the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites. 17For there were many in the congregation that had not sanctified themselves: therefore the Levites had the charge of killing the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD. 18For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it is written. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon [1]everyone 19that setteth his heart to seek God, the LORD, the God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. 20And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people. 21And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with loud
17. of killing the passovers] "Passovers" (plur. rare) = "Paschal victims"; cp. ver. 15, xxxv. 8 ("passover offerings").
18. of Ephraim, etc.] The list of tribes given here does not agree with the list in ver. 11, but in both cases it may be that the Chronicler merely wished by his list to designate men of the Northern Kingdom as opposed to those of the Southern. He could not make the distinction by using the term "Israel" here, for in Chron. "Israel" as a rule is not used in opposition to "Judah"; cp. xi. 3 (note). (For a somewhat different view, see the head-note on vv. 1—12 and xv. 9.)
otherwise than it is written] i.e. they were allowed to partake of the Passover meal, although not purified according to the regulations of the Law.
18, 19. The good LORD pardon every one that, etc.] In Heb. ver. 18 ends abruptly with the word "pardon." Probably the R.V. is correct in disregarding the Heb. division. The phrase "the good LORD" is not found elsewhere, and another suggestion is to transpose the adjective and read (ver. 18) . . . "The LORD pardon the good: (ver. 19) even every one that," etc. The LXX., however, supports the order of the Heb. text.
20. healed the people] By prevention; no plague was allowed to break out among them, although uncleanness in the sanctuary had been threatened with death; Lev. xv. 31.
21. with loud instruments] Lit. "with instruments of strength." It is better to read "with all their might" (as 1 Chr. xiii. 8). The change in Heb. amounts only to the dropping of the smallest letter (yōd).
- ↑ Or, him that setteth his whole heart
