II Chronicles 30:1-12 · Bible study
2 Chronicles 30:1-12 Commentary: Hezekiah's Passover
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Hezekiah invites all Israel to the Passover in Jerusalem, calling repentance and revealing God's heart for unified worship across a divided people.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Hezekiah calls the divided nation to a unified Passover in Jerusalem, linking repentance and worship with covenant restoration.
- Key words: Ratsim (runners/couriers), shuv (return/turn back, repeated seven times in vv.6-9), lev echad (one heart, v.12).
- Main debate: Whether the second-month observance was a lawful exception (Num 9:10-11) or a creative innovation, most commentators affirm the former.
- Theological theme: Covenant unity under God requires repentance, leadership, and divine enablement; worship at the designated sanctuary is central.
- Best use: A model for how church leaders can call a divided people back to God’s priorities with both truth and pastoral flexibility.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
1Then 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.
2For the king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem had decided to keep the Passover in the second month,
3since they had been unable to observe it at the regular time, because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not been gathered in Jerusalem.
4This proposal pleased the king and the whole assembly.
5So they established a decree to circulate a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that the people should come to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel, in Jerusalem. For they had not observed it as a nation as prescribed.
6So the couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his officials, which read: “Children of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that He may return to those of you who remain, who have escaped the grasp of the kings of Assyria.
7Do not be like your fathers and brothers who were unfaithful to the LORD, the God of their fathers, so that He made them an object of horror, as you can see.
8Now do not stiffen your necks as your fathers did. Submit to the LORD and come to His sanctuary, which He has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that His fierce anger will turn away from you.
9For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful; He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.”
10And 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.
11Nevertheless, some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.
12Moreover, the power of God was on the people in Judah to give them one heart to obey the command of the king and his officials according to the word of the LORD.
WEB World English Bible 2000
1Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to Yahweh’s house at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to Yahweh, the God of Israel.
2For the king had taken counsel with his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem to keep the Passover in the second month.
3For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves in sufficient number, and the people had not gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.
4The thing was right in the eyes of the king and of all the assembly.
5So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to Yahweh, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem, for they had not kept it in great numbers in the way it is written.
6So the couriers went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, according to the commandment of the king, saying, “You children of Israel, turn again to Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may return to the remnant of you that have escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.
7Don’t be like your fathers and like your brothers, who trespassed against Yahweh, the God of their fathers, so that he gave them up to desolation, as you see.
8Now don’t be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to Yahweh, and enter into his sanctuary, which he has sanctified forever, and serve Yahweh your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you.
9For if you turn again to Yahweh, your brothers and your children will find compassion with those who led them captive, and will come again into this land, because Yahweh your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you if you return to him.”
10So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even to Zebulun, but people ridiculed them and mocked them.
11Nevertheless some men of Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.
12Also the hand of God came on Judah to give them one heart, to do the commandment of the king and of the princes by Yahweh’s word.
KJV King James Version 1769
1And 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.
2For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month.
3For 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.
4And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation.
5So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beer–sheba 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.
6So 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.
7And 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.
8Now 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.
9For 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.
10So 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.
11Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.
12Also 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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
1And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto Jehovah, the God of Israel.
2For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the assembly in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month.
3For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves in sufficient number, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.
4And the thing was right in the eyes of the king and of all the assembly.
5So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto Jehovah, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem: for they had not kept it in great numbers in such sort as it is written.
6So 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 Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may return to the remnant that are escaped of you out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.
7And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, who trespassed against Jehovah, the God of their fathers, so that he gave them up to desolation, as ye see.
8Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were; but yield yourselves unto Jehovah, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever, and serve Jehovah your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you.
9For if ye turn again unto Jehovah, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that led them captive, and shall come again into this land: for Jehovah your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.
10So 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.
11Nevertheless certain men of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.
12Also upon Judah came the hand of God to give them one heart, to do the commandment of the king and of the princes by the word of Jehovah.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
1And Hezekiah sendeth unto all Israel and Judah, and also letters he hath written unto Ephraim and Manasseh, to come in to the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem, to make a passover to Jehovah, God of Israel.
2And the king taketh counsel, and his heads, and all the assembly in Jerusalem, to make the passover in the second month,
3for they have not been able to make it at that time, for the priests have not sanctified themselves sufficiently, and the people have not been gathered to Jerusalem.
4And the thing is right in the eyes of the king, and in the eyes of all the assembly,
5and they establish the thing, to cause to pass over an intimation into all Israel, from Beer-Sheba even unto Dan, to come in to make a passover to Jehovah, God of Israel, in Jerusalem, for not for a long time had they done as it is written.
6And the runners go with letters from the hand of the king and his heads, into all Israel and Judah, even according to the command of the king, saying, `O sons of Israel, turn back unto Jehovah, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and He doth turn back unto the escaped part that is left of you from the hand of the kings of Asshur;
7and do not be like your fathers, and like your brethren, who trespassed against Jehovah, God of their fathers, and He giveth them to desolation, as ye do see.
8`Now, harden not your neck like your fathers, give a hand to Jehovah, and come in to His sanctuary, that He hath sanctified to the age, and serve Jehovah your God, and the fierceness of His anger doth turn back from you;
9for in your turning back unto Jehovah, your brethren and your sons have mercies before their captors, even to return to this land, for gracious and merciful is Jehovah your God, and He doth not turn aside the face from you, if ye turn back unto Him.'
10And the runners are passing over from city to city, in the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, even unto Zebulun: and they are laughing at them, and mocking at them,
11only, certain from Asher, and Manasseh, and from Zebulun, have been humbled, and come in to Jerusalem.
12Also, in Judah hath the hand of God been to give to them one heart to do the command of the king and of the heads, in the matter of Jehovah;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
1And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem, to hold the passover to Jehovah the God of Israel.
2And the king took counsel, and his princes, and the whole congregation in Jerusalem, to hold the passover in the second month.
3For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not hallowed themselves in sufficient number, neither had the people been gathered together to Jerusalem.
4And the thing pleased the king and the whole congregation.
5So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout Israel from Beer-sheba even to Dan, that they should come to hold the passover to Jehovah the God of Israel, at Jerusalem; because they had not held it for a long time as it was written.
6And the couriers went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, return to Jehovah the 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.
7And be not like your fathers and like your brethren, who transgressed against Jehovah the God of their fathers, so that he gave them up to desolation, as ye see.
8Now, harden not your necks, as your fathers; yield yourselves to Jehovah, and come to his sanctuary, which he has sanctified for ever; and serve Jehovah your God, that the fierceness of his anger may turn away from you.
9For if ye return to Jehovah, your brethren and your children shall find compassion with those that have carried them captive, so that they shall come again unto this land; for Jehovah your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return to him.
10And the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even to Zebulun; but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them.
11Nevertheless certain of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.
12The hand of God was also upon Judah to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of Jehovah.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
1And Ezechias sent to all Israel and Juda: and he wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasses, that they should come to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and keep the phase to the Lord the God of Israel,
2For the king, taking counsel, and the princes, and all the assembly of Jerusalem, decreed to keep the phase the second month.
3For they could not keep it in its time; because there were not priests enough sanctified, and the people was not as yet gathered together to Jerusalem.
4And the thing pleased the king, and all the people.
5And they decreed to send messengers to all Israel from Bersabee even to Dan, that they should come, and keep the phase to the Lord the God of Israel in Jerusalem: for many had not kept it as it is prescribed by the law.
6And the posts went with letters by commandment of the king, and his princes, to all Israel and Juda, proclaiming according to the king's orders: Ye children of Israel, turn again to the Lord the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Israel: and he will return to the remnant of you that have escaped the hand of the king of the Assyrians.
7Be not like your fathers, and brethren, who departed from the Lord the God of their fathers, and he hath given them up to destruction, as you see.
8Harden not your necks, as your fathers did: yield yourselves to the Lord, and come to his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified forever: serve the Lord the God of your fathers, and the wrath of his indignation shall be turned away from you.
9For if you turn again to the Lord, your brethren, and children shall find mercy before their masters, that have led them away captive, and they shall return into this land: for the Lord your God is merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.
10So the posts went speedily from city to city, through the land of Ephraim, and of Manasses, even to Zabulon, whilst they laughed at them and mocked them.
11Nevertheless some men of Aser, and of Manasses, and of Zabulon, yielding to the counsel, came to Jerusalem.
12But the hand of God was in Juda, to give them one heart to do the word of the Lord, according to the commandment of the king, and of the princes.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Chronicles 30:1
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Hezekiah's Passover invitation is a landmark act of religious reformation and national reunification. The king, having cleansed the temple in chapter 29, now seeks to restore the Passover as commanded in the Law (Exodus 12, Deuteronomy 16). Because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient number and the people were not gathered, the celebration was moved to the second month, a decision the Cambridge Bible and Barnes note was permitted under Numbers 9:10-11 for those unable to attend in the first month. The letters, carried by royal runners (the Hebrew ratsim, described by Keil and Delitzsch as probably the king's bodyguard or messengers), called for repentance: “Return to Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel” (v.6). The response was divided: many in the northern tribes mocked the couriers, yet some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem (v.11). In Judah, “the hand of God gave them one heart” to obey (v.12). The unifying conviction across the commentaries is that true worship of Yahweh at the place He chose was the proper center of covenant unity, overriding the political rift between north and south.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Hezekiah's Passover invitation demonstrates that worship of Yahweh according to the Torah was central to national restoration, requiring repentance, leadership, and divine grace.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Legitimacy of the second-month Passover | All commentators agree that the postponement was necessary because the priests were not sufficiently sanctified and the people were not gathered, and that Numbers 9:10-11 provides a legal basis for a late Passover. | The debate is minor: some emphasize that the permission was intended for individuals, not the whole congregation, yet they accept the extension as reasonable under the circumstances. |
| The nature of the couriers | Commentators agree that the Hebrew word <em>ratsim</em> refers to royal runners or messengers, possibly drawn from the king's bodyguard (cf. 2 Kings 10:25). | There is no substantive debate; the descriptive detail is consistent across sources. |
| The scope of the invitation to the north | All note that Hezekiah sent to all Israel, including Ephraim and Manasseh, and that the couriers traveled as far as Zebulun, implying a wide geographic reach. | Some suggest that certain northern tribes (e.g., Naphtali, Simeon) may not have been reached due to Assyrian devastation or distance, as per Barnes and Keil. |
| The meaning of 'one heart' in Judah | All see it as a divine gift of unity and willingness to obey the king's command according to God's word. | No debate; the phrase is understood as God's gracious enabling of a unified response. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Hezekiah came to the throne of Judah after his father Ahaz, who had compromised with Assyrian religion and sealed the temple (2 Chronicles 28). In his first year, Hezekiah reopened and cleansed the temple (2 Chronicles 29). The Passover in chapter 30 is the crowning event of this reformation. At that time the northern kingdom of Israel still existed, but Assyrian kings, Pul, Tiglath-pileser, and Shalmaneser, had already deported many of its people. The letter refers to “the remnant that have escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria” (v.6). The northern kingdom would fall within a few years, and Hezekiah's invitation was a last opportunity for covenant renewal.
The Law required the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at the central sanctuary. But because the temple had just been cleansed, the priests had not consecrated themselves in adequate numbers, and the people were not yet gathered, the king and his assembly decided on the second month. Barnes and the Cambridge Bible observe that this followed the permission in Numbers 9:10-11, which allowed a delayed Passover for those who were unclean or on a journey. The decision was not a rejection of the law but a thoughtful application under urgent circumstances.
The couriers (Hebrew ratsim, “runners”) were a class of royal messengers, possibly drawn from the king's bodyguard as Barnes and Keil suggest. They carried letters throughout the land, from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north, spanning the whole territory of the twelve tribes. The letters themselves are a miniature sermon: they invoke the patriarchs, warn against the stiff-necked rebellion of previous generations (compare 2 Chronicles 29:8), and promise that if the people return, God will restore their exiled families. The promise “Yahweh your God is gracious and merciful” (v.9) echoes the self-revelation of God at Sinai (Exodus 34:6).
The response was not uniform. In the northern regions of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Zebulun, the couriers were met with laughter and mockery. Yet some people in Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came. In Judah, God's hand gave them “one heart” to obey. The passage shows that religious unity, not political coercion, was Hezekiah's goal, and that unity required humility and divine enablement.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants in this passage. The Hebrew text is stable across the major manuscripts. The Cambridge Bible observes that the Septuagint renders the couriers' action in v.10 with a periphrastic construction (“were passing”) but this does not affect the sense. The phrase in v.5 “they had not kept it in great numbers in such sort as it is written” appears in slightly different forms in translations, but the underlying Hebrew (ki lo la-rov asu ka-katuv) is clear: the nation had not participated in the Passover in large numbers as prescribed.
Reception History
This passage has been received as a model of religious reformation and unity. Early Jewish interpretation, reflected in the Targum, stresses the abiding divine presence: God “will not cause his majesty to ascend up from among you” (v.9). Christian commentators from the Reformation onward saw in Hezekiah's Passover a pattern for renewing corporate worship. Matthew Henry used the passage to urge repentance and the priority of worship over political concerns. John Wesley highlighted the extension of grace to the whole nation, including the wayward northern tribes. The mixed response, mockery alongside humble obedience, has often been used to illustrate the varied human reaction to God's call. The image of God giving “one heart” (v.12) has been cherished in traditions that emphasize the Spirit's work in unifying the people of God for obedient service.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Priority of Worship. Before any political alliance or military campaign, Hezekiah focuses on the Passover. Cleansing the temple and gathering the nation for worship is the foundation of reformation.
- The Call to Return. The invitation is not merely a request to attend a festival. It is a call to repentance, to “turn again to Yahweh” (v.6). The letter confronts the people with their history of unfaithfulness and appeals to God's grace.
- The Divided Response. Some ridicule the invitation; others humble themselves and come. In Judah, God gives the people a unified heart. The outcome teaches that the same message can produce contempt or faith, and unity is ultimately a gift of God.
Five-point outline
- Preparation. The temple is cleansed, priests are sanctified as far as possible (2 Chr 29; 30:3).
- Postponement. The feast is moved to the second month, a legal accommodation (Num 9:10-11; v.2).
- Proclamation. Couriers spread the king's letters from Beersheba to Dan with a call to return.
- Promise. The letter promises that repentance will lead to restoration of exiles and God's favor (v.9).
- Unity through Worship. In Judah, God's hand gives one heart to obey; in the north, humility wins a remnant.
Illustration hooks
- A family reunion that is postponed so that relatives traveling from far away can attend, the decision puts togetherness above the calendar.
- A letter from a distant relative who has been estranged, inviting the whole family to a special event and asking for forgiveness, some open it with hope, others mock the gesture.
- A community project that succeeds only when people from divided neighborhoods decide to work together, each side giving up something.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does it matter where or when we worship, as long as we are sincere?
- What should we do when a call to repentance is met with ridicule or indifference?
- How can we experience the “one heart” that the Spirit gives to a divided church?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows a king who put worship at the center of national renewal. Hezekiah could have focused on fortifying the cities against Assyria. Instead he invited the whole nation to come back to God. The willingness to postpone the Passover to the second month reveals a practical wisdom that served the larger goal: gathering the people. As you work through the discussion, notice how the letter combines warning with grace, and how unity is shown to be a gift that requires a response of humility.
Discussion questions
- Read vv.1-5. Why was the Passover postponed? What does this decision tell you about Hezekiah’s priorities and his understanding of the Law?
- Look at the letter (vv.6-9). What motives does it appeal to? How does it connect repentance with the promise of restoration?
- Verse 6 calls the people “the remnant that have escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.” Why would this description stir the hearers to respond?
- In v.8, the people are told to “yield yourselves to the Lord” (literally “give the hand to the Lord”). What does this image convey about wholehearted commitment?
- Compare the different responses in vv.10-12. What makes some people mock and others humble themselves? Can we explain the difference only by human choices, or is God’s hand involved?
- Verse 12 says God gave Judah “one heart.” What does this phrase mean for the unity of a church or a family today? How is unity both God’s gift and our responsibility?
- Based on this passage, what role should corporate worship and repentance play in the life of a Christian community that faces external threats or internal division?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 12:3 | Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth day of this month, they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household; |
| Exodus 12:20 | You shall eat nothing leavened. In all your habitations you shall eat unleavened bread.’” |
| Deuteronomy 16:2 | You shall sacrifice the Passover to Yahweh your God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which Yahweh shall choose to cause his name to dwell there. |
| Deuteronomy 16:6 | but at the place which Yahweh your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell in, there you shall sacrifice the Passover at evening, at the going down of the sun, at the season that you came out of Egypt. |
| II Chronicles 11:13 | The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel stood with him out of all their territory. |
| II Chronicles 11:16 | After them, out of all the tribes of Israel, those who set their hearts to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Yahweh, the God of their fathers. |
| II Chronicles 25:7 | A man of God came to him, saying, “O king, don’t let the army of Israel go with you, for Yahweh is not with Israel, with all the children of Ephraim. |
| II Chronicles 35:6 | Kill the Passover lamb, sanctify yourselves, and prepare for your brothers, to do according to Yahweh’s word by Moses.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes explains that Hezekiah and his counselors lawfully deferred the Passover to the second month because the temple cleansing could not be completed by the usual date. He clarifies that the passage does not assume Samaria had already fallen, since only five of the ten northern tribes actually sent representatives.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Chronicler ignores politics and notes only that Hezekiah dared to invite all Israel to the Passover while the Northern Kingdom lay fallen, something earlier kings would not have attempted. For the first time, a regular Passover drew the whole nation en masse to Jerusalem.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that Hezekiah did not command the northern tribes to come for Passover, since they were not his subjects. Instead he reminded them of their duty and gave a warm invitation, making clear the temple doors were open to them. The postponement to the second month was necessary because the temple cleansing was unfinished and too few priests were sanctified.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that Hezekiah longed to revive the national Passover, which had fallen out of regular observance due to the kingdom's division. The king's messengers needed Hoshea's permission to enter Israel, and they faced ridicule in some northern tribes, while Judah responded with unanimous eagerness and pious delight.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch argue that Hezekiah's great Passover did not occur in the first year of his reign, as most commentators hold. They contend the postponement to the second month was lawful, and the priests' insufficient sanctification refers to their moral state, not their numbers, indicating a later date.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley sees the second-month Passover as an extension of the law's provision for individual uncleanness to the whole congregation. He stresses that the ten tribes' temporary obedience came only by God's gracious hand, and their later refusal to accept this offer led to their captivity about six years afterward.