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Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture
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2014 November 12




Image 1: King Solomon Sacrificing to the Idols (c. 1640)
Sebastien Bourdon (1616-1671)
Eclectic Style
Private Collection
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art

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Image 2: Hezekiah Destroys the Sacred Items (c. 1712)
Caspar Luiken (1672-1708)
Dutch Golden Age Baroque Style
From "Historiae Celebriores Veteris Testamenti Iconibus Representatae," Caspar Luiken, 1712
Image Source: Pitts.Emory.edu


     Explanation: 2 Chronicles 30 describes the Passover, plus the Feast of Unleavened Bread, plus an additional seven feast days which Hezekiah, his people, and many from the now destroyed former kingdom of Israel observed. The illustrations above depict the beginning of state sanctioned idolatry and the end -- or what should have been the end -- of such practices. [Traditional Patriarchal Timeline. Judges Period Chronology. Kings of Judah and Israel #1. Kings of Judah and Israel #2]. [Chronologically and Thematically Related Scriptures: 2 Kings 17].
     When the Northern Kingdom (also called the Ten Tribes, Israel, or Ephraim) came to an end (2 Kings 17:24), Hezekiah (716-687 B.C.) sent messengers with letters inviting those who had not been taken captive to join him and the Kingdom of Judah in celebrating the Passover. He exhorted them not to be stiffnecked, but to yield themselves to the LORD, and to come to his sanctuary. He reminded them of the grace and mercy of the LORD (1-9). Many laughed at and mocked the messengers. Nevertheless, many were moved by God to humble themselves; and they came to Jerusalem (10-12). A great congregation assembled in Jerusalem to keep the Passover. And they removed the pagan altars and threw them into the brook Kidron. They then began the Passover. Due to the need to cleanse the Temple and related matters (see the previous chapter) the Passover was held a month late. Some came who had not been properly sanctified; but the priests offered their sacrifices on their behalf; and Hezekiah asked the LORD to pardon them and to allow them to partake of the Passover meal. The LORD heard and healed them. After the Passover, they celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with music and singing as the sacrifices continued throughout the seven days (13-22). The assembly agreed to keep the feast for another seven days. Hezekiah provided sacrificial animals for them. Great joy followed; and nothing like it had taken place since the time of Solomon (970-930 B.C.). And their prayers were heard by the LORD in heaven (23-27).
     Hezekiah began his reign during the reign of Hoshea (732-712 B.C.), the last king of Israel. Hosea's reign is described in the following DAWN page: 2 Kings 17. Also, Hezekiah's life and reign (741-687 B.C.) had overlaps with the ministries of the following prophets: Hosea (760-720 B.C.); Isaiah (740-681 B.C.); and Micah (737-690 B.C.).


2 Chronicles 30

     1 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel. 2 For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month. 3 For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. 4 And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. 5 So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written. 6 So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see. 8 Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. 9 For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.
     10 So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. 11 Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem. 12 Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD.
     13 And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation. 14 And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron. 15 Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD. 16 And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites. 17 For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD. 18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one 19 That prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. 20 And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people. 21 And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the LORD. 22 And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers.
     23 And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness. 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves. 25 And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced. 26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem. 27 Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.




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