2 Chronicles 30:26 kjv
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.
2 Chronicles 30:26 nkjv
So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 30:26 niv
There was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 30:26 esv
So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 30:26 nlt
There was great joy in the city, for Jerusalem had not seen a celebration like this one since the days of Solomon, King David's son.
2 Chronicles 30 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Neh 8:17 | "And all the assembly...had great joy..." | Similar great joy after obedience/Torah study. |
| Ps 126:2 | "Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy;" | Joy of restoration and return. |
| Isa 12:3 | "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." | Joy tied to salvation and God's deliverance. |
| Phil 4:4 | "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice." | Exhortation to Christian joy. |
| 1 Chr 29:9 | "Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly..." | Joy in giving for God's work (David's time). |
| Ps 100:1-2 | "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness;" | Universal call to joyful worship. |
| Lk 2:10 | "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy..." | Joy proclaimed at Christ's birth. |
| Acts 8:8 | "So there was much joy in that city." | Joy after receiving the Gospel. |
| Deut 12:7 | "and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God in all that you undertake." | Commanded joy in worship. |
| 2 Chr 29:36 | "And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had prepared..." | Joy at initial temple cleansing, God's work. |
| 1 Kgs 8:66 | "On the eighth day he sent the people away, and they blessed the king and went to their homes joyful..." | Joy at Solomon's temple dedication. |
| 2 Chr 7:10 | "On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their homes, joyful and glad of heart..." | Joy after Solomon's temple dedication feast. |
| Neh 12:43 | "And on that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy;" | Post-exilic dedication, God gives joy. |
| Isa 35:10 | "and the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;" | Prophetic joy of future restoration. |
| Jer 31:12 | "They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord..." | Future joy over God's blessings and restoration. |
| Joel 2:23 | "Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God;" | Prophetic call to joy after spiritual revival. |
| Zech 8:19 | "Therefore love truth and peace." | Feasts of sorrow turned to joy in future. |
| Ezra 6:22 | "And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy," | Post-exilic Passover joy. |
| Ps 42:4 | "with the voice of thanksgiving and praise, a multitude keeping festival." | Remembrance of joyous temple worship. |
| 2 Chr 35:18 | "No Passover like it had been kept in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet..." | Similar exceptional Passover during Josiah's reign. |
2 Chronicles 30 verses
2 Chronicles 30 26 Meaning
This verse declares the profound and unparalleled joy experienced in Jerusalem during Hezekiah's extended Passover celebration. It emphasizes that this level of collective spiritual exhilaration and widespread observance of the feast had not been witnessed since the peak of Israel's national and religious unity under King Solomon, son of David. The joy was a direct result of renewed obedience and communion with God following decades of apostasy.
2 Chronicles 30 26 Context
Chapter 30 details King Hezekiah's significant religious reform and Passover celebration in Judah. Upon ascending the throne, Hezekiah immediately initiated a restoration of true worship, cleaning the temple and reinstating priestly duties. In his zeal, he sent messengers throughout Judah and Israel (the Northern Kingdom, then in decline and partial captivity) inviting all to observe a delayed Passover in Jerusalem. Despite ridicule from some, many from the northern tribes, and a vast number from Judah, responded. The large assembly of ceremonially unclean but repentant worshippers prompted innovative priestly practices and a fervent appeal for God's mercy. This collective act of national repentance and dedication culminated in an unprecedented extension of the feast by an additional seven days, during which the priests and Levites diligently taught and led worship. The verse follows this period of intense spiritual activity, summarizing the profound emotional and spiritual outcome of the revived observance. Historically, this event represented a major spiritual turning point, a reunification effort that temporarily transcended the North-South division, reaching back to a foundational covenant practice of Israel.
2 Chronicles 30 26 Word analysis
- So (וַיְהִי, vayhi): This conjunction signifies a direct consequence. The great joy was a result of the meticulous planning, widespread invitation, heartfelt repentance, extended feast, and diligent worship that preceded it.
- there was great joy (שִׂמְחָה גְדֹלָה, simchah g’dolah):
- great (g’dolah): Indicates magnitude, not merely mild happiness, but a profound, overwhelming, and shared national emotion. It suggests divine pleasure and blessing manifesting in human experience.
- joy (simchah): Often used in the Old Testament for joy in worship, feasting, and God's deliverance (e.g., in Temple dedication, harvest festivals). Here, it implies deep spiritual contentment and elation stemming from restored communion with God.
- in Jerusalem: The specified location emphasizes its significance as the spiritual capital and the divinely chosen place for worship. The city itself became a vessel for this outpouring of spiritual delight.
- for since the time of Solomon: Establishes a benchmark, drawing a comparison to the golden age of Israel's history. This period under Solomon represented the peak of national unity, prosperity, and elaborate worship (especially the Temple's dedication), serving as an ideal against which subsequent events were measured.
- the son of David: Highlights Solomon's lineage, connecting the event back to the Davidic covenant and the ideal of a righteous Davidic king reigning over a united Israel in true worship.
- king of Israel: Refers to Solomon as the ruler of the undivided kingdom. This reinforces the historical scope of the comparison and underscores Hezekiah's success in temporarily gathering individuals from both the northern and southern tribes, reminiscent of Solomon's unified dominion.
- there had been nothing like this:
- nothing like this (lo hayetah kezo’t): A hyperbolic phrase common in biblical narratives to emphasize the extraordinary, unprecedented, and unparalleled nature of an event. It underlines the sheer scale and intensity of the spiritual revival and the joyful celebration.
- in Jerusalem: Specifies the unprecedented nature was specifically experienced in the sacred city, indicating a renewed fervor for the central place of worship.
- Word-group Analysis:
- "great joy in Jerusalem": This phrase paints a picture of collective spiritual outpouring in the heart of God's chosen city. It's a reflection of God's presence and pleasure among His people, confirming the righteousness of Hezekiah's actions.
- "since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this": This is a key Chronicler's statement. It's not just a historical comparison but a theological one. It signifies that Hezekiah's revival reached a level of faithfulness and devotion comparable to Israel's pinnacle under Solomon, suggesting a divine validation of Hezekiah's reforms and a hope for future unity. The return to the Law brought a joy mirroring that of national purity.
2 Chronicles 30 26 Bonus section
The Chronicler frequently emphasizes joy as an indicator of genuine spiritual restoration and God's approval (e.g., in David's time for the ark, in Solomon's dedication). This specific mention of joy exceeding that since Solomon's era (compare with Josiah's Passover, which was said to be "no Passover like it had been kept... since the days of Samuel," 2 Chr 35:18, emphasizing its cultic correctness) highlights the spiritual depth and breadth of Hezekiah's revival beyond just strict adherence to the law. It hints at a widespread change of heart and collective fervor, indicative of the Spirit's working. Hezekiah's courage in extending the feast and inviting a seemingly excluded Northern Kingdom demonstrated a bold faith that led to extraordinary divine blessing and resultant joy.
2 Chronicles 30 26 Commentary
2 Chronicles 30:26 serves as the climax to Hezekiah's extensive Passover revival. The unparalleled joy was not merely an emotional high, but a spiritual phenomenon resulting from the nation's profound repentance and renewed covenant with God. This restoration transcended the mere keeping of the Law; it involved a deep heart transformation leading to overflowing worship and gladness. The comparison to Solomon's reign, the pinnacle of unified Israel's spiritual life, validates Hezekiah's radical reforms as divinely favored. It implies a glimpse of the ideal Israel: unified, worshipping God fully, and experiencing the resultant divine blessing. This joy, bestowed by God, signified His acceptance of their sacrifice and dedication, becoming a foretaste of future spiritual revivals and the ultimate joy found in God's completed redemption.