John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. For they could not keep it at the time , etc.] In the month Nisan, as the Targum adds, on the fourteenth day of the month, as the law enjoined, because the cleansing of the temple was not finished until the sixteenth day, (see 2 Chronicles 29:17) and, besides this, two other reasons follow: because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently ; that is, a sufficient number of them were not sanctified, to slay all the passover lambs the people that came to the feast would want: neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem ; they had no notice of it, nor summons for it; and it was required that, at such a time, all the males in the land should appear at Jerusalem; but this custom having been long disused, it required time to acquaint them of the revival of it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-12 - Hezekiah made Israel as welcome to the passover, as any of his ow subjects. Let us yield ourselves unto the Lord. Say not, you will do what you please, but resolve to do what he pleases. We perceive in the carnal mind a stiffness, an obstinacy, an unaptness to compel with God we have it from our fathers: this must be overcome. Those who, throug grace, have turned to God themselves, should do all they can to brin others to him. Numbers will be scorners, but some will be humbled an benefited; perhaps where least expected. The rich mercy of God is the great argument by which to enforce repentance; the vilest who submi and yield themselves to the Lord, seek his grace, and give themselve to his service, shall certainly be saved. Oh that messengers were sen forth to carry these glad tidings to every city and every village through every land!
Original Hebrew כי3588 לא3808 יכלו3201 לעשׂתו6213 בעת6256 ההיא1931 כי3588 הכהנים3548 לא3808 התקדשׁו6942 למדי1767 והעם5971 לא3808 נאספו622 לירושׁלם׃3389
