Pesach in the Neviim by Dr. Tova Ganzel

We find the holiday of Pesach celebrated in the Neviim during the days of Yehoshua, Hezkiyahu, Yoshiyahu, Yechezkel and Ezra. The first description is found in the days of Yehoshua: (Chapter 5, 9-12). The Nation of Israel returned to their Land, and started living without relying on the Manna, without the Heavenly connection between Hashem and His people. Instead, immediately upon entering the Land, they performed the Mitzvah of Brit Mila, followed by the celebration of Pesach on the exact date- these were the symbols of the connection between Hashem and His people, this is an Earthly manifestation which is not reliant on miracles.

Many years later, King Hezkiyahu purified the Mikdash in Yerushalayim and rid it of all idol worship. He ruled the Kingdom of Yehudah after his father King Ahaz ruled, a king who worshipped idols and defiled the Mikdash. Following the purification of the Mikdash, King Hezkiyahu wanted to commemorate the historical covenant between Hashem and His people, in the same fashion as in the time of Yehoshua, which is the celebration of the holiday of Pesach. The book of Divrei Hayamim describes the celebrations very vividly: Hezkiyahu And the king and his officers and the entire congregation took counsel in Jerusalem, to perform the Passover sacrifice in the second month. For they could not perform it at that time, for the priests had not consecrated themselves sufficiently, and the people had not gathered to Jerusalem:… And they issued a statement to announce throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan to come to perform a Passover sacrifice to Hashem, the God of Israel, in Jerusalem, because for many years they had not performed it as it is written:". Surprisingly, both in the Book of Melachim and the book of Yeshayahu, where they each tell the story of what happened in the Times of King Hezkiyahu, there is no mention of the celebration of Pesach during the time of Hezkiyahu. Maybe this is a hint to the fact that this was not considered as such a historic event, as the other events described in the book of Melachim. Perhaps the reason for this is the way in which Pesach was celebrated in that year. This wasn’t a Pesach which was celebrated in the regular tradition rather it was "Pesach in the second month". Just to clarify, this was not "Pesach Sheni" which is celebrated for one day, rather "And a huge crowd assembled in Jerusalem to observe the Festival of Matzot in the second month, an exceedingly large assembly… And they slaughtered the Passover sacrifice on the fourteenth day of the second month… And the Children of Israel who were present in Jerusalem observed the Festival of Matzot for seven days". Pesach was celebrated in the second month, during an entire week, and not at its appointed time. Despite this, and the fact that not everyone was able to bring the sacrifice in a halakhically pure state on the Pesach that was celebrated during the times of Hezkiyahu- it was a unique Pesach- the celebration of the holiday was extremely joyous and was an unparalleled festivity: since the days of Shlomo, the son of David, king of Israel [there had] not [been] the like in Jerusalem" (Divrei Hayamim 2;30;1-27). But its success was only during that time. This is due to the fact that Pesach, as a manifestation of the covenant between Hashem and His People- can only be observed as Hashem commanded, according to the ascribed laws mentioned in the Torah in order to be influential throughout the generations.  

Following the reign of Hezkiyahu, there were two kings who along with their kingdom were steeped in idolatry- Menashe and his son Amon. Yoshiyahu, (who ruled after his sinful father and grandfather) wanted to renew the covenant between Hashem and His People, also through the celebration of the Holiday of Pesach.  This time the Holiday was celebrated in holiness and purity. This would appear to be the reason why the description of the holiday celebration is found in both Malachim and Divrei Hayamim and it is written this time that: "For such a Pesach sacrifice had not been performed since the time of the judges who judged Israel, and all the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah". (Melachim 2; 23, 21-27).  This Pesach was a "Tikun" for all the shortcomings of the Pesach during the time of Hizkiyahu, as it was celebrated on time and the entire nation was in a purified state when they brought the sacrifice.: And Yoshiyahu made the Pesach sacrifice in Jerusalem to the Lord, and they slaughtered the Pesach sacrifice on the fourteenth day of the first month…And slaughter the Pesach sacrifice and sanctify yourselves and prepare your brethren to do according to the word of Hashem by the hand of Moshe" (Divrei Hayamim 2; 35, 1-19). Therefore it states that: And such a Pesach sacrifice had not been made in Israel since the days of Shmuel the prophet; and neither did any of the kings of Israel make such a Pesach as Yoshiyahu did, and the priests, the Leviim, and all of Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem".

In the end, also at the beginning of the Second Temple period, right after they finished building the Beit Hamikdash, the olim celebrate Pesach with immense joy hoping that the covenant between Hashem and His People will now be upheld in the Mikdash, after the harsh period of the Destruction and Exile: " Now the people of the exile made the Pesach [offering] on the fourteenth of the first month: For the priests and the Leviim purified themselves as one, so they were all pure; and they slaughtered the Pesach [offering] for all the people of the exile, and for their brethren, the priests, and for themselves (Esra 6, 19-22). Here it is also emphasized that Pesach was celebrated at the right time and as per Halakha, as opposed to the Pesach during the time of Hizkiyahu, in the hopes that this Pesach will leave its imprint and may even be the beginning of an era where Pesach will be routinely, celebrated as in the time of the first Beit Hamikdash.

We hope that in the very near future, we will be able to celebrate Pesach in the Beit Hamikdash, maybe according to what is written in the prophecy of Yechezkel regarding the holiday of Pesach, (even though it somewhat differs from the Pesach celebrate during the time of the First and Second Beit Hamikdash): In the first, on the fourteenth day of the month, shall you have the Pesach, a festival of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten. And the Nasi shall make on that day for himself and for all the people of Israel a bull for a sin-offering (Yechezkel 45, 18-24). 
 

Pesach Kasher V'sameac