgathphalnasar. The latter had taken away some tribes, 4 K. xv. 20, 29. C.

Verse 7

Destruction. Sept. "solitude." Prot. "desolation."

Verse 8

Yield. Literally, "give your hands," (H.) in sign of submission (C.) and fidelity. Sept. "give glory."

Verse 9

Brethren. God sometimes spares one for the sake of another. H.

Verse 10

Zabulon. Aser and Nephthali lay more to the north. But they were also invited, as well as the few who might remain on the other side the Jordan, 1 Paralipomenon v. 26. At least, we find that some of Aser came, v. 11. Thus those, who had been invited last, came first, while Ephraim continued more stubborn; (v. 18) and the greatest part derided the messengers, as we still see too frequently verified in the days of the gospel. H.

Verse 11

Yielding. Sept. "were converted." Prot. "humbled themselves, and came." H.

Verse 12

Hand; grace (M.) and power, to endure such unanimity.

Verse 14

Burnt, both vessels and altars. C. --- To idols, corresponding with the Sept. "the false ones," and is added by way of explanation, unless it be lost in Hebrew. The illegal (H.) altars had been set up by Achaz, C. xxviii. 24. M.

Verse 15

At length. Sept. "were converted." Heb. "ashamed, and sanctified themselves." H. --- The ceremonies of purification for priests were longer, (chap. xxix. 34.) and the sacred ministers were ashamed to be outdone by the people. M.

Verse 16

Levites, who received the paschal lambs from the unsanctified. M. --- The law does not require the ministry of the tribe of Levi for this purpose, as each one might kill the paschal victim at home. But the people were not sufficiently purified on this occasion. Lyranus --- At other times, laics killed the victims, if they were clean, Ex. xii. 6. After the tabernacle was set up, the priests poured out the blood on the altar; and, in latter ages, they slew the victim according to Grotius. But the texts of Josephus (x. 5., and Jewish Wars vi. 45. Lat. vii. 17.; H.) are inconclusive; and Philo repeatedly assert that, on one day, the law authorizes all the people to sacrifice: and, though he lived at Alexandria, his testimony respecting a fact of public notoriety, is not to be rejected. Only the unclean applied to the Levites on this occasion, and the latter had no more right to sacrifice than the rest. C.

Verse 17

For. Prot. "for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the Lord." Sept. "not able to be purified to the Lord." H. --- The priests alone continued to pour the blood on the altar, till the destruction of the temple. C.

Verse 18

Ephraim and....Issachar had not been mentioned before, v. 18. H. --- Some indulgence was shewn to the tribes of Israel, which had been so long rebellious, for fear lest they should return no more; and because they had shewn a good will in procuring the Levites to slay the victims for them, as that was rightly judged a more sacred action than to partake of the feast. The law forbade, nevertheless, the unclean to approach to any thing sacred, Lev. xv. 31., and xxii. 4., and Num. ix. 6. C. --- But a dispensation was granted, (M.) as the Passover could not be celebrated in any but the first or the second month. The people had come with such eagerness, that they had not time to acquire the purity required. C. --- They were however truly penitent, and God dispensed with them. W.

Verse 20

Merciful; literally, "appeased." Heb. and Sept. "healed." S. Jerom (Trad.) says, "It was asserted that no unclean person could taste the Phase, but death presently ensued; and they understood that the Lord was appeased, because those who eat did not die." H. --- Heb. girpa may, however, denote that God "pardoned," or did not impute the uncleanness to the people. Schindler, and C. xxxvi. 16., and Isaias vi. 10.

Verse 21

Days. It seems all the observances had been omitted in the first month. The Jews teach, that those who have complied with those prescriptions, which require no particular purity, are not bound to keep the festival for seven days, nor to abstain from leavened bread the second month. --- That agreed. Heb. and Sept. "of strength," sonorous, (M.) which they played on with all their force, or which sounded for the divine power. C.

Verse 22

Heart; encouraged them to bear the fatigue for other seven days. --- Lord; being of good dispositions, (C.) and able musicians. Sa) M. --- Praising. Prot. "making confession to." But the sense is the same. H. --- During the seven days, unleavened bread and peace-offerings were used, v. 24. C.

Verse 23

Joy, though not prescribed by the law. M. --- This we should call a work of supererogation, (W.) which gives Protestants so much offence. H.

Verse 25

Proselytes, who had embraced the Jewish law: the rest were not allowed to partake of the paschal victims, Ex. xii. 48.

Verse 26

Israel: as many of the tribes came to join with their brethren of Juda.

Verse 27

Levites. These only applauded the solemn blessings, which were given by the priests, Num. vi. 24. C. --- God is said to reside in heaven, because he there displays his glory to the blessed. D.

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Verse 36

CHAPTER XXX.