2 Chronicles 30:13 kjv
And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation.
2 Chronicles 30:13 nkjv
Now many people, a very great assembly, gathered at Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month.
2 Chronicles 30:13 niv
A very large crowd of people assembled in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread in the second month.
2 Chronicles 30:13 esv
And many people came together in Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very great assembly.
2 Chronicles 30:13 nlt
So a huge crowd assembled at Jerusalem in midspring to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread.
2 Chronicles 30 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Passover Laws & Observance | ||
| Ex 12:17 | "You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread..." | Law for keeping the feast |
| Lev 23:6 | "On the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread..." | Regular date for the feast |
| Num 28:17 | "And on the fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be a holy convocation..." | Stipulates observance for seven days |
| Deut 16:3 | "...that you may remember the day when you came out of the land of Egypt..." | Purpose of unleavened bread feast |
| Josh 5:10-11 | "While the people of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, they kept the Passover..." | Early observance of Passover after entry |
| Ezr 6:21-22 | "And the people of Israel who had returned from exile ate..." | Post-exilic Passover observance |
| Ezek 45:21 | "In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall observe..." | Prophets emphasize feast adherence |
| Second Month Passover | ||
| Num 9:10-11 | "...If anyone of you or of your descendants is unclean...or is on a long journey...then he shall keep the Passover to the Lord in the second month..." | Divine allowance for delayed Passover |
| 2 Chr 30:2-3 | "For the king and his officials and all the assembly in Jerusalem had decided to keep the Passover in the second month..." | Rationale for Hezekiah's decision |
| Hezekiah's Revival & People's Response | ||
| 2 Chr 29:36 | "And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had prepared for the people..." | God enabling people's readiness for worship |
| 2 Chr 30:10-11 | "So the couriers went...But they laughed them to scorn and mocked them...Nevertheless, some men of Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves..." | Mixed reception of Hezekiah's invitation |
| 2 Chr 30:12 | "The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart..." | God's divine enablement for unity and response |
| Ps 122:1 | "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD!'" | Joy in gathering for worship |
| Isa 2:2 | "It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established..." | Future gathering of all nations to Zion |
| Mic 4:1-2 | "It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established..." | Future spiritual pilgrimage of nations |
| Zech 8:20-22 | "Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come...seeking the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem..." | Future large gatherings to seek God |
| Neh 8:1 | "And all the people gathered as one man into the open square..." | Post-exilic large gathering for the Law |
| Return to the Lord & Purity | ||
| Joel 2:12-13 | "'Yet even now,' declares the Lord, 'return to me with all your heart...' " | Call to heartfelt repentance |
| Hos 14:1-2 | "Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God...Take with you words and return to the Lord..." | Call for return and sincere worship |
| Mal 3:7 | "Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts." | Divine invitation for repentance |
| New Testament Echoes | ||
| 1 Cor 5:7-8 | "Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump...For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival..." | Christ as the ultimate Passover, call to purity |
| Eph 2:13-14 | "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near...For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one..." | Christ breaking down barriers and creating unity |
2 Chronicles 30 verses
2 Chronicles 30 13 Meaning
The verse describes a remarkable assembly of a vast number of people in Jerusalem. They gathered there specifically to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, an ancient biblical festival, with a significant detail being that this celebration took place in the second month of the year, a departure from its usual observance in the first month.
2 Chronicles 30 13 Context
This verse is situated within the account of King Hezekiah's reign in Judah, a period marked by significant spiritual reform after the apostasy of his father, Ahaz. Chapter 29 details Hezekiah's initiatives to cleanse and reconsecrate the Temple, reinstate Levitical service, and restore regular sacrifices. With the Temple restored, Hezekiah felt compelled to celebrate the Passover, a fundamental national feast that had been neglected. However, a crucial challenge arose: there were not enough consecrated priests, and the people had not been gathered in Jerusalem by the first month (2 Chr 30:3). Demonstrating both wisdom and reliance on biblical precedent (Num 9:10-11), Hezekiah, with his officials and the assembly, made the decision to observe the Passover and the subsequent Feast of Unleavened Bread a month later, in the second month. He sent invitations throughout Judah and even into the Northern Kingdom of Israel, which had long been estranged and largely given to idolatry. Verse 13 specifically highlights the extraordinary and divinely enabled response to this invitation, showing the culmination of the call to repentance and unity, as "a very great multitude" arrived to keep the feast.
2 Chronicles 30 13 Word analysis
- Now many people: The opening phrase (וְעַם־רָב, w'ʿam-rav) signifies the start of a key event. "Many people" indicates a significant portion of the populace, pointing to a widespread response to King Hezekiah's invitation. The Hebrew term רַב (rav) denotes abundance, emphasizing the substantial number present.
- a very great multitude: This phrase (מָרוֹב֙, marov) serves as an intensifier, literally meaning "to excess" or "greatly abundant." It powerfully stresses the sheer volume of attendees, conveying an overwhelming and unprecedented turnout. This doubling of terms ("many" and "multitude") accentuates the visual and spiritual impact of such a vast gathering, suggesting divine influence.
- assembled: The verb (וַיֵּֽאָסְפוּ֙, vayyeʾasfu) signifies a purposeful and deliberate gathering. It implies a coming together, not by chance, but in response to a specific call. This emphasizes the intentional act of pilgrimage and commitment on the part of the people.
- at Jerusalem: (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם, Yerushalayim) This identifies the holy city, the designated place where God chose to put His name (Deut 12:5), and the only authorized location for central feasts. The gathering here symbolizes a return to the divinely ordained center of worship and national identity.
- to keep: The Hebrew (לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת, laʿasot) literally means "to do" or "to perform." In this context, it refers to the faithful and obedient execution of the prescribed rituals and observances of the festival. It denotes active participation and compliance with divine mandates.
- the Feast of Unleavened Bread: (חַ֥ג הַמַּצּ֖וֹת, chag haMṣot) This seven-day festival immediately followed Passover and symbolized purity and the hasty departure from Egypt, leaving behind the "leaven" of sin (Ex 12:15, 1 Cor 5:7-8). Its observance here signifies a collective desire for spiritual cleansing and consecration, aligning with Hezekiah's reform.
- in the second month: (בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִֽי, bachodesh hash-sheni) This is a highly significant detail. Normally, this feast occurred in the first month (Num 28:16-17). The Mosaic Law, however, provided a dispensation (Pesach Sheni) for those unable to celebrate in the first month (e.g., due to ritual uncleanness or being on a distant journey), allowing them to observe it a month later (Num 9:10-11). Hezekiah’s decision to apply this provision nationally, due to insufficient priestly consecration and lack of timely assembly (2 Chr 30:3), reflects both his profound faith and divine flexibility. It underscored God's gracious acceptance of a sincere heart over rigid adherence to the letter of the law when extraordinary circumstances arose.
2 Chronicles 30 13 Bonus section
The exceptional attendance recorded in this verse, drawing people even from the Northern Kingdom, illustrates the powerful influence of a godly leader like Hezekiah who dared to seek the Lord in unconventional yet Spirit-led ways. This assembly, held under specific, legally permitted exceptional circumstances (the "second Passover" provision), speaks volumes about God's patience and desire for His people's repentance and restoration, allowing for flexibility when it furthers the higher spiritual good. It also provides a foundational example of spiritual unity being pursued even across historical divisions and in the face of mockery (2 Chr 30:10).
2 Chronicles 30 13 Commentary
2 Chronicles 30:13 underscores the astonishing success of Hezekiah's spiritual revival. Despite the spiritual decay under previous kings and the challenges of inviting a fractured and apostate nation, the verse emphasizes the overwhelming scale of participation, which can only be attributed to God's hand moving the hearts of the people (2 Chr 30:12). The extraordinary decision to observe the feast in the second month highlights a remarkable spiritual discernment by Hezekiah and his leaders. It prioritized the spirit of worship—gathering the nation for repentance and purification—over strict adherence to the letter of the law when practical hindrances existed. This demonstrates God’s grace and His desire for sincere, corporate worship, even when the external circumstances are not perfect. It was a visible sign of unity and a national recommitment to the covenant.