The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-05
Sunday School lesson for November 6.
Hezekiah's Great Passover.
Chronicles Xxx. 1-13
BY j. e. GILBERT, D. D., LL D.,
Secretary of American Society of Religious Education

1NTRODrCTION.-T The KINGDOM of
Israel and of Judah were DISTINGUISHED
mainly by the character of their kings.
In the former they were nearly all
supporters of heather deitics from
Jcroboam ]. down to the last. while
in the latter nation the greater num-
hor worshiped Jehovah. ASA, Jehos.
haphat, Joash, Amaziah. UzZiah AMI
Jothnm. long line of pious men, ruled
in Judah, securing the favor of God
who bcstoW ed blessings upon the land.
Today we shall study single event in
the good reign of Hezeliiah who sue
ceeded Ahaz b. G. 726. In his zeal for
the religion Of his fathers he exhorted
the Levitcs, cleansed the house of the
Lord, offered sacrifices and promoted
public Worship somewhat after the
primitive style. This record ,Chap.
NXiX) shows that certain abuses had
crept in under his predecessor which
Hczekiah sought to correct.
lNN1TATION-Whe he had been
on the throne about six years, per-
hapS little longer. Hezekiah deter
mined TO keep the Passover in an un-
usual manner. That great feast, in
stituted as Il memorial of Gods care
of His people in Egypt, was bond of
national unity, pledge of continued
loyalty CEN, Xiii:1D. Although OBJ
served with more or less regularity
from the time of the exodus il had
not been what it was designed to be.
Hezekiah resolved to invite the entire
natiCn to this annual celebration. in
Guiding Israel as well rs Judah. His
purpose was first laid before the
princes of the congregation in Jerusa-
lem tNersc - AS they would b. the
hoStS their approval and corporation
were necessary. Messengers were sent
out bearing letters (vcrse y. address
ed in particular to Ephraim and Man.
asSeh. who as the descendants of Jo-
Seph Gen, XIVi:2O) were deemed to be
| the leaders among the ten tribes and
| to represent the entire nation.
HINDRANCES.-The legal time for
holding the Passover was on the four
| teenth day of the first month. which
| had been appointed to he the begin
| ming Of the Jewish year. (Ex, Kill Bu
| Hezekiah found it impossible to ge
| ready at that time. The number o
| P'''St' was Ilpl ldISe enough Tor al
! the services required of them, (chap
xxx. 34, and the Levites had beer
| obliged to assist them. As a consC
| quence they had not sanctifed them
selves or the temple, according TO tn,
| usual custom. and was therefore dis
qualified for the work of the Passover
| Besides, certain time must elaps,
| before the public could assemble !,
response to the invitation. Fortunate
ly, there was a provision in the law t.
meet emergencies of this nature, (Num
iX, ID. and so the fourteenth day o
the second month was selected. tn
poStponcmcnt adding interest to the Oc
| CasiOn In this we see that Jewisl
| ccremonials We're not as rigid as tn
| Pharisees in Christ's time would max
them. FleXibilty is essential to tha
which endures.
| EXTENT invitation sent ou
was a formal and legal document TIL
| consultation related in a decree, q
statute, which became a matter of re
cord in the public achives. TO Civ,
popular effect to this decree a pro
Clamation was issued calling the peo
pie to assemble in Jerusalem from DaI
to Beer-Sheba, that is, from all part
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
on this side of the water. If YOU sc
into a town and want to put up yo'
,,s.ts I.,.,,.