Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 30:1
Then Hezekiah sent word throughout all Israel and Judah, and he also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh inviting them to come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Hezekiah dispatches messengers and writes letters to all Israel and Judah, specifically addressing Ephraim and Manasseh, to gather in Jerusalem for the Passover. This action follows the king’s council and the Jerusalem assembly’s formal decision to celebrate the festival in the second month.
The words — וַ/יִּשְׁלַ֨ח (va/i.yishlach) means "and he sent," denoting the king's active command. אִגְּרוֹת֙ ('igrot) translates as "letters," specifying the written medium of his nationwide summons.
The thread — The Passover observance traces back to Exodus 12:3 for the initial lamb selection and Deuteronomy 16:2 for the centralized sacrifice location. The New Testament applies the festival's imagery to Christ in 1 Corinthians 5:7.
Why it lands — The text records a formal, dual-channel invitation to restore covenant worship at the temple. It requires readers to acknowledge a royal decree that demands immediate compliance to reunite the tribes under a single religious observance.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 5:7 Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
- Exodus 12:3 Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man must select a lamb for his family, one per household.
- Deuteronomy 16:2 You are to offer to the LORD your God the Passover sacrifice from the herd or flock in the place the LORD will choose as a dwelling for His Name.
- 2 Chronicles 11:13 Moreover, the priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel stood with Rehoboam.
- 2 Chronicles 11:16 Those from every tribe of Israel who had set their hearts to seek the LORD their God followed the Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
- 2 Chronicles 25:7 But a man of God came to him and said, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel—not with any of the Ephraimites.
- 2 Chronicles 30:10 And the couriers traveled from city to city through the land of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun, but the people scorned and mocked them.
- 2 Chronicles 35:6 Slaughter the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves, and make preparations for your fellow countrymen to carry out the word of the LORD given by Moses.”
- Hosea 5:4 Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God, for a spirit of prostitution is within them, and they do not know the LORD.
- Hosea 7:8 Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is an unturned cake.