Remember that the people of Israel are divided into two kingdoms, the kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Judah. People of the latter are back in the land of Israel today. The kingdom of Israel (the ten tribes) has been scattered since around the year 600 BC. No one knows where they are today.
V.1 The above will help you to understand this verse. It was never the desire of God that Israel should be divided, any more than it is God’s desire that the believers today should be divided into denominations. Sin has divided them and us. Satan is the one behind all divisions.
Hezekiah sends messengers to all Israel and invites them to the one center God had — Jerusalem. The others had made centers of their own Bethel and Dan — this was merely imitating God’s center. So today, denominations which are man-made are imitations of the truth of Christ as the one gathering Center. It was not because Hezekiah was there, but because God was. It was God’s chosen center.
V.6-12 Invitations were sent out to all. The reception they received! Just like today. When the truth of Christ as the one gathering center is pointed out in the scriptures, most believers make excuses as to why they think it is all right to remain in a denomination. But we are thankful for the first word of verse 11. Some obeyed. Notice what they did. If the truth is obeyed, it humbles us.
V.13 They all met as one congregation.
V.14-22 Notice how careful they were in every detail.
V.23 They wanted more.
V.24-27 Willing, giving hearts (v. 24); rejoicing hearts (v. 25); great joy (v. 26); their prayers were heard in heaven (v. 27).