2 Chronicles 30:10
New International Version
The couriers went from town to town in Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun, but people scorned and ridiculed them.

New Living Translation
The runners went from town to town throughout Ephraim and Manasseh and as far as the territory of Zebulun. But most of the people just laughed at the runners and made fun of them.

English Standard Version
So the couriers went from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them.

Berean Standard Bible
And the couriers traveled from city to city through the land of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun; but the people scorned and mocked them.

King James Bible
So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.

New King James Version
So the runners passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun; but they laughed at them and mocked them.

New American Standard Bible
So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed at them with scorn and mocked them.

NASB 1995
So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them.

NASB 1977
So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.

Legacy Standard Bible
So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they were laughing at them to scorn and mocking them.

Amplified Bible
So the runners (couriers) passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun; but the people laughed at them with scorn and mocked them.

Christian Standard Bible
The couriers traveled from city to city in the land of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun, but the inhabitants laughed at them and mocked them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The couriers traveled from city to city in the land of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun, but the inhabitants laughed at them and mocked them.

American Standard Version
So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.

Contemporary English Version
The messengers went to every town in Ephraim and West Manasseh as far north as the territory of Zebulun, but people laughed and insulted them.

English Revised Version
So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So the messengers went from city to city in the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun. But the people ridiculed them.

Good News Translation
The messengers went to every city in the territory of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far north as the tribe of Zebulun, but people laughed at them and made fun of them.

International Standard Version
Couriers crossed from city to city throughout the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun, but those people just mocked them and laughed at them.

Majority Standard Bible
And the couriers traveled from city to city through the land of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun; but the people scorned and mocked them.

NET Bible
The messengers journeyed from city to city through the land of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun, but people mocked and ridiculed them.

New Heart English Bible
So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even to Zebulun: but they ridiculed them, and mocked them.

Webster's Bible Translation
So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even to Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.

World English Bible
So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even to Zebulun, but people ridiculed them and mocked them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the runners are passing over from city to city in the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, even to Zebulun, but they are laughing at them and mocking at them,

Young's Literal Translation
And the runners are passing over from city to city, in the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, even unto Zebulun: and they are laughing at them, and mocking at them,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the runners will be passing from city to city in the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and even to Zebulon: and laughing upon them, and deriding over them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
So the posts went speedily from city to city, through the land of Ephraim, and of Manasses, even to Zabulon, whilst they laughed at them and mocked them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so, the carriers were traveling quickly from city to city, throughout the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun, though they were ridiculing and mocking them.

New American Bible
So the couriers passed from city to city in the land of Ephraim and Manasseh and as far as Zebulun, but they were derided and scoffed at.

New Revised Standard Version
So the couriers went from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun; but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So the couriers of King Hezekiah passed from village to village throughout the land of Ephraim and Manasseh and as far as Zebulun;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And there were Couriers of King Hezekiah passing from town to town in the land of Aphreim and of Manasheh and unto Zebulun.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even unto Zebulun; but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
So the posts went through from city to city in mount Ephraim, and Manasse, and as far as Zabulon: and they as it were laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Hezekiah Proclaims a Passover
9For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful; He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.” 10And the couriers traveled from city to city through the land of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun; but the people scorned and mocked them. 11Nevertheless, some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.…

Cross References
2 Kings 17:14-15
But they would not listen, and they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not believe the LORD their God. / They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate.

Nehemiah 9:29-30
You admonished them to turn back to Your law, but they were arrogant and disobeyed Your commandments. They sinned against Your ordinances, by which a man will live if he practices them. They turned a stubborn shoulder; they stiffened their necks and would not obey. / You were patient with them for many years, and Your Spirit admonished them through Your prophets. Yet they would not listen, so You gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples.

Isaiah 30:9-11
These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to obey the LORD’s instruction. / They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions. / Get out of the way; turn off the road. Rid us of the Holy One of Israel!”

Jeremiah 6:16-17
This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths: ‘Where is the good way?’ Then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’ / I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen for the sound of the ram’s horn.’ But they answered, ‘We will not listen!’

Ezekiel 3:7
But the house of Israel will be unwilling to listen to you, since they are unwilling to listen to Me. For the whole house of Israel is hard-headed and hard-hearted.

Hosea 9:7
The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have arrived—let Israel know it. The prophet is called a fool, and the inspired man insane, because of the greatness of your iniquity and hostility.

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

Luke 13:34
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

Acts 7:51-52
You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. / Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—

Romans 10:21
But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

1 Peter 2:7-8
To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” / and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.

2 Kings 18:9-12
In the fourth year of Hezekiah’s reign, which was the seventh year of the reign of Hoshea son of Elah over Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and besieged it. / And at the end of three years, the Assyrians captured it. So Samaria was captured in the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel. / The king of Assyria exiled the Israelites to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan by the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes. ...

Isaiah 28:22
So now, do not mock, or your shackles will become heavier. Indeed, I have heard from the Lord GOD of Hosts a decree of destruction against the whole land.

Jeremiah 25:4-5
And the LORD has sent all His servants the prophets to you again and again, but you have not listened or inclined your ear to hear. / The prophets told you, ‘Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and deeds, and you can dwell in the land that the LORD has given to you and your fathers forever and ever.

Ezekiel 12:2
“Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.


Treasury of Scripture

So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even to Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.

the posts

2 Chronicles 30:6
So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.

Esther 3:13,15
And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey…

Esther 8:10,14
And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries: …

they laughed

2 Chronicles 36:16
But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

Genesis 19:14
And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

Nehemiah 2:19
But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?

Jump to Previous
City Country Couriers Ephraim E'phraim Far Laughed Manasseh Manas'seh Mocked Mocking Passed Passing Posts Ridiculed Runners Scorn Scorned Zebulun Zeb'ulun
Jump to Next
City Country Couriers Ephraim E'phraim Far Laughed Manasseh Manas'seh Mocked Mocking Passed Passing Posts Ridiculed Runners Scorn Scorned Zebulun Zeb'ulun
2 Chronicles 30
1. Hezekiah proclaims a solemn passover on the second month for Judah and Israel.
13. The assembly, having destroyed the altars of idolatry, keep the feast fourteen days
27. The priests and Levites bless the people














So the couriers traveled
The term "couriers" refers to messengers or runners who were tasked with delivering important messages. In the context of ancient Israel, these couriers were likely Levites or officials appointed by King Hezekiah to spread the call for the Passover celebration. The Hebrew root for "couriers" is "רָצִים" (ratsim), which implies swift runners. This highlights the urgency and importance of their mission, as they were spreading a message of religious reform and unity.

from city to city
This phrase indicates the widespread nature of the message being delivered. The couriers were not limited to a single location but were instructed to cover a broad area, emphasizing the inclusivity of Hezekiah's call to worship. Historically, this reflects the divided nature of the kingdom at the time, with the northern tribes having been separated from Judah. The effort to reach "city to city" underscores a desire to reunite the people under a common religious observance.

through the land of Ephraim and Manasseh
Ephraim and Manasseh were two of the tribes of Israel, descendants of Joseph. These tribes were part of the northern kingdom, which had been in spiritual decline and separated from the southern kingdom of Judah. The mention of these tribes signifies an attempt to bridge the divide and restore a sense of national and spiritual unity. The historical context here is significant, as it was a time when the northern kingdom had been influenced by idolatry and foreign practices.

as far as Zebulun
Zebulun was another tribe located in the northern part of Israel. The inclusion of Zebulun in the narrative indicates the extensive reach of the couriers' journey. It symbolizes the comprehensive nature of Hezekiah's reform efforts, aiming to include even those who were geographically and spiritually distant from Jerusalem. This reflects the king's commitment to restoring the worship of Yahweh across all of Israel.

but the people scorned and mocked them
This phrase reveals the resistance and hostility faced by the couriers. The Hebrew words for "scorned" (לָעַג, la'ag) and "mocked" (הִתְלוֹצֵץ, hitlotzetz) convey a deep sense of contempt and ridicule. This reaction highlights the spiritual apathy and rebellion present in the northern tribes at the time. Despite the earnest efforts of Hezekiah and his messengers, many people were entrenched in their ways, resistant to change and the call to return to the worship of the true God.

(10) So the posts passed.--And the couriers were passing.

Even unto Zebulun.--This tribe, which lay on the southern border of Naphtali, had suffered from Tiglath-pileser's invasion (Isaiah 9:1). The messengers did not actually travel northward so far as Dan (2Chronicles 30:5). This mention of Zebulun as the limit of their journey lends an air of historical truth to the account.

Laughed them to scorn.--Literally, and they were laughing at them (hish?iq: here only), and making mock of them (Psalm 22:7). The verbs imply what the Israelites did continually. Vulg., "cursores pergebant . . . illis irridentibus et subsannantibus eos."

Verse 10. - Through... Ephraim and Manasseh. The way in which the names of these two tribes are here used may explain in part the use of them in brief for simple reasons of the convenience of brevity in ver. 1. They laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. These two words speak significant description of the exact moral state in which Israel's tribes were now to be found. Even unto Zebulun. What of the country lay north of Zebulun had been so wasted by Assyria that practically Zebulnn is spoken of as what was most northerly.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And
וַיִּֽהְי֨וּ (way·yih·yū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

the couriers
הָרָצִ֜ים (hā·rā·ṣîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7323: To run

traveled
עֹבְרִ֨ים (‘ō·ḇə·rîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

from city
מֵעִ֧יר ׀ (mê·‘îr)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

to city
לָעִ֛יר (lā·‘îr)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

through the land
בְּאֶֽרֶץ־ (bə·’e·reṣ-)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of Ephraim
אֶפְרַ֥יִם (’ep̄·ra·yim)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 669: Ephraim -- a son of Joseph, also his descendants and their territory

and Manasseh
וּמְנַשֶּׁ֖ה (ū·mə·naš·šeh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4519: Manasseh -- 'causing to forget', a son of Joseph, also a king of Judah, also two Israelites

as
וְעַד־ (wə·‘aḏ-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

far as Zebulun;
זְבֻל֑וּן (zə·ḇu·lūn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2074: Zebulun -- a son of Jacob, also his descendants and their territory

but the people scorned
מַשְׂחִיקִ֣ים (maś·ḥî·qîm)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7832: To laugh, to play

and mocked
וּמַלְעִגִ֖ים (ū·mal·‘i·ḡîm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 3932: To deride, to speak unintelligibly

them.
בָּֽם׃ (bām)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew


Links
2 Chronicles 30:10 NIV
2 Chronicles 30:10 NLT
2 Chronicles 30:10 ESV
2 Chronicles 30:10 NASB
2 Chronicles 30:10 KJV

2 Chronicles 30:10 BibleApps.com
2 Chronicles 30:10 Biblia Paralela
2 Chronicles 30:10 Chinese Bible
2 Chronicles 30:10 French Bible
2 Chronicles 30:10 Catholic Bible

OT History: 2 Chronicles 30:10 So the posts passed from city (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 30:9
Top of Page
Top of Page