So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba 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.
2 CHRONICLES 30:5KJVWhat does 2 Chronicles 30:5 mean?
2 Chronicles 30:5 describes how a formal decision was made to send a message throughout all of Israel, from the southernmost town of Beersheba to the northernmost town of Dan, inviting everyone to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover as God had commanded, something that had not been done properly for a long time. The verse highlights the effort to restore a neglected tradition by calling all Israelites to unite in worship at Jerusalem.
King Hezekiah and his officials are the ones making this decree, and they are reaching out not just to the people of Judah (their own kingdom) but to all the tribes of Israel, even those in the far north. The situation is one of religious renewal, as the Passover had not been observed "in such sort as it was written" for many years, meaning the people had drifted from the way God originally instructed them to keep this festival.
The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 30:5
- דָּבָר (davar, "decree"): This word means "word," "matter," or "decree." Here, it emphasizes that this was an official, authoritative decision, not just a suggestion.
- עָבַר (avar, "proclamation"): This verb means "to pass over" or "to go through." It highlights that the proclamation was sent throughout the land, covering all regions.
- פֶּסַח (pesach, "passover"): This is the specific festival being restored. The verse underscores that the Passover, central to Israel’s identity, had been neglected.
- יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yerushalayim, "Jerusalem"): Naming Jerusalem as the gathering place stresses the unity and centrality of worship in one location, as originally intended.
Why 2 Chronicles 30:5 matters
- The verse shows the seriousness of Hezekiah’s reforms by reaching out to all Israel, not just his own kingdom, demonstrating a desire for national spiritual renewal.
- It clarifies that the Passover had not been kept "as it was written" for a long time, pointing to a period of spiritual neglect and the need to return to God’s instructions.
- The mention of Beersheba to Dan signals an invitation to all Israelites, regardless of their location or past divisions, to come together in worship.