1
2Ch 30:1-12.
英文原文
2Ch 30:1-12.
HEZEKIAH PROCLAIMS A PASSOVER.
1-5. Hezekiah sent to all . . . Judah . . . to come to . . . Jerusalem, to keep the passover--This great religious festival had not been regularly observed by the Hebrews in their national capacity for a long time because of the division of the kingdom and the many disorders that had followed that unhappy event. Hezekiah longed extremely to see its observance revived; and the expression of his wishes having received a hearty response from the princes and chief men of his own kingdom, the preparatory steps were taken for a renewed celebration of the national solemnity.
letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh--The names of these leading tribes are used for the whole kingdom of Israel. It was judged impossible, however, that the temple, the priests, and people could be all duly sanctified at the usual time appointed for the anniversary, namely, the fourteenth day of the first month (Nisan). Therefore it was resolved, instead of postponing the feast till another year, to observe it on the fourteenth day of the second month; a liberty which, being in certain circumstances
(Nu 9:6-13)
granted to individuals, might, it was believed, be allowed to all the people. Hezekiah's proclamation was, of course, authoritative in his own kingdom, but it could not have been made and circulated in all the towns and villages of the neighboring kingdom without the concurrence, or at least the permission, of the Israelitish sovereign. Hoshea, the reigning king, is described as, though evil in some respects, yet more favorably disposed to religious liberty than any of his predecessors since the separation of the kingdom. This is thought to be the meaning of the mitigating clause in his character
(2Ki 17:2).
6
無標題
6. 郵差——即驛卒，或王的信使，選自王的親兵
（2Ch 23:1, 2）。 每人乘快馬，須跑一定的哩數。跑完一段之後由另一人接替，跑同樣的距離；如此王家的信使朝各方派出，王的諭旨便迅速傳遍全國。希西家的宣告之後，又附有他口頭的勸勉，敬虔地敦促歸回上帝藉摩西交付他們列祖的純正信仰與制度，並闡明其益處。
你們逃脫亞述諸王手的餘民——這暗示亞述入侵者已多次攻打以色列——普勒曾來犯
（2Ki 15:19）， 但當時無人被遷；後來提革拉毗列色來犯，似乎約旦河東各支派
（1Ch 5:26） 以及後來以色列北部
（2Ki 15:20） 有許多人被擄到外邦。撒縻以色的入侵不可能在此所指，因那事發生於希西家作王第六年
（2Ki 17:6；18:9-12）。
英文原文
6. the posts--that is, runners, or royal messengers, who were taken from the king's bodyguard
(2Ch 23:1, 2).
Each, well mounted, had a certain number of miles to traverse. Having performed his course, he was relieved by another, who had to scour an equal extent of ground; so that, as the government messengers were despatched in all directions, public edicts were speedily diffused throughout the country. The proclamation of Hezekiah was followed by a verbal address from himself, piously urging the duty, and setting forth the advantages, of a return to the pure faith and institutions which God had delivered to their ancestors through Moses.
the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria--This implies that several expeditions against Israel had already been made by Assyrian invaders--by Pul
(2Ki 15:19),
but none of the people were then removed; at a later period by Tiglath-pileser, when it appears that numbers among the tribes east of Jordan
(1Ch 5:26),
and afterwards in the northern parts of Israel
(2Ki 15:20),
were carried into foreign exile. The invasion of Shalmaneser cannot be alluded to, as it did not take place till the sixth year of Hezekiah's reign
(2Ki 17:6; 18:9-12).
10
無標題
10-12. 驛卒從這城跑到那城——這神聖節期既已停辦如此之久，此次復辦之舉在某些地方引起嘲弄與反對，也就不足為奇。因此，在以法蓮、瑪拿西和西布倫各支派中，希西家的使者遭到公開的侮辱與惡待。然而在這些地區，以及十支派國中各處，仍有許多人響應了邀請；而在猶大國中，則有一致的期望高昂、敬虔歡欣之情。在這場合赴耶路撒冷的人群極為眾多，此後這場合被視為有史以來最盛大的逾越節之一。
英文原文
10-12. the posts passed from city to city--It is not surprising that after so long a discontinuance of the sacred festival, this attempt to revive it should, in some quarters, have excited ridicule and opposition. Accordingly, among the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Zebulun, Hezekiah's messengers met with open insults and ill usage. Many, however, in these very districts, as well as throughout the kingdom of the ten tribes, generally complied with the invitation; while, in the kingdom of Judah, there was one unanimous feeling of high expectation and pious delight. The concourse that repaired to Jerusalem on the occasion was very great, and the occasion was ever after regarded as one of the greatest passovers that had ever been celebrated.
13
2Ch 30:13-27.
2Ch 30:13-27.
會眾毀壞偶像的祭壇。
英文原文
2Ch 30:13-27.
THE ASSEMBLY DESTROYS THE ALTARS OF IDOLATRY.
14
無標題
14. 他們起來，把耶路撒冷的祭壇拆掉——作為正當遵守即將來臨之盛典的必要預備，亞哈斯在城中所立的祭壇被決定拆除
（2Ch 28:24）； 因為希伯來人作為上帝的子民，有責任剷除一切偶像崇拜的痕跡；當他們自願承擔這項重要的預備工作時，這正是聖靈運行在百姓心中的影響之快樂記號與憑據。
英文原文
14. they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem--As a necessary preparation for the right observance of the approaching solemnity, the removal of the altars, which Ahaz had erected in the city, was resolved upon
(2Ch 28:24);
for, as the people of God, the Hebrews were bound to extirpate all traces of idolatry; and it was a happy sign and pledge of the influence of the Spirit pervading the minds of the people when they voluntarily undertook this important preliminary work.
15
無標題
15. 祭司和利未人自覺慚愧——雖然利未人也在此語中並提，所主要指的卻是祭司；他們中那些在潔淨自己上疏忽怠慢的
（2Ch 29:34）， 因百姓所表現更大的殷勤與熱忱而羞慚，並被激發盡其職責。
英文原文
15. the priests and the Levites were ashamed--Though the Levites are associated in this statement, the priests were principally referred to; those of them who had been dilatory or negligent in sanctifying themselves
(2Ch 29:34)
were put to the blush and stimulated to their duty by the greater alacrity and zeal of the people.
16
無標題
16-18. 祭司從利未人手裏接過血來灑——這是偏離了聖殿獻祭的既定規則與常規。原因是：在場許多人尚未潔淨，利未人便為一切不潔的人宰殺逾越節的祭牲（參
2Ch 35:5）。 平時由各家家長親自宰殺羊羔，祭司從他們手中接血獻在壇上。大批以色列人——尤其是某些支派的
（2Ch 30:18）—— 處於這種未潔淨的狀態，卻仍吃了逾越節——這是一個特殊的情形，與律法
（Nu 9:6） 相悖；但這例外是因希西家的禱告而蒙允
（2Ch 30:18-20）。
英文原文
16-18. the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites--This was a deviation from the established rules and practices in presenting the offerings of the temple. The reason was, that many present on the occasion having not sanctified themselves, the Levites slaughtered the paschal victims (see on
2Ch 35:5)
for everyone that was unclean. At other times the heads of families killed the lambs themselves, the priests receiving the blood from their hands and presenting it on the altar. Multitudes of the Israelites, especially from certain tribes
(2Ch 30:18),
were in this unsanctified state, and yet they ate the passover--an exceptional feature and one opposed to the law
(Nu 9:6);
but this exception was allowed in answer to Hezekiah's prayer
(2Ch 30:18-20).
20
無標題
20. 耶和華……醫治了百姓——我們推想整件事是這樣的：他們因犯罪而有理由懼怕疾病甚至死亡
（Le 15:31）。 希西家為這瀕於染病——因此可視為已經病了——的全國禱告〔BERTHEAU〕。
英文原文
20. the Lord . . . healed the people--We imagine the whole affair to have been the following: In consequence of their transgressions they had cause to fear disease and even death
(Le 15:31).
Hezekiah prayed for the nation, which was on the point of being diseased, and might therefore be regarded as sick already [BERTHEAU].
21
無標題
21-24. 以色列人……守節——律法所定節期持續的時間為七日
〔Ex 12:15；13:6；Le 23:6〕； 但由於這節期已長久廢弛，他們便將慶祝的時間加倍，一連十四日持守，毫無減損地滿懷滿足與喜樂。額外祭牲宴席所需之物，由王與眾首領的慷慨捐輸供應。
英文原文
21-24. the children of Israel . . . kept the feast--The time appointed by the law for the continuance of the feast was seven days
[Ex 12:15; 13:6; Le 23:6];
but in consequence of its having been allowed to fall so long into desuetude, they doubled the period of celebration and kept it fourteen days with unabated satisfaction and joy. Materials for the additional sacrificial meals were supplied by the munificence of the king and the princes.
24
無標題
24. 又有許多祭司潔淨自己——如此一來，便有足夠的人手處理額外的事奉。
英文原文
24. and a great number of priests sanctified themselves--so that there would be a sufficient number of hands for the additional services.
2Ch 30:1-12.
希西家宣告守逾越節。
1-5. 希西家差遣人見……猶大……來到……耶路撒冷守逾越節——這項重大的宗教節期，因王國分裂及其後種種亂事，已久未由希伯來人舉國遵守。希西家極盼恢復此節；他的心願得到本國首領與要人的熱切回應，於是便著手籌備這全國性大典的更新慶祝。
也給以法蓮和瑪拿西的信——這兩大支派之名用以代表整個以色列國。然而他們判斷，聖殿、祭司和百姓無法在例定的周年之日——即正月（尼散月）十四日——如期潔淨成聖。因此他們決定不把節期延至次年，而在二月十四日舉行；這項豁免原是在特定情形下
（Nu 9:6-13） 賜給個人的，如今他們相信也可通融給全民。希西家的諭旨在本國自屬有效，但若無以色列王的同意或至少許可，便不可能在鄰國各城鎮鄉村發佈傳達。在位的何細亞被描述為：雖在某些方面行惡，卻比王國分裂以來任何一位先王更傾向於宗教自由。這被認為就是他品格評語中那緩和之語的含義
（2Ki 17:2）。