Reformation-Passover Celebrated in Judah

Hezekiah invites both Israel and Judah to celebrate the Passover. This shows Hezekiah's concern not only for Judah but also for Israel. Having restored the worship in the Temple, he sent letters throughout the territory of Israel inviting its people to come to the Passover service. Ephraim and Manasseh were the principal tribes in the territory of the northern kingdom not yet carried into captivity. The tribes east of the Jordan and the northern tribes had earlier suffered deportation (2 Kings 15:29 1 Chron. 5:26). The event took place in the second month. The work of cleansing and sanctifying the Temple was not completed till the 16th day of the 1st month (ch. 29:17), and the Passover service ordinarily began on the 14th day of the 1st month (Ex. 12:2, 6 Lev. 23:5). But in cases of emergency the law permitted individuals to observe the Passover on the 14th day of the 2d month (Num. 9:6—11).

The government of Judah decreed that word should be sent to the inhabitants of Israel inviting them to the Passover. The narrative does not imply that the proclamation itself was of the nature of an official decree. Hezekiah could hardly have made an official proclamation in Hoshea's kingdom without the cooperation of the Israelite king, and the narrative indicates no such cooperation.

In the days of Rehoboam of Judah many of the faithful in Israel forsook their nation that they might worship the Lord at Jerusalem (ch. 11:16, 17), and in the days of Asa many Israelites again joined their brethren in Judah ch. 15:9). Jeroboam had established the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan to keep his people from going to Jerusalem to worship (1 Kings 12:27—33), and Baasha fortified Ramah, near the border, to prevent the Israelites from falling away to Judah (2 Chron. 16:1). But now again, after so long a time, the situation was open for an invitation to worship at Jerusalem.

Hoshea, a puppet of Assyria (see on 2 Kings 17:1), ruling over an already partly dismembered kingdom, was probably either too weak or too indifferent to interfere with Hezekiah's messengers. The attitude of the northern tribes was, as a whole, one of hostility to God and His worship. In spite of the general hostility, some from the northern tribes responded to Hezekiah's gracious invitation and came to Jerusalem for the Passover service. No matter how widespread apostasy may be, the Lord always has a faithful few who remain loyal to Him (see Rom. 9:27 Rom. 11:3, 5).

The last previous occasion when it was possible for the people of both Israel and Judah to join in such a festival in Jerusalem was at the time of Solomon, when the kingdom was still united. After the disruption no common religious services that would include the citizens of both nations were possible, except as Israelites left the northern kingdom to migrate to Judah. Now the northern nation was so weakened that it again was possible for the Israelites who desired, to come to Jerusalem for worship.