Ezra 6:19-22 - Homilies By J.a. Macdonald

The passover.

Six memorable passovers are mentioned in Old Testament Scripture. The first was in Egypt ( Exodus 12:1-51 .). The second in the wilderness ( Numbers 11:1-35 .). The third at Gilgal ( Joshua 5:1-15 .). The fourth in the days of Hezekiah ( 2 Chronicles 30:1-27 .). The fifth in the eighteenth year of Josiah ( 2 Kings 23:1-37 .). The sixth is that here mentioned. The subject is distributed into two parts:—

I. THE FEAST . This also is distributed into two parts.

1. The passover proper.

2. The feast of unleavened bread ,

3. The feast was kept with joy.

II. THE PREPARATION .

1. The priests were purified, and the Levites were all of them pure. The state of things was now as it had been in the days of Hezekiah, when the passover had to be held in the second month because the priests had not sufficiently sanctified themselves to hold it at the more proper time ( 2 Chronicles 30:3 ). Note—When the spiritual temple is complete the priests and Levites—the saints of God—will be all morally pure.

2. All the children of the captivity were pure.

3. Believing Gentiles were joined with their Jewish brethren ( Ezra 6:21 ). They were qualified for this holy fellowship—