Ezechias inviteth all Israel to celebrate the pasch; the solemnity is kept fourteen days.
Ezechias by messengers and letters exhorteth the people both of Iuda and Israel, to make Paesch in Ierusalem. 11. which some of Israel, and al Iuda performe, 18. the fourtenth day of the second moneth, though al could not be purified according to the law. 23. they make an other feast of Azimes seuen dayes more, the king aend princes geuing hostes to the people.
1And Ezechias sent to all Israel and Juda: and he wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasses, that they should come to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and keep the phase to the Lord the God of Israel,Quando ancora Ezechia per tutto Israele, e per tutto il paese di Giuda: e scrisse lettera a quelli di Ephraim, e a quelli di Manasse, invitandogli alla casa del Signore in Gerusalemme, per celebrare la Pasqua al Signore Dio d'Israele.EZECHIAS also sent to al Israel and Iuda: and he wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasses, that they should come to the house of our Lord in Ierusalem, and should make a Phase to our Lord the God of Israel.Misit quoque Ezechias ad omnem Israël et Judam: scripsitque epistolas ad Ephraim et Manassen ut venirent ad domum Domini in Jerusalem, et facerent Phase Domino Deo Israël. 2For the king, taking counsel, and the princes, and all the assembly of Jerusalem, decreed to keep the phase the second month.Conciossiachè, tenuto consiglio il re, e i magnati, e tutta la sinagoga di Gerusalemme, avean determinato di far la Pasqua il secondo mese.Counsel therfore being taken of the king and the princes, and of al the assemblie of Ierusalem, they decreed to make the Phase the second moneth.Inito ergo consilio regis et principum, et universi cœtus Jerusalem, decreverunt ut facerent Phase mense secundo. 3For they could not keep it in its time; because there were not priests enough sanctified, and the people was not as yet gathered together to Jerusalem.Perocché non avean potuto farla a suo tempo, perchè non era ancora santificato un sufficiente numero di sacerdoti, e il popolo non aveva ancora potuto adunarsi in Gerusalemme.For they could not make it in his time because the Priestes that might suffise, had not bene sanctified, and the people had not as yet bene gathered into Ierusalem.Non enim potuerant facere in tempore suo, quia sacerdotes qui possent sufficere, sanctificati non fuerant, et populus nondum congregatus fuerat in Jerusalem. 4And the thing pleased the king, and all the people.E questa risoluzione piacque al re, e a tutta la moltitudine.And the word pleased the king, and al the multitude.Placuitque sermo regi, et omni multitudini. 5And they decreed to send messengers to all Israel from Bersabee even to Dan, that they should come, and keep the phase to the Lord the God of Israel in Jerusalem: for many had not kept it as it is prescribed by the law.E risolverono di spedir nunzj per tutto Israele, da Bersabee fino a Dan, affinchè venissero a far la Pasqua al Signore Dio d'Israele in Gerusalemme: perocchè molti non l'aveano fatta, com'è prescritto dalla legge.And they decreed to send messengers into al Israel from Bersabee vnto dan, that they should come, and make the Phase to our Lord the God of Israel in Ierusalem: for manie had not made it as is prescribed by the law.Et decreverunt ut mitterent nuntios in universum Israël, de Bersabee usque Dan, ut venirent, et facerent Phase Domino Deo Israël in Jerusalem: multi enim non fecerant sicut lege præscriptum est.
6And the posts went with letters by commandment of the king, and his princes, to all Israel and Juda, proclaiming according to the king’s orders: Ye children of Israel, turn again to the Lord the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Israel: and he will return to the remnant of you that have escaped the hand of the king of the Assyrians.E partirono le staffette per ordine del re, e de' suoi grandi con lettere a tutto Israele, e a Giuda; nelle quali, secondo l'ordine del re, si diceva: Figliuoli d'Israele, tornate al Signore Dio d'Abramo, d'Isacco, e d'Israele: ed ei tornerà alle reliquie scampate dalle mani del re Assiro.And the postes went forth with letters of commandement from the king, and his princes, into al Israel and Iuda, according to that, which the king had commanded, proclaming: Children of Israel returne ye to our Lord the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Israel: and he wil returne to the remnant, that hath escaped the hand of the king of the Assyrians.Perrexeruntque cursores cum epistolis ex regis imperio, et principum ejus, in universum Israël et Judam, juxta id quod rex jusserat, prædicantes: Filii Israël, revertimini ad Dominum Deum Abraham, et Isaac, et Israël: et revertetur ad reliquias quæ effugerunt manum regis Assyriorum. 7Be not like your fathers, and brethren, who departed from the Lord the God of their fathers, and he hath given them up to destruction, as you see.Non imitate i padri vostri, e i fratelli, i quali si allontanarono dal Signore Dio de' padri loro, il quale gli ha mandati in perdizione, come voi vedete.Become not as your fathers and brethren, which haue reuolted from our Lord the God of their fathers, who hath deliuered them into destruction, as your selues see.Nolite fieri sicut patres vestri et fratres, qui recesserunt a Domino Deo patrum suorum, qui tradidit eos in interitum, ut ipsi cernitis. 8Harden not your necks, as your fathers did: yield yourselves to the Lord, and come to his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified forever: serve the Lord the God of your fathers, and the wrath of his indignation shall be turned away from you.Non indurate le vostre cervici, come i padri vostri: ubbidite al Signore, e venite al suo Santuario santificato da lui in perpetuo: servite il Signore Dio de' padri vostri, e l'ira, e il furore di lui più non vi premerà.Harden not your neckes, as your fathers: geue handes to our Lord, and come to his Sanctuarie, which he hath sanctified for ouer: serue our Lord the God of your fathers, and the wrath of his furie shal be turned away from you.Nolite indurare cervices vestras, sicut patres vestri: tradite manus Domino, et venite ad sanctuarium ejus quod sanctificavit in æternum: servite Domino Deo patrum vestrorum, et avertetur a vobis ira furoris ejus. 9For if you turn again to the Lord, your brethren, and children shall find mercy before their masters, that have led them away captive, and they shall return into this land: for the Lord your God is merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.Perocché se voi tornerete al Signore, i vostri fratelli, e i figliuoli troveranno misericordia nei loro padroni, che gli hanno condotti schiavi, ed ei torneranno in questo paese: conciossiachè pio, e clemente egli è il Signore Dio vostro, e vi vedrà di buon occhio, se a lui tornerete.For if you shal returne to our Lord: your brethren, and children shal haue mercie before their Lordes, that haue led them captiue, and they shal returne into this land: for our Lord your God is merciful, and wil not turne away his face from you, if you shal returne to him.Si enim vos reversi fueritis ad Dominum, fratres vestri et filii habebunt misericordiam coram dominis suis, qui illos duxerunt captivos, et revertentur in terram hanc: pius enim et clemens est Dominus Deus vester, et non avertet faciem suam a vobis, si reversi fueritis ad eum.
10So the posts went speedily from city to city, through the land of Ephraim, and of Manasses, even to Zabulon, whilst they laughed at them and mocked them.Andavan pertanto velocemente le staffette di città in città nel paese di Ephraim, e di Manasse, e fino a Zàbulon, facendone quelli delle risate, e delle beffe.Therfore the postes went forward spedely from citie to citie, through the land of Ephraim, and of Manasses, as farre as Zabulon, they mocking and skorning them.Igitur cursores pergebant velociter de civitate in civitatem per terram Ephraim et Manasse usque ad Zabulon, illis irridentibus et subsannantibus eos. 11Nevertheless some men of Aser, and of Manasses, and of Zabulon, yielding to the counsel, came to Jerusalem.Con tutto ciò alcuni di quelli di Aser, e di Manasse, e di Zàbulon, abbracciando gli avvertimenti, vennero a Gerusalemme.Neuerthelesse certayne men of Aser, and Manasses, and Zabulon, condescending to the counsel, came to Ierusalem.Attamen quidam viri ex Aser, et Manasse, et Zabulon acquiescentes consilio, venerunt Jerusalem. 12But the hand of God was in Juda, to give them one heart to do the word of the Lord, according to the commandment of the king, and of the princes.Ma quanto a Giuda, la mano del Signore operò in essi, dando loro un sol cuore per ubbidire alla intimazione del re, e dei principi, e alla parola del Signore.But the hand of God was in Iuda, to geue them one hart to doe the word of our Lord, according to the precept of the king and of the princes.In Juda vero facta est manus Domini ut daret eis cor unum, ut facerent juxta præceptum regis et principum verbum Domini. 13And much people were assembled to Jerusalem to celebrate the solemnity of the unleavened bread in the second month:E si adunarono molti popoli in Gerusalemme, per celebrare la solennità degli azzimi, il secondo mese.And much people was gathered into Ierusalem to make the solemnitie of Azimes in the second moneth:Congregatique sunt in Jerusalem populi multi ut facerent solemnitatem azymorum, in mense secundo: 14And they arose and destroyed the altars that were in Jerusalem, and took away all things in which incense was burnt to idols and cast them into the torrent Cedron.E corsero a distruggere gli altari, che erano in Gerusalemme; e tutti i luoghi dove si bruciava incenso agl'idoli, li rovinarono, e gettaron (questi) nel torrente Cedron.And rising they destroyed the altars that were in Ierusalem, and ouerthrowing al thinges wherin incense was burnt to idols, they threw it into the Torrent cedron.et surgentes destruxerunt altaria quæ erant in Jerusalem, atque universa in quibus idolis adolebatur incensum, subvertentes, projecerunt in torrentem Cedron.
15And they immolated the phase on the fourteenth day of the second month. And the priests and the Levites being at length sanctified offered holocausts in the house of the Lord.E immolaron la Pasqua ai quattordici del secondo mese. È i sacerdoti, e i Leviti, i quali finalmente si erano santificati, offersero olocausti nella casa del Signore.And they immolated the Phase the fourtenth day of the second moneth. The Priestes also and the Leuites at length being sanctified offered holocaustes in the house of our Lord.Immolaverunt autem Phase quartadecima die mensis secundi. Sacerdotes quoque atque Levitæ tandem sanctificati, obtulerunt holocausta in domo Domini: 16And they stood in their order according to the disposition and law of Moses the man of God: but the priests received the blood which was to be poured out, from the hands of the Levites,E facevano le loro funzioni, secondo quel, che dispone la legge di Mosè uomo di Dio: e i sacerdoti ricevevano dalle mani de' Leviti il sangue da spandere.And they stoode in their order according to the disposition, & law of Moyses the man of God: but the Priestes receiued the bloud to be powred out of the handes of the Leuites,steteruntque in ordine suo juxta dispositionem et legem Moysi hominis Dei: sacerdotes vero suscipiebant effundendum sanguinem de manibus Levitarum, 17Because a great number was not sanctified: and therefore the Levites immolated the phase for them that came not in time to be sanctified to the Lord.Perchè una gran moltitudine non erano santificati: e perciò i Leviti immolavan la Pasqua per quelli, che non eran venuti a tempo per santamente immolarla al Signore.because a great multitude Was not sanctified: & therfore the Leuites immolated the Phase for them, that came not in time to be sanctified to our Lord.eo quod multa turba sanctificata non esset: et idcirco immolarent Levitæ Phase his qui non occurrerant sanctificari Domino. 18For a great part of the people from Ephraim, and Manasses, and Issachar, and Zabulon, that had not been sanctified, ate the phase otherwise than it is written: and Ezechias prayed for them, saying: The Lord who is good will shew mercy,E anche una gran parte del popolo di Ephraim, e di Manasse, e d'Issachar, e di Zàbulon, i quali non si erano purificati, mangiaron la Pasqua, non secondo quello, che sta scritto. Ed Ezechia fece orazione per essi, e disse: Il Signore, che è buono, avrà misericordiaFor a great part of the people of Ephraim, and Manasses, and Issachar, and Zabulon, that had not bene sanctified, did eate the Phase, not according to that which is writen: and Ezechias prayed for them, saying: Our good Lord wil be merciful, to al them,Magna etiam pars populi de Ephraim, et Manasse, et Issachar, et Zabulon, quæ sanctificata non fuerat, comedit Phase non juxta quod scriptum est: et oravit pro eis Ezechias, dicens: Dominus bonus propitiabitur 19To all them, who with their whole heart, seek the Lord the God of their fathers: and will not impute it to them that they are not sanctified.Di tutti quelli, i quali con tutto il cuore cercano il Signore Dio de' padri oro; e non imputerà ad essi il non essersi pienamente purificati.that in al their hart secke our Lord the God of their fathers: and wil not impute it to them that they are not sanctified.cunctis, qui in toto corde requirunt Dominum Deum patrum suorum: et non imputabit eis quod minus sanctificati sunt.
20And the Lord heard him, and was merciful to the people.E il Signore lo esaudì, e si placò col popolo.Whom our Lord heard, and was pacified to the people.Quem exaudivit Dominus, et placatus est populo. 21And the children of Israel, that were found at Jerusalem, kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great joy, praising the Lord every day, the Levites also, and the priests, with instruments that agreed to their office.E i figliuoli d'Israele, che si trovarono a Gerusalemme, celebrarono la solennità degli azzimi per sette giorni con grande allegrezza, laudando ogni di il Signore: e così anche i Leviti, e i sacerdoti cogli strumenti convenienti al grado loro.And the children of Israel, that were found in Ierusalem, made the solemnitie of Azimes seuen daies in great ioy, praysing our Lord euerie day. The Leuites also and the Priestes by instrumentes, that agreed to their office.Feceruntque filii Israël, qui inventi sunt in Jerusalem, solemnitatem azymorum septem diebus in lætitia magna, laudantes Dominum per singulos dies: Levitæ quoque et sacerdotes per organa quæ suo officio congruebant. 22And Ezechias spoke to the heart of all the Levites, that had good understanding concerning the Lord: and they ate during the seven days of the solemnity, immolating victims of peace offerings, and praising the Lord the God of their fathers.Ed Ezechia parlò benignamente a tutti i Leviti, i quali aveano molta cognizione delle cose del Signore: e mangiarono nei sette giorni della solennità le vittime pacifiche, che si offerivano, lodando il Signore Dio de' padri loro.And Ezechias spake to the hart of al the Leuites, that had good vnderstanding concerning our Lord: and they did eate during the seuen daies of the solemnitie, immolating victimes of pacifiques, and praysing our Lord the God of their fathers.Et locutus est Ezechias ad cor omnium Levitarum qui habebant intelligentiam bonam super Domino: et comederunt septem diebus solemnitatis, immolantes victimas pacificorum, et laudantes Dominum Deum patrum suorum. 23And it pleased the whole multitude to keep other seven days: which they did with great joy.E tutta la moltitudine si accordò a celebrare altri sette giorni, come fecero con gran letizia.And it pleased the whole multitude to celebrate it other seuen daies: which also they did with great ioy.Placuitque universæ multitudini ut celebrarent etiam alios dies septem: quod et fecerunt cum ingenti gaudio. 24For Ezechias the king of Juda had given to the multitude a thousand bullocks, and seven thousand sheep: and the princes had given the people a thousand bullocks, and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests was sanctified.Imperocché Ezechia re di Giuda avea dato alla moltitudine mille tori, e sette mila pecore: e i principi della città avean dato al popolo mille tori, e dieci mila pecore; onde un gran numero di sacerdoti si consagrò.For Ezechias the king of Iuda had geuen the multitude a thousand oxen, and seuen thousand sheepe: but the princes had geuen the people oxen a thousand, & sheepe ten thousand: there was sanctified therfore a verie great multitude of Priestes.Ezechias enim rex Juda præbuerat multitudini mille tauros, et septem millia ovium: principes vero dederant populo tauros mille, et oves decem millia: sanctificata est ergo sacerdotum plurima multitudo.
25And all the multitude of Juda with the priests and Levites, and all the assembly, that came out of Israel; and the proselytes of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Juda were full of joy.E tutta la gente di Giuda, e tanto i sacerdoti, come i Leviti, e tutta la moltitudine, che era venuta da Israele; come anche i proseliti sì del paese d'Israele, come quelli, che dimoravano nelle terre di Giuda, erano inondati di allegrezza.And al the multitude of Iuda was ful of mirth, as wel of the Priestes and Leuites, as of al the assemblie, that came out of Israel; of the proselites also of the land of Israel, and them that dwelt in Iuda.Et hilaritate perfusa omnis turba Juda, tam sacerdotum et Levitarum, quam universæ frequentiæ quæ venerat ex Israël: proselytorum quoque de terra Israël, et habitantium in Juda. 26And there was a great solemnity in Jerusalem, such as had not been in that city since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel.E la solennità celebrata in Gerusalemme fu grande, e non vi era stata la simile in quella città dal tempo di Salomone figliuolo di David re d'Israele.And there was made a great solemnitie in Ierusalem, such as had not bene in that citie from the dayes of Salomon the sonne of Dauid the king of Israel.Factaque est grandis celebritas in Jerusalem, qualis a diebus Salomonis filii David regis Israël in ea urbe non fuerat. 27And the priests and the Levites rose up and blessed the people: and their voice was heard: and their prayer came to the holy dwelling place of heaven.E si alzarono i sacerdoti, e i Le viti per benedire il popolo, e furono esaudite le loro voci: e la orazione penetrò all'abitazione santa del cielo.And the Priestes & the Leuites rose vp blessing the people: & their voice was heard: and their prayer came into the holie habitation of heauen.Surrexerunt autem sacerdotes atque Levitæ benedicentes populo: et exaudita est vox eorum, pervenitque oratio in habitaculum sanctum cæli.
30:1
Year of the World 3278.f*
Salien
Manasses. The pious king thought he might give a general invitation, without umbrage. King Osee was not so impious as his predecessors, 4 Kings 17:2. Afflictions had made his people more docile. The Jews say (Calmet) 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. (Menochius) (Salien, the year of the world 3305.)
30:2
Selden
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. 2:1.)
Calmet
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. (Calmet)
30:5
Haydock
Many. None had kept the Phase this year. (Haydock)
Calmet
Hebrew, "for they had not long before done according to the Scripture." Septuagint, "the multitude had not done," etc. (Calmet)
Haydock
Yet, even in the worst times, Tobias, (1:6.) and other zealous souls, contrived to comply with their duty. (Haydock)
30:6
Haydock
Posts. Literally, "runners or couriers." (Haydock)
Calmet
King. Hebrew, "kings." Phul and Thelgathphalnasar. The latter had taken away some tribes, 4 Kings 15:20, 29. (Calmet)
30:7
Destruction. Septuagint, "solitude." Protestants, "desolation."
30:8
Yield. Literally, "give your hands," (Haydock) in sign of submission (Calmet) and fidelity. Septuagint, "give glory."
30:9
Haydock
Brethren. God sometimes spares one for the sake of another. (Haydock)
30:10
Haydock
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 [of] the Jordan, 1 Paralipomenon 5:26. At least, we find that some of Aser came, ver. 11. Thus those, who had been invited last, came first, while Ephraim continued more stubborn; (ver. 18) and the greatest part derided the messengers, as we still see too frequently verified in the days of the gospel. (Haydock)
30:11
Haydock
Yielding. Septuagint, "were converted." Protestants, "humbled themselves, and came." (Haydock)
30:12
Hand; grace (Menochius) and power, to endure such unanimity.
30:14
Calmet
Burnt, both vessels and altars. (Calmet)
Menochius
To idols, corresponds with the Septuagint, "the false ones," and is added by way of explanation, unless it be lost in Hebrew. The illegal (Haydock) altars had been set up by Achaz, 2 Paralipomenon 28:24. (Menochius)
30:15
Haydock
At length. Septuagint, "were converted." Hebrew, "ashamed, and sanctified themselves." (Haydock)
Menochius
The ceremonies of purification for priests were longer, (chap. 29:34.) and the sacred ministers were ashamed to be outdone by the people. (Menochius)
30:16
Menochius
Levites, who received the paschal lambs from the unsanctified. (Menochius)
Lyranus
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)
Calmet
At other times, laics killed the victims, if they were clean, Exodus 12:6. 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 ([Antiquities?] 10:5., and Jewish Wars 6:45. Lat. 7:17.; Haydock) are inconclusive; and Philo repeatedly asserts 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. (Calmet)
30:17
Haydock
For. Protestants, "for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the Lord." Septuagint, "not able to be purified to the Lord." (Haydock)
Calmet
The priests alone continued to pour the blood on the altar, till the destruction of the temple. (Calmet)
30:18
Haydock
Ephraim and....Issachar had not been mentioned before, ver. 18. (Haydock)
Calmet
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, Leviticus 15:31., and 22:4., and Numbers 9:6. (Calmet)
Calmet
But a dispensation was granted, (Menochius) 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. (Calmet)
Worthington
They were however truly penitent, and God dispensed with them. (Worthington)
30:20
Haydock
Merciful; literally, "appeased." Hebrew and Septuagint, "healed." St. Jerome (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." (Haydock)
30:21
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.
Calmet
That agreed. Hebrew and Septuagint, "of strength," sonorous, (Menochius) which they played on with all their force, or which sounded forth the divine power. (Calmet)
30:22
Heart; encouraged them to bear the fatigue for other seven days.
Menochius
Lord; being of good dispositions, (Calmet) and able musicians. (Sa) (Menochius)
Haydock
Praising. Protestants, "making confession to." But the sense is the same. (Haydock)
Calmet
During the seven days, unleavened bread and peace-offerings were used, ver. 24. (Calmet)
30:23
Menochius
Joy, though not prescribed by the law. (Menochius)
Haydock
This we should call a work of supererogation, (Worthington) which gives Protestants so much offence. (Haydock)
30:25
Proselytes, who had embraced the Jewish law: the rest were not allowed to partake of the paschal victims, Exodus 12:48.
30:26
Israel: as many of the tribes came to join with their brethren of Juda.
30:27
Calmet
Levites. These only applauded the solemn blessings, which were given by the priests, Numbers 6:24. (Calmet)
Du Hamel
God is said to reside in heaven, because he there displays his glory to the blessed. (Du Hamel)
30:3
The host of heaven.... The sun, moon, and stars.
30:18
Being penitēt in ha•t for their sinnes, Gods dispensation might be sapp•sed fo• legal purification i• case of ••ce •ine, which otherwise was st•••ly comma•••• L•••t. 5. 〈◊◊〉. Deut. 27. &c.
30:23
Voluntarie workes of superetogation, more then was commanded.
30:9
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 City of God 10.1
… The common people, too, use it of works of charity, which, I suppose, arises from the circumstance that God enjoins the performance of such works, and declares that He is pleased with them instead of, or in preference to sacrifices. From this usage it has also come to pass that God Himself is called pious,
30:12
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians 1.38
That this is true we do not surmise by human conjecture, but we discern by the most evident authority of the divine Scriptures. It is read in the books of the Chronicles: “Also in Judah, the hand of God was made to give them one heart, to do the commandment of the king and of the princes in the word of the Lord.”
30:2
30:3
3. THE PRIESTS WHO COULD SUFFICE HAD NOT BEEN SANCTIFIED (that is consecrated): — for in order that they be priests and be able to sacrifice, they had first to be consecrated priests by that rite which is prescribed in Leviticus VIII.
30:15
15. Finally Sanctified. — The Hebrew: they were suffused with shame; because in such eagerness of the people they had been slow in their own sanctification and purification, whence they immediately sanctified and cleansed themselves.
30:16
16. AND THE PRIESTS RECEIVED THE BLOOD TO BE POURED OUT FROM THE HANDS OF THE LEVITES, — For all the blood of the victim was to be poured out by the Priest upon the ground to God, so that it might be signified that He Himself is the Lord of the death and life of all. "From the hands of the Levites," who at that time by dispensation were sacrificing, because the consecrated Priests, who would be clean, were fewer than that they could sacrifice so many victims: therefore the Levites helped them, and slew the victims, and gave the blood flowing forth to the Priests, so that they might pour it out according to the altar. 17. Because a great multitude (of Priests) sanctified (from irregularity and legal uncleanness by the lustration prescribed by law Num. xix, purged) was not: and for this reason the Levites would immolate the Passover for those who did not come to be sanctified to the Lord. — The Septuagint, who could not be purified to the Lord; who namely, occupied with other things, came late to be sanctified, that is, to be expiated from legal uncleanness. Note: "Passover" signifies first, the Paschal lamb, which was sacrificed to God at the Passover; second, the Paschal victims, which were immolated to God through the seven days of the Passover: which immolation belonged to the Priests alone. But the immolation of the Paschal lamb belonged to each father of a family, who in this respect retained the primeval priestly right, originally annexed to the firstborn, and to each father of a family in his family, if however he were clean; but if he were unclean and polluted, then the Levites in his place immolated the lamb, as is said here, equally as in I Esdras vi, 10. The unclean also could not eat of the Paschal lamb and other victims; but because this was a public solemnity, and a restoration of fallen religion, and a great number of the unclean, hence with them likewise dispensation was made that they should eat of it, Hezekiah interceding with God for them, that it may follow. See what is said in Exodus xii, 6. On account of the necessity therefore which the fewness of the Priests who were clean brought about, and on account of the multitude and devotion of the people from all Israel concurring, and on account of the abundance of victims to be immolated, it appears that dispensation was made with the Levites, that they should not only immolate the Paschal Lamb, but also other victims: for this is what is expressly said in verse 15: "And the Priests also and the Levites at length sanctified offered holocausts in the house of the Lord." I would believe however that the Priests alone slew the victims, not that they immolated them in honor of God, killed them, and poured out the blood, in which the proper nature of the sacrifice consisted, and which was easy and of little work; then having given the slain victims to the Levites, that they themselves should strip off the skin, wash them, cut them into pieces, and having cut them up arrange them rightly on the altar, and burn them with fire placed beneath. For all these things the immolating Priest was not sufficient, wherefore he was forced to use the aid and work of the Levites, as I said in Levit. 1, 3. Whence for "offered holocausts," in Hebrew it is יאכיו iabiu, that is brought in, as the Septuagint, Vatablus, Pagninus translate, holocausts into the house of the Lord, and thus it was done in the solemn Passover, which after some years Josias celebrated, cap. xxxv, verse 11, where it is said: "And the Passover was immolated, and the Priests sprinkled with their hand the blood (on the altar as was the custom), and the Levites stripped off the skins of the holocausts." Finally, fathers of families who were unclean, yielded to the Levites the immolation of the Paschal lamb; they themselves however ate of the same also on account of the most joyful solemnity of the feast. For greater cleanliness was required in the immolation of the lamb, than in its eating; just as now greater purity is required in the Priest celebrating, than in the layman communicating; especially because these unclean could not be purified so quickly, and they approached the sacred feast of the lamb with great internal devotion, which God requires and regards more, than external lustration. A GREAT PART OF THE PEOPLE WHICH HAD NOT BEEN SANCTIFIED (that is, expiated and cleansed from legal uncleanness) ATE THE PASSOVER. — The Hebrews according to St. Jerome relate that many of them who unclean ate the Passover, were slain by a plague sent from heaven by God; but Hezekiah praying and alleging the ignorance of the people and their pious intention, God spared the rest, and for this reason in verse 20 he asserts that God heard him, and was appeased to the people. WHOM THE LORD HEARD, — by some sensible sign, for example, sending fire from heaven, which would burn the victims of Hezekiah, as He did to Abel, Genesis cap. IV; to Aaron, Levit. cap. VIII and IX, and to Solomon, book III Kings cap. viii, for unless there had been here a sensible sign, the unclean would neither securely, nor with such great joy have eaten of the Passover. Thus Cajetan.
30:22
22. AND HEZEKIAH SPOKE TO THE HEART OF ALL THE LEVITES (flattering them and praising them, because they had ...) GOOD UNDERSTANDING CONCERNING THE LORD, — that is, because they were skilled in their office, namely in singing psalms to God with understanding and care. Otherwise Cajetan. He spoke to them, he says, words penetrating to the heart, so that they might undertake and continue the care of instructing the people.
Machine translation from the Latin, not reviewed.
30:1
… But if the tribe fell into idolatry, many of its members remained faithful to Yahweh (cf. II Chron. 13:8-11; 30:1, 10, 18). In the time of Hezekiah the multitudes of the faithful, after having fulfilled their religious duties in the temple of Jerusalem, invaded the two southern provinces (Benjamin …
… The sacrificial character also emerges from the expression pésah lê-Jahweh "passover sacred to J." (Ex. 12, 11, 48; Lev. 23, 5; Num. 9, 10, 14; Deut. 16, 1 ff.; II Par. 30, 1, 5; etc.), and from the rite of the blood poured by the priest at the foot of the altar of holocausts (Lev. 17, 3-6; II Par. 30, 16; 35, 11). Therefore Philo (Vita Mos. 3) and …
Judah, who had to fear the same fate, threatened them equally by M. Thus Hezekiah was able to carry out his reform without serious difficulties (2 Chron. 30:1-12). It had, however, limited effects and duration.
30:10
for whose exaltation the descendants of Z. sincerely cooperated (cf. ibid. 12:33). After the fall of the Kingdom of Israel (722 B.C.), the remnants of the tribe of Z. were invited, like the others, to the solemn celebration of the Passover; but only a few responded to the call (II Chron. 30:10 f., 18).
30:16
under Hezekiah the priests "sprinkled the blood, receiving it from the hand of the Levites" (II Par. 30:16). The same happened in the celebration of P. under Josiah (ibid. 35:11). There is reason to believe that this was the ordinary rite: thus it is described in the Miñāh.
… expression pésah lê-Jahweh "passover sacred to J." (Ex. 12, 11, 48; Lev. 23, 5; Num. 9, 10, 14; Deut. 16, 1 ff.; II Par. 30, 1, 5; etc.), and from the rite of the blood poured by the priest at the foot of the altar of holocausts (Lev. 17, 3-6; II Par. 30, 16; 35, 11). Therefore Philo (Vita Mos. 3) and Flavius Josephus (Antiq. …
30:17
… alluding to the paschal lamb, says that "the children of the good in secret offered sacrifice." The slaughtering of the victim was the duty of the fathers of families (Ex. 12:3-6); only when they were not pure did the Levites replace them in this (II Par. 30:17) (cf. also for the oblation of other victims, in which the slaughtering was an act not reserved to the priests, Ex. 29:22). But the properly sacrificial act, that is, the sprinkling …
… Male and perfect (tāmīm, v. 5; as for holocausts: Lev. 1, 3), it was immolated by the father of the family (later by the Levites Esd. 6, 20; II Par. 30, 17; 35, 6) in the court of the sanctuary on the 14th of the 1st month (nīsān) in the evening, and its blood was poured (after the erection of the sanctuary) at the foot of the altar. …
… The state of purity is the necessary prelude for entering the field of sacral forces (II Chron. 30:17).
30:21
It seems that it was already sung in the time of King Josiah (II Par. 35:15) and also of King Hezekiah (II Par. 30:21). Sap. 18:9 then alludes to this use, where aḫvouç (laudes) is a translation of h. Jesus and his Apostles also sang the h. at the Last Supper (Mt. 26:30; Mc. 14:26; iṣuṣiṣavruç, …
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · original Douay-Rheims (Douay 1609-10), transcription by EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Public domain.