2Ch 30:25 | KingComments | STEP | After the seven days of feast, new consultations take place ( ; ). This time it is about whether they will add another seven days of feast to the seven days of feast they have already celebrated. They decide to do so, because Hezekiah still has sacrifices that he makes available ( ). Also the leaders, following Hezekiah, make sacrifices available. There is also a large number of priests who are in the right condition to occupy themselves with these sacrifices. The impressions of the Feast of Unleavened Bread are so overwhelming that it is decided to extend the feast voluntarily. What is prescribed gets a voluntarily followed up, because doing what is prescribed gives such great joy. Then the heart desires to continue with that. It wants to hold on to that joy. We see it with “all the assembly of Judah” and with “all the assembly that came from Israel” and also with the sojourners from both these areas ( ). Everyone is happy. The joy is great because this Passover is such a special Passover. It is a Passover that has not been celebrated in this way since “the days of Solomon” ( ). We will see that the Passover celebrated under Josiah is even more exceptional. That is because it is not so celebrated “since the days of Samuel the prophet” ( ) and thus goes even further back than the days of Solomon. This means that it is even more impressive than what is happening here under Hezekiah. And that already is so special. The last activity in connection with this great feast is reserved for the Levites. They stand up and bless the people on behalf of God. For this blessing they first address God, Who answers their prayer ( ). In this situation there is, as it were, a direct connection between God’s holy dwelling in heaven and God’s holy dwelling on earth. Heaven rejoices with the joy on earth. Heaven and earth unite, as will be perfectly the case in the realm of peace, when God’s “will be done on earth as it is in heaven” ( ).

‏ 2 Chronicles 30:25

Another Seven Days of Feast

After the seven days of feast, new consultations take place (2Chr 30:23; 2Chr 30:2). This time it is about whether they will add another seven days of feast to the seven days of feast they have already celebrated. They decide to do so, because Hezekiah still has sacrifices that he makes available (2Chr 30:24). Also the leaders, following Hezekiah, make sacrifices available. There is also a large number of priests who are in the right condition to occupy themselves with these sacrifices.

The impressions of the Feast of Unleavened Bread are so overwhelming that it is decided to extend the feast voluntarily. What is prescribed gets a voluntarily followed up, because doing what is prescribed gives such great joy. Then the heart desires to continue with that. It wants to hold on to that joy. We see it with “all the assembly of Judah” and with “all the assembly that came from Israel” and also with the sojourners from both these areas (2Chr 30:25). Everyone is happy.

The joy is great because this Passover is such a special Passover. It is a Passover that has not been celebrated in this way since “the days of Solomon” (2Chr 30:26). We will see that the Passover celebrated under Josiah is even more exceptional. That is because it is not so celebrated “since the days of Samuel the prophet” (2Chr 35:18) and thus goes even further back than the days of Solomon. This means that it is even more impressive than what is happening here under Hezekiah. And that already is so special.

The last activity in connection with this great feast is reserved for the Levites. They stand up and bless the people on behalf of God. For this blessing they first address God, Who answers their prayer (2Chr 30:27). In this situation there is, as it were, a direct connection between God’s holy dwelling in heaven and God’s holy dwelling on earth. Heaven rejoices with the joy on earth. Heaven and earth unite, as will be perfectly the case in the realm of peace, when God’s “will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt 6:10).